It is said that the face is not the complete introduction of a person. It only reveals the superficial aspect of a person. The real identity of a person is in his mind and heart.
To know a person like Bill Gates the analysis of his mindset, mental capabilities and the degree of his determination is imperative. Creative power of a person is always unfathomable aspect. The primary or the routine acts of a person do not reveal him fully. Professionally Robinhood was merely a robber but behind that overt facade there was a noble soul with good intentions. We can not form a final opinion about a personality like Bill Gates. He is yet in his early fifties. He may do something spectacular in the next ten years and his personality in totality would gain a new dimension. So, it will be proper to analyse Bill on the basis of his achievements gained so far without being judgemental.
Childhood
The early years of a person’s life are formative when one is impressionable. One’s personality keeps taking different shapes under various influences without getting a firm shape. The thoughts and habits keep changing. In early schooling years Bill got interested in scouting. He secured the second best ranking in scouting. It appeared that he had set his eyes on becoming a medal studded military officer. But the scouting fad soon wore off. As he added years to his age other interests displaced the scouting exercise.
Age of youth
Then computer arrived at Lakeside School and Bill was totally taken over by obsession for that digital magic box. But then Bill had no inkling that computer was going to be his future and professionally he would be himself engaged in that field related to it. When Bill took admission in Harward University after completing school he was not sure about his future. As a subject for higher studies he opted for law although computer science was always there in the back of his mind. Bill also faced the contradiction of his teenage obsession and the harsh reality of life.
The basic interest of Bill was in computer science which was yet in fledgeling state. In the prevailing circumstances he had some doubts about his ability and the correctness of his foreboding that the future belonged to the computer. He was hesitant to stake his life on the thinking of his immature mind. That was why he chose law as his subject. The fact of life was that one was expected to make oneself capable of standing on ones own feet. Had Bill taken computer science as his main subject it would have become clear that he had gone for his teenage obsession confidently.
The dilemma Bill faced was not unnatural at that time the future of the computer was uncertain. He believed that computer was going to be the master gadget of the future but how could he trust the belief of his teenage mind? Then computers use to be big in bulk and prohibitive in prices. Their used was also in a limited field by specialist persons. It would have been too risky to choose computer science as one’s career. Remember that those were the days of early seventies.
Farsightedness and ability to take decisions
A successful person has two great assets; he is farsighted for one and for another he has great capacity to take quick decisions. Bill Gates may have opted for law as his subject of higher studies yet midway through his first course he could see the bright future of computer science more clearly and with greater conviction. He now had more faith in his judgement. Bill made up his mind to make computer science his career and vocation. He could visualise practical possibilities in software programming that would make computer a useful gadget for common man. It would become an essential item of every home, office and a work place or desk replacing pen and paper work. In every branch or cell of knowledges and sciences the computer would be basic tool of work. With that firm belief Bill had stepped forward.
Computer Revolution
The computer as a revolutionary digital tool of modern times is the result of great efforts put in by several innovators. Bill Gates made a big contribution in the evaluation of
the computers. The common Indian folks who know precious little about computer think it was some invention made by Bill. He only made it a useful tool of a literate person through his software and was instrumental in bringing down the prices of computers to affordable levels. Earlier they used to be very costly. Bill worked hard to upgrade the usefulness of the computer to such level where every literate person felt a need for it creating a great demand. Bill applied the law of the economics that greater demand brought down the prices of a product. This demand and supply rule worked just as Bill had envisaged. At the present rate of increasing demand and popularity laptop should reach even the students of the schools.
Role in computer world
The major role of Bill in evolution of computer has been the development of Operating System. Basically a computer system is made up of four parts :
1. Hardware, 2. Operating System, 3. Application Program, 4. User.
Bill had understood well that the Operating System was a vital programme that played the role of the mediator between User, Hardware and Application Program. This mediator creates a sitiation where a user can execute or implement all its program. Bill put the greatest emphasis on this basic function of the Operating System of making computer convenient and useful for the user. It resulted in the computer hardware reaching optimum utility level. Just as the government itself undertakes the tasks of important public welfare, similarly operating system does in computer works.
Bill designed the Operating System and effected necessary changes in the computer hardware to make it supplemental to OS. The works of Bill in the context of computer can be classified as the following :
❑ The development of Operating Sytem was a major breakthrough that solved a major problem and the program of solution could be used in the computer with its help.
❑ Bill designed the changes needed in the hardware to make it work with Operating System.
❑ Through imaginative softwares Bill made computer a basic tool of the literate person and made it extremely useful gadget of the modern times. Thus, Bill played a vital role in the development of Operating System, Hardware and the Software.
Only the basic works of Bill regarding computer system has been given here as part of his life without going into the details of technicalities of the subject.
Earnings and investments
During the past three decaded Bill has made lots of mone. For five years he remained at the top of the list of the richest persons of the world. In 2006 the immovable properties of Bill Gates had been estimated at $125 million on which he paid $ 9,91,000 wealth tax.
Microsoft is not the only source of his income. In 2006 Bill earned $ 9,66,667 from other sources each month. In 1989 Bill had started CORBIS company and in 2004 he gained the chair of a director in Yorkshire Hathway. As a director he owned a lot of shares of the company and earned handsome profit. With an old friend, Warren Buffet he founded an investment company. That company also earns tidy sums for Bill. He is also a share holder in several financial management companies.
But the money and wealth never went to the head of Bill. During an interview in 2006 Bill requested not to address him as the richest man of the world as it embarrassed him. He spent his money in that spirit. In 1994, in an auction he bought Leonardo-Da-Vinci writing collections in $ 30.8 millons, a la richie rich shopping.
The residential palace of Bill Gates is one of the prince properties of the world. Called ‘Zanadu’ it is by a hillside build with earth-sheltered technology. Wahington lake forms its front and is in Medina, Washington D.C.
Humanitarian works
By the year 2000 a great change came into the thinking of Bill Gates. He had made enough money and fame and more of it meant little to him. His mind was still evolving. His conscience was inspiring him to think of the hundreds of millions of fellow human beings who were suffering from diseases, needs, ignorance, hunger and poverty. Bill decided to do something about it. In his own and wife’s name he founded ‘Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’ to do works of charity and humanitarian works in the field of health and education. ‘Rockfeller Foundation’ had made deep impression on Bill Gates. It was active in humanitarian works in the fields neglected by the governments and other agencies. Bill also decided to follow its example.
To begin with he through his foundation helped those students of the minority communities who were studying at college level. The students were granted stipends. To fight AIDS and other killer diseases his foundation made funds available. The Cambridge University was granted $210 millions by the name ‘Gates Cambridge Scholarship’. According to ‘Forbes’ magazine’ Bill and Melinda Gatesx Foundation’ had spent $29 billions on various charitable works and humanitarian drives or campaigns. Through his example Bill has reminded other prosperous persons about their duty towards the under-priviledged part of the mankind.
To help out the suffering people had become the religion and duty of Bill. The one on whom the providence has been so kind can never be small in heart and mind. Such rare ones take with one hand and give away with the both. The success in the professional life of the material world needs to be redeemed with the humanitarian works. And Bill is doing just that.
The future plans
In 2006 Bill had announced that in the very near future he would gradually reduce his involvement in the day to day works of Microsoft. He would be devoting more and more time to his foundation and its works. Bill’s sole interest in Microsoft now remains to achieve some success in the ‘Robotics’ projects he had committed himself to. Robotics is perhaps the biggest challenge for a software programmer because the expectations and demands are limitless. After that ambitious project Bill wants to devote his entire time to the humanitarian works through his foundation. The main work will be in the fields of health and education. His wife Melinda is also dedicated to the welfare and charity deeds.
All the plans of Gates are prepared in advance. He used this rule in Microsoft and the same rule applies to his foundation. As a software crafter Bill expects all his works to go with digital precision. From the hardnosed businessman Bill has transformed into a person with benevolent human face.