Search the Internet          Tips  Sites: Finance, Investment

Corporate India expresses shock at Mehta's death

Industry associations, corporate chieftains, and individuals expressed deep shock and anguish at the death of Dewang Mehta, high-profile chief of National Association of Software and Service Companies, who was found dead in his hotel room in Sydney on Thursday.

Corporate India paid rich tributes to Mehta.

In a media statement, Narayana N R Murthy, chairman, and Nandan M Nilekani, managing director, of Infosys Technologies expressed grief at Mehta's death.

"We, at Infosys, are deeply saddened by the news of the untimely passing away of Dewang Mehta. It is a monumental loss for the entire software industry in India and specially for Infosys," the Infosys statement said.

"We have had a long and close relationship with Dewang. With his death, we have lost a passionate champion and an effective spokesman of the Indian software industry," it further said.

Meanwhile, Indian IT giant Wipro too condoled the death of Dewang Mehta. In a statement, the company said: "We are saddened to hear the untimely death of Mr Dewang Mehta. Moving into the software industry, he quickly understood the nuances of the business. He helped forumulating several policies and thought of ideas that helped the Indian software industry to grow from strength to strength."

"Dewang succeeded in projecting the capability of the software industry to the policy makers. With sincerity and hard work, he effectively built the reputation of the Indian software industry."

"Dewang's contribution to the elimination of piracy in the software industry needs to be commended.

A die-hard campaigner against piracy, he worked closely with Business Software Alliance, organising seminars and educating the public at large," said Sudhip Banerjee, chief executive, operations, Wipro Technologies, in the statement.

'He was a pioneer in a very special sense,' CII

In a press release issued in Bombay on Thursday, Arun Bharat Ram, president, CII, condoled the sudden and untimely demise of Dewang Mehta.

Mehta, the CII president said, worked tirelessly to project the image and capabilities of the Indian Software Companies and Software professionals.

"Nasscom under his able leadership achieved a lot of success in promoting and projecting the capabilities of India in the field of software development.

"He was a pioneer in a very special sense of emulating the US pattern of an industry association by becoming the key spokesperson for the association and the industry," he added.

Speaking about his leadership capabilities, Bharat Ram stated that Nasscom would be a role model for other sectoral industry associations to emulate and follow. His Association with CII would be remembered fondly, he added.

"Dewang would be remembered for his tremendous energy and drive for the cause of India and Indian industry."

FICCI expresses deep shock

Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Chirayu R Amin expressed "deep shock over the untimely and sad demise " of Mehta.

"Mehta had given a new dimension to the IT sector and played a singular role in giving the Indian IT sector its present international image. In his demise, the IT industry has lost a great visionary and a very dynamic leader," Amin pointed out.

According to the FICCI president, Mehta was the chairman of FICCI's IT committee. Mehta had spoken brilliantly at a recent meeting organised which included the UN secretary-general Kofi Annan where the latter praised Mehta.

I have never seen anyone work so hard: Vijay Mukhi

"I have been very close to Dewang, so much so that whatever organisation I launched or was part of, he was always by my side," said Vijay Mukhi, author and head of Vijay Mukhi Computer Institute, who was a close friend of Dewang Mehta.

"About seven years ago, Dewang, Harish Mehta, Raj Saraf and I started the Bombay Computers Club. He was also the vice-chairman of the Internet Users Club of India -- of which I was a member.

He was an old friend and it is difficult to believe that he is no more. I have never seen anyone work so hard as him. He didn't get to where he was by letting the grass grow under his feet.

For all the Nasscom seminars, Dewang used to put in a lot of hard work. He used to sleep at around three in the morning and was up at six. I think in the 10 years that he has worked for the industry, he must have not slept for more than four hours a day.

There is not much known about Dewang's personal life because he liked to keep it that way. He was a self made man and his life was dedicated to the IT industry in India.

On April 10, just two days ago, Nasscom finished 10 years and it is very sad that his death comes at this juncture.

Additional inputs: Agencies

YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO SEE:
Nasscom chief Dewang Mehta is dead
'I am saddened. He was such a close friend,' says Mahajan
'Dewang Mehta is irreplaceable'
'Dewang personified what India's IT industry really needed'
'His passion increases every year'
'A hat-trick IT Budget'
'IT Bill will boost e-commerce'
Dewang Mehta is 'Global Leader of Tomorrow'
Nasscom 2001: The complete coverage

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

Money
Business News

Tell us what you think of this report