Vasantrao S Dempo: Centenary of a legend
the goan network
Harshvardhan Bhatkuly
Vasantrao S Dempo was a towering personality who has left an indelible footprint on the social, cultural and economic life of Goa. Vasantbab, as he was known, completed a full innings of life achieving all the noble goals he had set for himself. Throughout his life, he would manage to be the cynosure of attention at every gathering that he attended. Such was his personality.
His contribution towards the economic rise of Goa can hardly be over emphasized as he transformed the face of Goa with his forays into mining and a host of other enterprises. Even today, despite progressive industrialization and other socio-legal upheavals, the mining sector continues to be the backbone of Goan economy and the role of Vasantrao Dempo in this regard has been significant.
Vasantrao was a torchbearer of a family that has played a vital role in the history of Goa. He was called upon to carry on the family traditions at a young age. His concern for the protection and promotion of religion and culture is well known. His services to the Shri Gokarna Partagali Jeevottam Mutt are also noteworthy.
His services to the cause of socio-cultural activities did not go unrecognised. The Dr TMA Pai Foundation of Manipal honoured him with the Distinguished Achievements Award. He was also named the outstanding Konkani citizen of the country. He was the recipient of Bharatiya Udyog Jyoti Award and the NRI Institute honoured him with Pride of India Gold Medal at Bangkok. He was the elected member of the Indian committee of the Lloyds Register of Shipping and was also a member of the Indian Technical Committee of the American Bureau of Shipping. He was the chairman of the Indo-Portuguese Trade Council and also a member of the India-Japan Business Cooperation Committee as well as member of the standing committee of India-Korea Governing Council of Institute of Marketing Management, New Delhi. He was a charter member and Paul Harris Fellow, as also the Honorary member of the Rotary Club of Panjim, who honoured him with ‘The Ambassador of Goodwill Award.’ Vasantrao was honoured by Shiromani Institute with the Shiromani National Integration Award. He was honoured with a citation for his role in the development of economy of Goa. He also bagged the Jawaharlal Nehru International Award for Excellence 1990. He was felicitated by the NRI - Institute London. But, for Vasantbab , it was the ‘Vidyadhiraj Award’ and ‘Padmashri’ award that really mattered. For him, community was an extension of family. He took the initiative to establish the Dempo Charities Trust which manages two colleges at Panaji. Vasantrao started free Goa’s first English language daily newspaper, The Navhind Times in 1963; and complimented this with Navaprabha, a daily in Marathi.
Born on March 4, 1916 into an aristocratic Saraswat family and educated in Marathi, Portuguese and English, Vasantrao entered the family business when he was quite young. After his elementary education, he went to the Lyceum where he took his baccalaureate at the age of 18. In 1932, he married Girijabai Naik Gaunekar of Bandora. A year later, Vasantrao paid his first visit to British India.
With the Liberation of Goa, Vasantrao embarked on a diversification programme and expanded his industrial empire. For Vasantrao, business was no stranger. The Dempos had been in business even as early as 1600, when they owned a fleet of ‘pangayas’ country sailing craft, and ran a passenger-cum-cargo service from Goa to African and Arabian ports.
Vasantrao started his personal enterprise in 1941. He was barely out of school then. Despite his youth, he was immediately successful. Vasantrao looked towards twin ideals: expansion and diversification. In 1941, Vasantrao borrowed money and started business as a shipping agent. He was assisted by his younger brother Voicuntrao. In 1941 he set up his own VS Dempo & Co Pvt Ltd and began to import foreign goods like perfumes, chocolate and other confectionery acquired from England and Portugal. He had agencies to sell trucks and motor cars.
Vasantrao started the agency in 1941 - VS Dempo and Cia Limitada under Portuguese law. At the time, the mainstay of the company was imports and exports of general merchandise, banking and shipping line agents.
In a fitting tribute to his progressive outlook, industrial entrepreneurship and yeoman service to industry, trade and commerce in Goa, Vasantrao Dempo was conferred the distinction of Order of Merit by the Republic of Portugal in 1952. On a number of occasions, the ‘House of Dempo’ was nominated to mediate between merchants, charters and ship owners.
In the early 1950s Vasantrao took his family into iron ore mining and exports. The first shipment of ore in 1950 was only 20,000 tonnes in size.
The Dempos launched a travel agency and owned and ran a chain of retail stores and departmental stores.
The Dempo Group during Vasantrao’s time comprised ten companies with more than 2500 employees. Dempo Engineering Services was launched to take construction contracts of large projects. Goa Paints and Allied Products was floated to produce quality marine paints Vasantrao launched Dempo Dairy Industries, a milk food project in north Karnataka near Jamkhandi.
Mining and export of iron ore, shipping, shipbuilding, manufacturing, sports, education and publishing are no mean contribution to the country’s wealth and progress, affording employment to thousands of people. Thus, Vasantrao Dempo was deservingly recognized and rewarded by the Government of India with the award of Padmashri in 1991.
Vasantrao Dempo passed away on November 9, 2000.
