When the Rs 7,000-crore Satyam accounting fraud threatened to damage India’s assiduously built image as a IT powerhouse, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh turned to none other than Tarun Das to step in and sort out the mess. In a short span of time, quite unheard of in Corporate India’s history, a government-appointed board led by Tarun Das ensured a smooth transfer of ownership of the company to the Mahindras.

After steering the Confederation of Indian Industry for 35 years, Das has now decided to call it a day. He intends to now focus his energies on strategic dialogue and building international relationships, mostly within Asia with a special focus on China. He, however, continues to be the president of Aspen Institute, India and also remains on the international advisory board of Coca Cola. He is also the chairman of Haldia Petrochemicals.

Das, 70, had given up the job of looking at the day-to-day functioning of the country’s biggest industry body as its director general in 2004, after putting in a good 26 years. He donned the mantle of chief mentor in 2004 and continued with the organisation for another five years. In his three decades at the CII, he has been witness to a sea change in the country, from being a protectionist, closed economy to a liberal and global one.

“I have seen a wonderful change, from the country being afraid of competition and protectionism to becoming confident and competitive. The most important change is that industry is now trusted. Earlier everything was regimented, controlled by the government,” Das told The Indian Express.

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