On February 28th, the world of technology mourned the loss of Avtar Saini, a distinguished chip designer and former Intel India country head. Saini, known for his pivotal role in the development of Intel microprocessors, met with a fatal accident while cycling with fellow enthusiasts on Palm Beach Road in Navi Mumbai.
The 68-year-old Saini, celebrated for his contributions to Intel’s 386 and 486 microprocessors, as well as his leadership in designing the Pentium processor, was struck by a taxi between Nerul junction and the NRI-Seawoods signal at 5:50 am. Despite immediate medical attention, he succumbed to his injuries upon arrival at the hospital.
Accompanied by members of a cyclists group, Saini’s bicycle was hit from behind by the cab, causing him to skid on the road. The collision wedged the bicycle frame under the cab’s front wheels, prompting the driver to attempt to flee, dragging the bicycle for a kilometer before being intercepted by passing motorists near the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters at Belapur.
The accused cab driver, identified as Hrishikesh Khade, faces charges of rash and negligent driving leading to death. While he has not been arrested, he has been served with a notice under the provision of CrPC, directing him to cooperate in the investigation and to appear in court when a chargesheet is filed.
A Mumbai native, Saini obtained a Bachelor of Engineering degree in electrical engineering from Victoria Jubilee Technical Institute and a Master of Science from the University of Minnesota. Joining Intel in 1982, he played a pivotal role in bringing the Pentium to production and was deeply involved in Intel’s transition to 64-bit processors as the General Manager of the Santa Clara Microprocessor Division.
In 1999, Saini relocated to Bangalore as the director of Intel South Asia, contributing significantly to the establishment of Intel’s India Development Centre. His work on 64-bit processors culminated in the joint development of the Itanium chip across India and the US, earning him five US patents. He served as a vice president of the company until his departure in 2004.
Active for a decade in the Chembur Amateur Cycling group, Saini, who lost his wife three years ago, is survived by his son and daughter residing in the US.
Expressing condolences for Saini’s untimely demise, Gokul V Subramaniam, President of Intel India, paid tribute to his invaluable contributions to the company, highlighting his role in setting up the Intel R&D center in India and his instrumental involvement in the design of several groundbreaking processors.
