Dewang Mehta
RIP
1962-2001
~

A lot of folks around India and the world got to know of Dewang Mehta through the 1900s as The "evangelist" of Indian Software. By the time of his death from a massive heart-attack in his hotel-room when in Australia as a key component of the Indian Minister of Information Technology's (Pramod Mahajan) recent business delegation tour, Dewang had penned about 1,000 articles on his pet love, alongside anchoring over 250 television programmes, and appearing in innumerable interviews and public events. He also held and maintained a full commercial pilot's license as a hobby.

It was a simple and fitting tribute to the man's career and genius that the Indian minister and his delegation delayed their return to India, so as to accompany Dewang's body home.

The texts below have been drawn from Dewang's personal website along with the images alongside, to yield something of the self-image and vision that made the man what he was.

MY GOALS

I would be probably the most happy man, if in my life-time, I could witness the transformation of India from its current status of "Software Paradise" to "Software Powerhouse". Of course, this is possible and we all Indians will have to work together to make it happen.

My mission is to bring the power and benefit of Information Technology to every man, women and child of India. This would involve, amongst others, the following.

• Computer and internet in every school/college of India by 2005 - 2008
• Internet/Email at every STD/ISD Booth by 2003
• Internet through cable TV - reach at least 15 million house-hold by 2003
• Employment generation through IT (I.T. Enabled Services)
• E.Commerce proliferation
• Tele-Medicine in all Villages, Talukas of India
• E-Governance implemented by 2003
• IT to help disabled
• IT to emerge as the main movement in India (IT for masses)
• I want to be a facilitator to help more and more people in my country to get educated, get employment and create wealth
• I believe in being capitalist at head and socialist at heart
• One of my other ambitions is to continue to create world-class computer graphics animation films.
• I would also like to make a commercial - Masala Hindi Film in not too distant future (2002-03)
• I do want to fly (once in a while) commercial flights
• I would also like to contest for parliament election to pursue my goal and ambition to make India an I.T Superpower.
• I want to ultimately retire in Kulu-Manali, on the foothills of Himalayas and ride horses, write poems, teach young kids and meditate.

My Biodata

Personal Details

Place of Birth : Umreth, Gujarat, India
Date of Birth : 10 August 1962

Educational Qualifications

Went to school at, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, New Delhi
B.Com (Hons) from Delhi University
FCA - Chartered Accountant
ACMA - Cost & Works Accountant from U.K.
B.S. with Major in Computer Graphics from Imperial College, London

Current Positions

• President, NASSCOM
• Member & Spokesperson for National Task Force on Information Technology and Software Development.
• Member, Advisory Group of Ministry of Information Technology, Government of India
• Member, Andhra Pradesh State Planning Board
• Member, Himachal Pradesh State Planning Board
• President, NIESA (NASSCOM's India Europe Software Alliance)
• Member on Governing Council of Software Technology Parks (STP) of India
• Vice Chairman - Internet Users Community of India (IUCI) (OSEDC)
• Member on Board of Orissa State Electronics Development Corporation
• Member, Board of Governers, National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)
• Member, Governing Council, Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Hyderabad.
• Member, Governing Council, Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Bangalore
• Member, AP first
• Member, Orissa State IT Advisory Board
• Director, ELCOT Chennai
• IT Man of the Year ~ Dewang Mehta was awarded the most coveted I.T Man of the Year 1997 award instituted by Dataquest Magazine.
• Software Evangelist of the Year ~ Computerworld Magazine awarded Software Evangelist of the Year award to Dewang Mehta in 1997, 1998 and 1999

My Belief

I have complete belief and faith in the life and teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba. I am his ardent devotee.

~xxx~