Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Jalandhar
The people of Punjab will never forget Yogesh Chander Deveshwar, who had not only the transformed Indian Tobacco Company (ITC) into one of country’s top business conglomerates, but had also played a key role in helping ITC set its footprints in Punjab by envisaging Rs 1,400-crore Kapurthala-based Integrated Food Park and a hotel at Rajasansi in Amritsar.
Not many know that Deveshwar hailed from Rurka Kalan village of Jalandhar district. He was fond of his home state and his native village as well and made it a point to visit there whenever possible.
Deveshwar, who was not well for quite some time, breathed his last in New York on Saturday. Known as YCD in the industrial circles, he commanded such a respect that he was fondly remembered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as also by the who’s who of the Indian business and political world.
Deveshwar, who had studied at Harvard Business School, the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, and Cornell University, had earned the distinction by becoming the youngest and the longest serving chairman of ITC.
His cousin Ishwar Chander, a former ADGP of the Punjab Police, said, “The people of Rurka Kalan will always remember YCD’s fondness for Doaba region. It turned out to be the factor why he played a key role in setting up of an ITC food processing plant at Kapurthala, his way to pay back his debt to Doaba region.”
YCD had a close rapport with the Badals particularly, the SAD patriarch, Parkash Singh Badal. “It was during the SAD-BJP’s government that he had made the ITC to envisage the food park at Kapurthala after the government offered land to the company for the project,” recalled SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Former minister Bikram Majithia said once running at full capacity, the food processing plant will not only ensure employment for over 2,000 people of the area but will also help boost the agro-economy of the state. “He had participated in the industry and business summit organised by the SAD-BJP with full zeal along with Ambanis and top tycoons of the country,” said Majithia.
Senior Congress leader Sunil Jakhar said YCD had made an immense contribution towards Punjab and its people and he was always ready to help the people of the state in one or the other way.
