PR veteran Nirmal Suchanti, Founder of Concept, no more

Nirmal Suchanti, Founder of Concept and one of the pioneers of financial services ads and PR in India, is no more. He was 81.

In a heartfelt post, his son, Vivek Suchanti, Chairman & Managing Director at Concept Communication, remembers the veteran as a man who believed communication could never be ‘just a business’.

Concept became a force to reckon with when Chairman, Nirmal Suchanti took the reins.

By 1995, the company was the reigning agency in the financial communications category. 

The post by Vivek Suchanti reads:

"Today I mourn the passing not only of my beloved father, but my hero, my mentor and my friend. The man who has forever been and will remain my shining inspiration. I would like to do it with a tribute to commemorate the remarkable legacy of a truly remarkable personality.

My father, Nirmal as he was fondly called, was a man forged by unwavering conviction. His foresight compelled him to carve out possibilities, where others could see only challenges. Nirmal’s belief was that communication can never be ‘just a business’, it should be about creating ‘trust’ and empowering people with ‘knowledge’. In an advertising era where very few mainstream entities dared to venture into the complex space of financial communication, Nirmal’s vision snowballed to create a whole new communication paradigm. What he built was not just an advertising agency, but a pioneering idea. By adding the power of creativity to compliance, it was Nirmal who finally made the world of equity investments accessible to millions.

Apart from his uncanny business acumen, what left an inedible mark on all who knew him was the courage of his character. Nirmal never shied away from calling ‘a spade a spade’. And in tough times, his resilience would inspire strength in others. To him, People Came First. Always. Be it a colleague, client, friend, associate, or just about anyone he would meet, Nirmal had this extraordinary ability to make them feel valued. Listening, more than he spoke. Guiding, never imposing. Always leading with empathy, from the heart. His door was always open - not just for business, but for advice, for a quick ` chai’ or just a laugh. Guided by a clear sense of fairness and ethics, deeply humble, never seeking the spotlight, yet always thriving in the light of the lives around him, professional and personal. Nirmal’s measure of success was the relationships he carefully nurtured and the respect and love of all those around him - big and small, young and old.

Dad, your spirit lives on in every life that you have shaped, every relationship you lovingly cherished and the countless hearts you cared to inspire. Vineet and me are but reflections of the values you instilled in us. We might not be able to fill your shoes, but we promise to follow your footsteps with sincerity, humility and integrity.

Rest in peace! Your love and legacy will endure through many generations to come."