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Pratiksha Computer Centre, Calicut (Kozhikode) — started by Saji Kallat — was Kerala’s first private computer training institute.

Early phase: Training at Pratiksha Computer Centre began with the Sinclair ZX Spectrum in the mid-1980s, operating with BASIC and audio cassettes (Compact Cassette) as storage media, where students learned BASIC programming and used audio cassettes for saving programs. One of the most famous computers of that era was the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, released in 1982 in the UK and later brought to India by enthusiasts. At that time, the Spectrum was a rare machine in Kerala, and many students experienced their very first exposure to computers through this platform.

Transition phase: By the time Personal Computers (PC) first became available in Kerala through sellers in Ernakulam, Saji Kallat immediately brought them to the institute. The centre introduced IBM PCs and compatibles, starting with Intel 8086 processors that used 5.25-inch floppy disks for storage. Students learned to boot the systems using floppy disks and practiced commands in text-only DOS environments, which was considered highly advanced in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Growth phase: Over the years, students were trained on a range of processors, progressing through Intel 8088, Intel 80286, Intel 80386, Intel 80486, and up to Intel Pentium processors, with matching operating systems and software of each era. Each hardware transition was accompanied by updated software training, ensuring that students were industry-ready at a time when businesses were rapidly computerizing their operations.

Alongside processors, the storage media evolved as well: training shifted from 5.25-inch floppy disks (160 KB–1.2 MB) to 3.5-inch floppies (720 KB–1.44 MB), then to hard disk drives (HDDs), CDs, and later USB drives as they became standard. These shifts not only improved speed and reliability but also became part of the practical sessions, where students learned how to back up, transfer, and manage data on the changing formats.

Peripherals also changed with the times — from dot matrix printers used in the DOS era to inkjet printers in the Windows era. Demonstrations of printing were often part of the syllabus, showing students how reports and documents could be generated for businesses, banks, and offices.

Displays moved step by step from black-and-white televisions used with the Spectrum to monochrome monitors (orange, green, or grey screens) and finally to full-colour monitors. This visual evolution was significant, as students could see firsthand how user interfaces grew more interactive, leading towards the graphical environments of modern computers.

Even the input devices reflected the shift in computing: from the Spectrum’s onboard compact keyboard to the full-layout keyboards and mouse that became standard with modern PCs. By the Windows era, mouse-based navigation became an essential skill, replacing command-line typing for many tasks. But the institute continued command line and DOS commands in their syllabus so that every student would understand the basics, ensuring a strong foundation in computing that remained valuable even as technology advanced.

Curriculum included: The syllabus was continuously updated, balancing programming, application software, and operating system training to match real-world industry requirements.

Operating Systems: ZX Spectrum ROM OS, MS-DOS, PC-DOS, Windows 3.0/3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98

Programming Languages: BASIC (GW-BASIC, QuickBASIC, QBasic), Pascal (Turbo Pascal), C (Turbo C/C++), C++, COBOL, dBASE/FoxBASE/FoxPro, Visual Basic, HTML

Office & Productivity Software: WordStar, Lotus 1-2-3, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access)

Databases: dBASE II, III, IV and FoxPro

Legacy: Pratiksha Computer Centre (PCC) trained thousands of students across two decades, running strongly until around 2005, and played a pioneering role in spreading computer literacy in Kerala. Many alumni went on to build successful careers in IT, software development, and administration, while some established their own ventures. The institute is remembered for bridging the gap between Kerala’s traditional education system and the fast-growing world of information technology.

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