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driver of the entire Indian IT sector and the economy. And it all happened thanks to the
fact that visionaries like Dewang Mehta not only laid the foundation for a robust software
sector, but also continued to play a key role in the building process.
The ten years that Mehta devoted to NASSCOM were marked by a flurry of activity,
unprecedented in expanse and impact. He personally spearheaded NASSCOM’s multi-
pronged attack in the domain of software. His vision
—
of taking the Indian software and
services industry global, of creating healthy domestic roots, of uprooting and obliterating
the debilitating scourge of software piracy and of fashioning a policy framework that was
conducive to the growth of this sector
–
dominated all NASSCOM strategies during the
period when he held charge.
He worked effortlessly towards narrowing the software industry-Government divide-an
effort that earned him the sobriquet of lobbyists in a country where virtually no “lobbies”
existed. While some contemporaries considered the title a bit offensive, Mehta himself
wore it like a badge-with pride and satisfaction.
Dewang Mehta certainly had reason to feel proud of the strides he had been able to make
with the Government. No matter who was in power, software always received special
treatment. Mehta’s intensive parlays with the “right” people in the corridors of power, his
cooperative stance with IT-related departments such as the DoE, the DoT, the VSNL and
more recently, the Ministry of Information Technology, enabled him to wrest concessions
that other industries found hard to get through or match.
From the zero duty on software imports, to crucial income tax concessions for software
exporters, to stringent Copyright Laws, the introduction of the IT Act and resulting cyber
laws—Mehta managed to push through an extensive software industry wish list.
Recognizing the potential of the software and services segment as a major foreign exchange
earner,Mehta launched the India Inc. crusade, where he personally presented the country’s
software industry to the world. Speaking at global seminars, participating in international
IT fora, and using workshops to acquaint the worldwide community with India’s software
prowess, Mehta became the official mascot of the industry. Today, the software sector has
set before itself an enormous ambition of $50 billion worth of software exports by 2008.
Mehta dreamed this dream, championed this vision!
On the home side, Mehta played the role of the guru, guiding the Central and State
Governments in their path towards IT-fication. He helped at least 19 State Governments
draft their IT policies, and create the requisite infrastructure to aid the cause of software
within their realms.
