The large number of Indian software professionals working in Britain are in a state of shock over the developments in Satyam [Get Quote], with many former employees continuing to repose faith in its founder and chairman, Ramalinga Raju.

In offices of IT companies across Britain, Indian employees congregate often to discuss the latest news about Satyam, and try to figure out how the fate of the IT giant will affect them professionally.

Many of them described Satyam's fall as no less than an 'earthquake'.

Glasgow-based IT professional Ravi Bhushan Singh told PTI.

"The year 2008 was bad enough but Satyam saga has made it worse for IT professionals. Now Satyam employees in thousands have started flooding the market with their resumes".

"Their desperate attempt is understandable but this may shatter other IT professionals aspirations for better jobs offer outside", he added.

Singh wondered that if a performing company like Satyam could collapse, what was the guarantee that the accounts of other IT companies were clean.

He said, "Everyone of us is shell-shocked. There are so many questions about auditors, laws, guidelines, checks. The situation will force us to stay put in their companies rather than seek better opportunities when the job market is flooded with ex-Satyam employees".

Vijay Meher, who worked for Satyam for seven years and resigned in 2005, is shocked at the developments but had good words for the company and its beleaguered chairman.

He said, "Satyam gave me a dream start in my professional career. I met Raju couple of times in Hyderabad and Pune and he always came across as a very passionate and driven person who wanted to take Satyam to new heights".

Describing Raju as a perfect gentleman, Meher recalled that Raju used his contacts in American universities to invite professors to give his staff special training that lent them the extra edge to stay ahead in the IT world.

Meher added, "I could never imagine that he had so much going on while he was doing everything he could for his employees. As an ex-employee, I still like Satyam and the work it has done for employees and the environment.

"Everyone makes mistakes; some big and some small. I know he has done a big one but all the work that he has done to transform lives of so many people should make it small".

Developments in Satyam is being reported extensively in the British press, but most Indian IT professionals are learning about the developments through their colleagues in Satyam and other IT companies in India.

• The Satyam fiasco: Complete coverage