The Indian media industry lost a true gentleman, an industry doyen: Mandar Natekar

Bhaskar Das. BD. Dr.Das.

People knew him differently. I will always remember him as the first person in my corporate career that I truly admired. He had a class to him that only intellectually glowing bengalis can have, never arrogant though. Articulate, a man of intelligent words, extremely knowledgeable and ever so smiling. Whenever & wherever I met him, he always greeted with a big smile. A humble man, never carried his seniority as a badge. Never waited for you to greet him first, if he saw you first never shied away from coming across the room to say hi. Truly, one of the few legends of the Media industry in India worth calling a legend. I last spoke with him in October. He had called to congratulate me on our selection for TechCrunch Disrupt. He was so happy for me, I could sense it in his voice.

Trupti (my wife) & I, both had the pleasure of working under his leadership at TOI Response at the start of our career, to all the adjectives I mentioned earlier she would add “charming”. He could really charm women, very elegant and classy. Women loved him, he made them feel valued and important.

When I met him first in June 2000 I remember the thick hair, crisp clothes, big toothy smile and an elegant Tissot watch on his wrist. The watch kept changing, the rest remained the same till the end.

We had planned to meet up, and last exchanged messages to meet, in August. That meeting never happened because of his failing health. Will always regret that.
BD, you will always remain a source of inspiration to me and to scores of people in the Indian media industry.

Till the next time, Mr.Das. Dr. Das?

(I was never able to call him Bhaskar or refer to him like that, too much respect for him always). The Indian media industry lost a true gentleman, an industry doyen, today. The heavens are all set now for some marvellous management lessons?

PS - Life is fragile. You never know when is the last time you meet someone. Make each moment joyous and worthy for the person you meet. Sharing a screenshot of our last exchange of messages on planning to meet :-(

(This tribute has been written by Mandar Natekar, CoFounder & CEO NeuralGarage)