Bansi Dhar passes away

Bansi Dhar, who steered the DCM Group till 1990, and later became the chief managing director of Shriram Industries after the DCM conglomerate split, passed away at the age of 74, on June 26, after a 10-year battle with cancer.

"A true gentleman who lived by his words" is how Amit Mitra, secretary-general, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) fondly describes Dhar.

Dhar, in his capacity as president of Ficci in 1993-94, was the moving force of the organisation. "Dr Dhar's strong commitment to industry and to Ficci helped in giving proper shape to the objectives of both the DCM Group and Ficci," Mitra said.

He even made it a point to guide A K Rungta, who took over from him as president of Ficci. Dhar was never bogged down by his illness and till the end took an active interest in business.

"Even three months back, he made it a point to attend the steering committee meeting of Ficci despite severe health problems," Mitra said.

His close friend Shankar Ghosh, who was also associated with the DCM Group, remembers 'Bansi Bhai' as an "unusual character "" low key and understated, tending to shy away from the public and media". Ghosh described him as the human side of enterprise who went out of his way to help even the most junior colleague in office.

Ghosh recalled the time when Dhar made out cheques from his personal account when a junior sales person in his Daurala Confectionery could not afford treatment for his mother.

Dhar led a reclusive life for the last few years and assisted his sons, Tilak, Alok and Madhav Shriram, with their respective business. He never failed to take stock of the events happening in all the four DCM entities.