IEC came up as a computer education centre in Connaught Place, New Delhi, in 1981. "The first three years," says Mr S L Gupta, chairman of the IEC group, "were a big struggle. Computers were unheard of and computer education something that people did not really want to know much about. It was not an easy thing to keep our hopes high at that point of time, but yes, we had to get ahead and there is no short-cut to success, so hard work came in handy."

Thankfully, he says, IBM came to the Indian market in 1984 and gave a good boost to the computer industry in India. People got to know more about computers and the government of the time also helped to promote computer education.

There was no looking back for IEC after 1984, says Mr Gupta. Computers started picking up in a big way. Other players started coming into the market as well, but never to IEC's detriment.

The happiest moment, says his brother, Mr R L Gupta, who is managing director of the IEC group, was when they franchised three centres in Agra, Delhi and Ghaziabad in 1989-90. Today, IEC has achieved an annual growth rate of 45 per cent and aims to reach a target of Rs 500 crore in the next three years.

Low profile IEC may be, but it has been doing its own thing and doing it rather well. The company has been associated with various projects such as imparting IT training to employees of the defence ministry, DGR, government of India, Bureau of Indian Standards and the ministry of personnel & public grievances. IEC also has alliances with a number of associations abroad.

Currently, Mr S L Gupta is happy about yet another feather in his cap. IEC has just won a major contract worth Rs 30 crore to impart computer education to 75 colleges in Uttar Pradesh on a turnkey basis. "IEC is delighted with this opportunity to further the vision spelt out by the national IT taskforce formed by the government of India," says Mr S L Gupta.

And what does he think is the future of IT in India? "You never know, next, none of us might need to step out of our offices. All our work would be done through the computer," says Mr S L Gupta, a smile lighting up his face.