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'Dewang Mehta is irreplaceable'

Priya Ganapati in Bombay

"I am shocked to hear this," was how Ashok Soota, CEO, MindTree Consulting and former vice-chairman of Wipro reacted on the death of Nasscom chief Dewang Mehta.

Soota said he had known Dewang for more than 11 years. "I have known him closely since around 1990."

Speaking to rediff.com from his office in Bangalore Soota said: "From the very early stages of the software industry he realised its potential and worked hard to structure it. Besides being a personal loss, this is a great loss for the Indian software industry. Dewang was committed to the cause of the Indian software industry. He was their spokesperson and many of the policies that the Indian software industry has adopted today were because of Dewang.

"When Dewang started out in 1990, he was fighting a lonely cause. But that never deterred him. He fought hard to get the software industry to the center stage. He was clear even then that his destiny lay with the software industry. He had the foresight to see that someday the software industry would reach its potential.

"He played a pioneering role in the development of the industry. An extremely multifaceted man, Dewang was a great speechmaker. He could logically and convincingly put across the thoughts of the industry."

Soota said that on a personal level he has lot of regard for him. Elaborating he said, their new office was inaugurated around the time when Gujarat was rocked by the killer quake. Dewang who had rushed to Gujarat, came to Bangalore only for the inauguration and flew back the same night.

"This shows how much he cared for his friends and also for the state that he belonged to."

Asked about Dewang Mehta the man, Soota said, "Despite my long-standing association with him, I do not know much about his personal interests. But then I do know that he loved to play tennis and was a very creative man. He received many awards for his animations. Also he took great interest in the fashion shows that NASSCOM would conduct at its annual function."

"It is now a challenge for the Indian software industry to move forward and make sure that his vision for the industry is fulfilled," Soota concluded.

A big loss to the entire nation, says Vinnie Mehta

"I think this is a big loss to the entire country and not just to the IT industry. Dewang was not just the leader of the Indian IT industry but he had the stature of a national leader," said Vinnie Mehta, president, Manufacturers' Association of Information Technology while speaking to rediff.com.

"Dewang was a wonderful person. He always had time for everyone. I used to call him Dewang Bhai because for me he was like an elder brother."

"Despite his stature and standing he was a very humble person. It is difficult for anybody else to be without the slightest trace of arrogance and only Dewang could achieve that."

"It is very ironic that Dewang's peak occurred at the same time when the IT industry in India peaked. And his death comes at a time when the industry really needs him. His death has come with the slowdown in the industry. There can be no greater irony in the way he made his exit than this."

"Dewang worked very hard to get the software industry to the point that it is today. He was committed to the industry and gave so little of his time to his personal life."

"For him his work was his personal life. He was a wonderfully open person and extremely large hearted."

"My wife is a Gujarati and Dewang has invited us over for a Gujarati dinner. But due to our extremely busy schedules the appointment could not be kept. That is something I will regret forever."

"For anyone else to get to his level, it will take a considerable amount of time and effort. Dewang Mehta is irreplaceable."

YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO SEE:
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Nasscom 2001: The complete coverage

EXTERNAL LINKS:
An interview with Dewang Mehta
Dewang Mehta's Home Page

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