9
“
medical” bug. His one singular passion then had been to become a doctor, and all roads
had led to that vocation. He almost succeeded in his goal. An admission in three medical
colleges, including the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS),might
well have changed the course of history for India’s software sector! However, owing to
some admission policy rules—where his Physics marks in the school examination did not
measure up to the required standards
—
Mehta was unable to fulfill a long cherished dream.
Having lost his chance with AIIMS, a disappointed Mehta headed west, to Mumbai,
making it through the gates of yet another legendary institution
—
the St. Xavier's College.
With a career in the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) within his sights, Dewang
Mehta opted for a degree in Political Science, French and History.
Surprisingly, he encountered parental disapproval. Convinced that the humanities
discipline was for the ladies with matrimony on their minds, Mehta’s father, a pharmacist,
was critical about his son’s choice of subjects. Some of that angst must have rubbed off, for
concerned with his future,Mehta abandoned his IAS plans and within six months, was on
the road to a completely different set of ambitions.
This time around it was Chartered Accountancy that held sway. Clearing the CA
entrance exam with ease, Mehta acquired the first professional description on his calling
card in 1984.
However, if one thought Mehta was content with just a CA degree, one would be way
off the mark. Right through his student years, Mehta dabbled in an assortment of work,
lending wings to his myriad interests.
A quick learner, he wanted to fill his canvas of capabilities with just about everything that
caught his fancy and captivated his mind. It is not unsurprising then that a brief flirtation
with journalism and a long-time affair with writing, ran alongside active participation in
politics, or that a course in computer graphics from the Imperial College, London, rubbed
shoulders with movie and ad-making.
Mehta’s fascination with the celluloid world went way beyond humming of old movie songs
and late nights spent watching videos of tinsel town favorites. He loved the company of the
stars, and ironically, it was the software industry that brought him into contact with some
of the names and faces he fantasised about in his younger days. His favorite joke was about
how the famous Web portal Yahoo was in fact a dedication to Bollywood darling and his
'60
s superhero, Shammi Kapoor. Mehta had many occasions in the later years to spend
time with his screen idol, enlisting his help to proliferate the use of the Internet in India.
Despite the fact that he hobnobbed with the best and brightest film stars and movie
makers of the country, it was possibly his chance encounter with the awesome Shyam
