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Special Tribute The King is dead, long live the King Thursday, the 12th of April, 2001 was supposed to be an auspicious day. Ideal for ceremonies and other holy acts. But the Gods like to remind mortals like you and I just who really controls destiny. By the time you read this, it will be old news. India's premier IT lobbyist, Dewang Mehta reportedly died of a heart attack early Thursday morning India time. He was just 38 years old. He was only remembered mid-afternoon because he had missed his early-morning flight back home. The Indian Government delegation, of which he was a part, didn't even know he was dead until they returned to the hotel later that afternoon. Dewang Mehta was India's first IT celebrity. He did more for the cause of India's information technology industry than any other "visionary" or government. He had made IT his private mission. And relentlessly lobbied IT to just about anyone. He didn't head the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM). He was it. I first learnt about a man called Dewang Mehta in the late 1980s. When he was profiled in a computer magazine. By 1996 I was working in that same magazine. And at a media bash had the opportunity to meet the man in the flesh. It was a wild and windy January night in Delhi. The angeethis were blowing sparks on anyone adventurous enough to seek warmth. And there was this dude with incredibly long sideburns; like a latter-day greaser. The full thatch of immaculately-styled hair was defying the forces of nature. That is until one unruly gust caused Dewang to clamp his hand down on his hair to prevent it blowing away. The wind was a monster. But Dewang continued to espouse his favorite cause unperturbed about what the rest of us consider the little things in life. I was to bump into him off and on again over the next few years. But he was always the star. And I down in the crowd, collecting stardust. I finally did get to meet Dewang in the flesh. The group I worked for had a TV show on Doordarshan, anchored by Dewang. The producer and I went across to the NASSCOM offices. These were then located in a few luxurious rooms of Delhi's Ashoka Hotel. Dewang didn't have much in height, but certainly made up for it in charm. He actually oozed it. I was introduced and after a few words Dewang turned away as if busy. I got the message: he had to prepare for that day's show. The first guest on-air that day was Anita Pratap. Dewang really came to life under the TV lights. He was all smiles and jokes; even when he flubbed his lines. But the moment the light were off. So was Dewang who vanished back to lobby some more. Dewang was not a nice man to know. Especially if you didn't subscribe to his vision. The charm was there but it barely disguised the ruthlessness and single-mindedness below. He would look at you much like a predator gauges prey. Were you a useful ally, or could help him further his cause, the charm came on like a searchlight. But if he dismissed you as insignificant in his current scheme of things. You became a non-person; much like a piece of furniture. But that was Dewang. Love him or hate him, I know Dewang Mehta did more for India's information technology industry than anybody else. We have an IT Bill because Dewang decided we needed one. The Government of India developed an IT Policy because of Dewang's lobbying. The 2001 Budget is software industry-friendly because of Dewang's relentless lobbying. He was everywhere. On TV, in the newspapers, being photographed with the two Bills (Gates and Clinton). Meeting captains of industry. And Chief Ministers. Serving on various panels, boards, and pressure groups. I wonder if all the stress contributed to his early demise. The backlash against Indians with H1B visas is beginning in the US. And the slump in the US economy makes hiring even cheap Indian software labour an expensive proposition. There was no better time than now for Dewang's relentlessness. He will be sorely missed. I guess we won't know how badly until defeat stares us in the face. Oddly enough, for a man of Dewang's stature, there was little international media coverage on the Internet. Even in India, MSN India at 6 PM Brooke Shields impending marriage was more news worthy. But by midnight, they had a tribute but it was just one of the top five stories. I don't think Dewang would have liked that. He wanted center-stage. Always. It's raining as I write these words. And the night is cold, dark and gloomy. Perhaps the Gods are finally making amends for taking such a bright star away for us. From the people who need him so much in these hour. And in months and years to come of need. Govind
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