Dewang: The irrepressible optimist

"I share a dream with the people of India.

We all wish to see India emerge as a software powerhouse. For this, we not only

have to achieve higher revenues and value-addition in software developed in

India but, we also have to ensure that we are effectively able to channelise the

power of IT to provide basic necessities to all the citizens of India. We have

to work together in penetrating IT to every nook and corner of the country. In

this direction, it is also important, say in next five years, to aim for 100%

literacy in India." — Dewang Mehta (1962-2001)

He was the icon of Indian software industry to the world. The irresistible

Dewang Mehta was a shrewd lobbyist who taught an India, tottering under the

aftermath of the license-Raj, the art of liaisoning with the government for the

common interest of an industry. His industriousness and optimism saw the premier

software association, the National Association of Software and Service Companies

(Nasscom) which he headed become a powerful voice in the history of Indian

industry.

He was the best brand ambassador Indian software could ever dream of. Under

his leadership, Nasscom rescued the "Made in India" label from

obscurity and transformed it into a prized tag. The man, who had the temerity to

coin the phrase "Roti, kapda aur bandwidth" became the Indian

software industry’s official voice, both on the domestic and the international

scene.

Dewang’s irrepressible optimism could sometimes drive even a fellow

optimist mad. Yet, the IT industry gained immensely from his ultra optimism. For

starters, the import duties on software were completely taken off under his

relentless lobbying through Nasscom. When the IT industry was worried over the

political uncertainty during the last general elections and behind-the-scene

maneuvers for government making, Dewang was cool as ever. He had already met

prominent politicians from both the Congress and the National Democratic

Alliance (NDA) and had apprised them of the software industy’s aspirations and

concerns! When the industry was wallowing under post-Y2K blues, Dewang assured

that either the Euro conversion projects or the Web boom will come to India’s

rescue. The Web boom did.

Dewang’s rise in the Indian industry skyscape was quite meteoric. From just

being the president of Nasscom, Dewang rose up to don the advisory roles in most

of the technology missions, commissions, panels and task forces of the

government of India.

Dewang was extremely democratic in his approach to life and work. He would

always press for consensus. He was also a man of multi-hued interests and

talents. He was a filmmaker, chartered accountant, journalist, computer graphics

professional, entrepreneur, et al. In the last 18 years in his 38-year life

span, Dewang put the fire in the software industry. A fire which is hard to

tame. His untimely demise has come as a shock to the entire IT fraternity.

"This is absolutely tragic. Unbelievable. He was a great person and a great

personal friend. This is a huge personal loss for me," were the first

reactions of MindTree chairman Ashok Soota.

Here, we recall some of the significant achievements of Dewang Mehta.

• Dataquest IT Man of the Year — 1997
• World Economic Forum nominated Dewang as one of the 100 'Global Leaders of
  
  Tomorrow'
  
  
  
  Software Evangelist of the Year — 1997, 1998, 1999
• He was the industry’s voice during the formation of the Union IT policy
• Advisor to the IT panels of most Indian states.

His mission: To bring the power and benefit of Information Technology to

every man, women and child of India. This would involve, amongst others, the

following.

• Computer and Internet in every school/college of India by 2005-2008
• Internet/Email at every STD/ISD booth by 2003
• Internet through cable TV - reach at least 15 million household by 2003
• Employment generation through IT (I.T. Enabled Services)

• E-commerce proliferation
• Tele-medicine in all villages, taluks of India
• E-governance implemented by 2003
• IT to help the disabled
• IT to emerge as the main movement in India (IT for masses).