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generation.The NASSCOM annual event became a showcase for the world to see, where
he combined intellectual sharing with entertainment, in a perfect blend. He desired to
bring talent together from all walks of life. I think it was 1996 when he said he wanted
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) to organize a show, and it became the
hallmark of fun at the NASSCOM annual event. He was also on the board of NIFT.
Dewang knew no bounds, and was free spirited. He used this to build NASSCOM, as no
Industry Association has ever done, globally.
Time and tide takes away many memories, but always left etched behind are some precious
ones.My memory of Dewang and our extraordinary relationship has revisited me over and
over in all the years since we lost him so suddenly, and I can hardly believe that it’s been
ten years since he has gone. Yes, it was NASSCOM that brought us together, and gave us
the foundation for our friendship. Dewang and I connected closely.When we travelled to
events in various countries, many people would tease us for being like siblings.
There is seldom any personality who stirs you up in the first meeting itself, where you
feel drawn to all his aspirations and within a short time you begin to dream his dreams.
Dewang was one such personality. He is a glowing example of how someone can work
with the system with all its flaws and gain attention with just the right attitude and
befitting relationships and never allow his setbacks to cower him. In 1999, I was elected
the Chairman of NASSCOM. Both Dewang and I worked closely and travelled about
100,000
+ miles that year. Here I got to observe Dewang far more closely and through
all our travels together across the globe that year, he constantly surprised me with his
remarkable characteristics. He had this amazing ability to be open to views of all the
Industry stalwarts of the time and yet converge them to form a single conclusion. Dewang
will always be remembered as the fuel that powered India’s IT industry to gain global
attention. He represented a new generation of India to the world, a generation that is
proficient, articulate, competitive, and ambitious and has the courage to dream big. It is
these very qualities that I bring forth today and if this inspires young Indians today, I shall
truly feel that I have done some justice to his memory.
Raj Jain
CMD, RS Software and Former Chairman, NASSCOM
Dewang Mehta, the Prince of IT!
The essence of Dewang Mehta can be understood in one incident that happened a few
days before he boarded the flight for that fateful trip to Australia, a destination from which
he never returned! My wife Uma called him from our house in Mumbai one evening and
complained that because of his busy schedule,we were rarely seeing him.Dewang promptly
asked her to keep dinner ready and he would come, though a little late.He showed up after
three hours and we were amazed to learn that he had driven to Delhi airport and caught
a flight to keep his promise. He caught a late night flight back that evening! For Dewang,
his friends were everything and nothing was too much for him to do for us!
Dewang was one of the very few people one meets who combined together sharp
intelligence, excellent communication skills and an ability to see the big picture as well as
work on the details to make the picture perfect. Enough has been said of his leadership
of NASSCOM, a fledgling association which he took on soon after its creation and built
to prominence as the single voice of the Indian IT industry, so let me talk about the man.
I remember the first time I met Dewang Mehta, at an Aptech celebration nearly twenty
