Rediff On The NeT: Transcript of the Dewang Mehta Chat


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The Dewang Mehta Chat

Dewang Mehta, executive director of the National Association of Software and Service Companies, stayed on Rediff chat for just about an hour. Yet he was able to answer most queries with his infectious optimism.

If at times the discussion went flip, Dewang resolutely kept himself on track. A fruitful experience:

s/w (Thu Jan 23 19:37:53 1997 IST):

hello!!!

Jayaprakash (Thu Jan 23 19:48:45 1997 IST):

Hi, who is this ?

subrato (Thu Jan 23 19:49:30 1997 IST):

Good evening Rediff on the Net. Is everything under control?

BIT-TER (Thu Jan 23 19:53:35 1997 IST):

hi guys dewang's in yet. i guess not. it's still 10 mins to 8 pm in india.

Jayaprakash (Thu Jan 23 19:54:20 1997 IST):

who are you, subrato ? nice to meet you here

Jayaprakash (Thu Jan 23 19:55:51 1997 IST):

I don't why people dont use their actual names !! netters, bitters, surfers and what not !!

subrato (Thu Jan 23 19:57:15 1997 IST):

Non-real names? I think people are using their new found independance in cyberspace.

Jayaprakash (Thu Jan 23 19:57:29 1997 IST):

I don't why people dont use their actual names !! netters, bitters, surfers and what not !!

BIT-TER (Thu Jan 23 20:00:12 1997 IST):

Hey Jay, I wonder why some people prefer to meet online, and say they are just hanging around when they could meet in the real world.

Jayaprakash (Thu Jan 23 20:00:22 1997 IST):

Ok, cybernames; Nowadays netters (?) don't stay in ordinary homes. They stay in Cyberhomes

Jayaprakash (Thu Jan 23 20:01:44 1997 IST):

ya, bit-ter, I'm waiting here eagerly to meet you. Please come. I have some friends also waiting with me

s/w (Thu Jan 23 20:02:23 1997 IST):

Hello everybody....

DEWANG MEHTA (Thu Jan 23 20:03:05 1997 IST):

Hi, I'm Dewang here. I am ready for your questions. Shoot.

subrato (Thu Jan 23 20:03:28 1997 IST):

We want to say hello to our guest, Mr. Mehta. I think time is up!

James (Thu Jan 23 20:03:47 1997 IST):

Hi guys what's up here??

Jayaprakash (Thu Jan 23 20:03:52 1997 IST):

hi s/w

BIT-TER (Thu Jan 23 20:03:58 1997 IST):

Was That a THREAT Jay. I am just being a CYBERpal. Ooops I did it agian.

subrato (Thu Jan 23 20:04:47 1997 IST):

Mr. Mehta, you have often stated that internet will be instrumental in changing the fortune of IndiaInc. as software manufacturer and distributor, as marketing costs and logistics complexity will come down. Do you think we are bound by only such factors? What has stopped us, till date, from producing a Wordperfect or Excel? Don't you think that the problem also lies in the quick profit taking attitude of investors and big houses?

Jayaprakash (Thu Jan 23 20:04:53 1997 IST):

Hi, Dewang, do you have any idea on the size of the Japanese software market.

s/w (Thu Jan 23 20:05:10 1997 IST):

hello dewang, How do you rate India In terms of software piracy?

Nikhil Lakshman (Thu Jan 23 20:05:23 1997 IST):

Welcome to the Rediff Chat!

James (Thu Jan 23 20:05:28 1997 IST):

Dewang: When do you think we will be able to become globally competitive in the area of software development?? Will we always be only body shoppers??

Jayaprakash (Thu Jan 23 20:07:32 1997 IST):

Dewang : We are a startup company in software. Which niche area do you recommend assuming that the technical expertise i is available with us in abundance.

s/w (Thu Jan 23 20:08:29 1997 IST):

hello jayaprakash...

DEWANG MEHTA. (Thu Jan 23 20:10:06 1997 IST):

Subarto:Not only word perfect but I think in the next two three years we should get netscape or even Java or activeX kind of technologies emerging from India. What has stopped us till now is the lack of domestic market and shortage of foreign exchange for marketing products. Things are changing. By end of 1997, we should have 200,000 internet connections in India. At NASSCOM, we are trying to proliferate internet connectivity to even smaller towns in India. I am sure like USA it is the garage operations in Aligarh, Kanpur, Rajmundhry or even Silliguri, wherein Bill Gates of India would be created.

BIT-TER (Thu Jan 23 20:10:21 1997 IST):

YoooHooo Dewang. You there?

s/w pirate (Thu Jan 23 20:10:26 1997 IST):

Beware of the one-eyed bandit......;-)

s/w (Thu Jan 23 20:11:07 1997 IST):

Hi dewang, How do you rate the Indian software market in the present scenario

s/w pirate (Thu Jan 23 20:11:35 1997 IST):

200,000 internet accounts ho, ho, ho, *rolling on the gorund* sure...prey , you and which army??

DEWANG MEHTA. (Thu Jan 23 20:12:05 1997 IST):

HELLO NIKHIL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. YOU GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB TO PUT INDIA ON THE INTERNET MAP.

subrato (Thu Jan 23 20:12:18 1997 IST):

Thanks for your optimism, that keeps us all alive. MR. Mehta, what is your view regarding the effect of continuing degradation of socioeconomic scenarioin India, on the flight of human capital. To be frank, most of the developers want to avoid working in India, given a chance.Do you think that we should build technology townships ( like heavy industry townships) for the betterment of the software workers? What can NASSCOM do about it?

s/w pirate (Thu Jan 23 20:13:20 1997 IST):

Bill Gates - Made in Kapurthala....what is he called??? Balwinder Gill ha, ha, ha, *tears rolling down the eyes*....

Jayaprakash (Thu Jan 23 20:14:41 1997 IST):

Dewang : don't neglect me If you don't want to answer my question say so

BIT-TER (Thu Jan 23 20:14:49 1997 IST):

No offence, but DEWANG, I think programmers in India are by and large people who do mechanical repetitive coding. I have not met one programmer who thinks and behaves like an artist. To do Java or Active-X like technology you got to be CREATIVE. Where is the talent? Its not been discovered yet. Or has it?

DEWANG MEHTA. (Thu Jan 23 20:15:12 1997 IST):

JayaPrakash: The 2-3 emerging areas are those of telecom software, Y2K, and of course internet. However, immediate profits can be gain in customised software development.

s/w pirate (Thu Jan 23 20:15:49 1997 IST):

Oye Dewang I have a truck garage in Jhoomritalliya........HEY GUYS I'M INDIA'S NEXT BILL GATES.......balle balle

Continued