N Vittal will always be remembered as the liberator of DoE.

When Vittal took over as secretary of DoE in 1990, Indian IT was yet to come in full bloom though the vital signs were quite there.

He was instrumental in reducting telecom charges for satellite links, exemption from profit tax on software and services exports, zero excise rates from software sold. These proved to be catalysts in India becoming a software superpower.

This tireless crusader might have retired from public service as the Chief Vigilance Commissioner, where he used IT to share up the establishment, but surely as a social ombudsman he is long way retiring from public life.