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Senior Compaq executive to take over as Media Lab Asia CEO
Media Lab Asia based on digital wizard Nicholas Negroponte legendary MIT Media Lab, has got a new CEO and managing director with its board announcing the appointment of Bimal Sareen. Sareen was earlier director of business & corporate development for Compaq (now Hewlett Packard) Asia-Pacific and Greater China regions. Additionally, he is also the regional president of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce.
Said Media Lab Asia chairman and the Indian government’s Union Minister of Communications & Information Technology and Parliamentary Affairs Pramod Mahajan: “We are very pleased to have Bimal lead Media Lab Asia. This is an important venture for us that advances our goal of delivering the benefits of information and communications technology to the masses of India, the rest of Asia, indeed the entire Media Lab network. I would like to express our full confidence and support to him”.
Added Media Lab Asia vice-chairman Negroponte: “Bimal’s appointment is a milestone for Media Lab Asia. We are excited about his appointment as the leader of this venture, especially with his blend of technology and business, and international and Asia experience.”
Sareen, educated in the United States, has extensive experience in the US and Asia in international business, technology, marketing, investments and mergers & acquisitions. In addition to India and the US, he has conducted business in Australia, Greater China, Israel, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.
“I am very excited,” said Sareen. “This is a unique and challenging opportunity to foster innovation, and deliver the value of information, communication and media technologies to the masses traditionally under-served by their benefits. This massive segment, traditionally ignored by most corporations and countries, will gain increasing prominence.”
Rajeeva Ratna Shah, India’s secretary of information technology in the Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, said, “This appointment is an important step for us at the Government of India. With Bimal, we finally have our choice of a seasoned industry professional with extensive international business and technology experience to lead this important venture. He has our complete support.”
“We had a range of excellent candidates but finally narrowed our choice to Bimal. He had the right combination of management and technical skills we required,” said Alex (Sandy) Pentland, director of Media Lab Asia and Toshiba professor at MIT.
Director, Media Lab Asia and former Vice Chairman, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) FC Kohli said, “It is rewarding for us to have Bimal appointed as a result of an extensive search. He enjoys our full support”.
Sareen has been active in other industry bodies in the US, prior to his move to Asia in 1997. While working with Digital Equipment Corp in the US, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Interactive Multimedia Council (MIMC), and was Co-Chairman Marketing, International Committee at the Massachusetts Telecommunications Council (MTC). At the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, Sareen has also held terms as Vice President, Chairman of the Finance, Information Technology & Infrastructure committees.
Sareen has an MBA and MS (Computer Engineering) from Boston University and a BS (Electrical Engineering) from Rutgers University. He was also granted a US patent in the field of High Speed Computer design during his tenure at Digital Equipment Corporation. Sareen is married and has two children.
Media Lab Asia is an initiative of the Indian government and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), to facilitate the invention; refinement and dissemination of innovations that benefit the greatest number possible of the world’s grassroots populations. The research is focused on four broad themes:Digital Village, Tomorrow’s Tools, Bits for Everyone and the World Computer.
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Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
