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Dewang’s emphasis on bandwidth was not only to benefit the Indian software
sector. Availability of bandwidth percolates the benefits of IT to everyone
—
small
and medium entrepreneurs, professionals and the masses.
This is one of the ways Dewang broadened NASSCOM‘s
agenda, and gave it a quantum jump in its natural growth
rate. He brought the perception shift towards primacy
of the PC and emergence of the Internet as an important
opportunity. In a single stroke, he roped in issues relevant
to ISPs, Internet technology, telecom infrastructure and
e-commerce.
Dewang steered NASSCOM on a path finely balancing
integrity and effectiveness. Industry associations are
meant to benefit the entire industry they represent. And
success begets its own problems. The moment an
association gains a measure of power and influence, it is subject
to pressures and pulls that undermine its effectiveness and
non-partisan character.
Dewang firmly resisted efforts by individuals and companies to use NASSCOM
as a platform to promote themselves. He took up issues and causes that, without
exception, addressed areas common to all and were biased
towards none.
He disappointed and angered many, including some who were
his friends. He silenced their protests with the kind of results
that made him irreplaceable. His charisma as the industry
spokesman had one predominant impact. The industry was
publicly perceived as having one voice
—
having a unified,
focused and unambiguous stand on every issue.
This achievement required a person of Dewang’s
unique talents. He was a gifted, out-of-the-box thinker,
a quintessential PR man and a visionary. At the same time,
he was a workaholic, a shrewd media strategist, a pragmatist
who accepted unchangeable realities, a quality-obsessed
organizer and a storehouse of factual information. His
achievements cannot be judged without seeing how he made
his talents work in tandem to results.
The Global citizen selling India Inc. at CeBIT fair at Hannover, Germany
