Tribute to Shri Rajiv Mahajan by Shri Sanjay Nayak, CEO, Tejas Networks

Dear SITARA Colleagues,

It has been a very sad day for us, since today we lost our valued colleague and a dear friend Rajiv Mahajan to COVID. He always had a smiling, never-give-up attitude, but unfortunately he couldn’t win this battle with COVID and ultimately succumbed due to complications after being in the hospital for over a month.

I had the pleasure of working with Rajiv since the year 2000 when we founded Tejas Networks, and he made tremendous contribution to the success of our company. Rajiv was one of the most positive persons I have ever met and he always had a smiling, forward looking attitude to tackle even the toughest problems.

Rajiv was a true champion of domestic industry and had relentlessly pursued the cause of Indian technology and products with a great deal of passion and conviction. He was involved in the formulation of all Government policies for indigenization in telecom and ESDM over the last 15 years and made invaluable contribution with his insights. As a true thought leader, patriot and a vocal telecom industry leader, he carried the flag for the domestic industry with great passion and conviction- all this will be missed.

On behalf of  Tejas Networks, we sincerely thank you and appreciate your kindness and sympathy. Our deepest condolences are with his family and we pray to God to give them strength to overcome these challenging times.

Om Shanti. Please stay safe.

Sanjay Nayak, CEO & MD, Tejas Networks Ltd.

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Shri Mahajan’s children have every reason to be very proud of their Father. They followed in his footsteps, he proudly told us. He himself returned from the US to promote domestic industry. he could have stayed in the US. His Son has completed MS from a US University and is working now. His daughter is also an Engineer and is working in Bangalore. Deepest condolences to them and Mrs Mahajan.

Messages from Defense Secretary, Deputy National Security Advisor and National Cybersecurity Coordinator

I am saddened beyond words. Have had several occasions to interact with Rajiv Mahajan and every time I met him he was always smiling. Extremely polite and courteous to the hilt. His smiling face doesnt leave my mind as I think about him.

My deepest condolences to all his family and friends. Another Covid scar which will be difficult to heal. Dr Ajay Kumar, Defence Secretary

Please accept my deepest condolences on this tragic loss.
Prayers and thoughts are with you, his family and friends. Regards, Shri Pankaj Saran, Deputy National Security Advisor

His smiling face is still in front of me….we had been having such professional discussions with him the past few months and it is certainly a  big loss to the telecom community. Very sad news….Om Shanti ! Dr Rajesh Pant, National Cybersecurity Coordinator

Deepest condolences to his family and all who knew him.  The best way to honour his memory is to take his work and vision forward. Amb. Deepa Wadhwa

I have been associated with Rajiv from last 16 years when he recruited me in Tejas. Last 3 years have been so inspiring and full of action where we have spend days and nights together working on so many policies and inputs. Loosing him is like a end of era for me of my working career. I can’t imagine working without him around. From last 15 -20 days I was praying for his recovery and was always sure he will come back and never thought on 21st May 2021 God will take him away from us. His thoughts and vision to make India a self capable Telecom equipment nation we all have to take it forward. I pray to God to give strength to his family to bear this irreparable loss. Om Shanti, Prashant Jain, Director Public Policy and Government Affairs, Tejas Networks

A great loss to the nation, deepest condolences ! Shri Ashok Rajput, MoP

Sanjay, I can imagine the pain you are going through. I just cant believe this… The little I knew about him gave a glimpse of his character, full of positivity and a gentle soul who would have never harmed a fly and yet full of steely resolve when it came to things indigenous of the telecom variety ! I had suggested this in another WA group that we name the R&D linked PLI scheme after him. Not sure if this is possible but that would be a fitting honour. Parag Naik, Co-founder and CEO, Saankhya Labs

Dear Sanjay, It is an extremely sad day for all of us also. There were numerous occasions when I have interacted with Rajiv over phone and attended many meetings jointly. He always had a smile on his face and was a very very nice person. He was a professional to the core with deep insights and ideas that would benefit Indian industry. Our condolences to all his near and dear ones. Om Shanti. Regards, Raghuveer, CEO Nivetti Systems

Dear Sanjay: Words cannot describe such patriots. This is a great loss for SITARA and all of you at Tejas. My sincere, heartfelt condolences to the family and his colleagues. May his soul rest in peace. Let us all be guided by his example. Warm regards, Antony Prince, President, Smart Engineering & Design Solutions (India) Private Limited,

Dear Sanjay, We deeply condole his passing away. He truly was an asset be it Tejas, Sitara, technical fraternity or the country. I agree with Parag. We must keep his memory alive through the scheme suggested by him. Regards, Dr Prem Chand, Co-Founder & Mentor, PITASYS Softwares Pvt Ltd.  

Dear Shri Nayak, Thank you for your message describing the enormous contribution Rajiv ji made to the cause. Rajiv Mahajan was a unique person. It is extremely painful to adjust to a world without him. How much deeper the pain you and your Tejas Family, his Family and close friends must feel. He will be in our hearts forever. I got up this morning to face this loss. At some point hope we can connect with his Family. He told me his children had also become engineers. They must be so proud of their Father and so shattered now. But I hope the thought of his incredible work and contribution will give them some happiness in the long run.  I was also thinking of naming something after him. Can we brainstorm and petition the authorities please? Smita Purushottam

Dear Sanjay, Words can’t describe the  loss. We are extremely shocked and saddened to hear about the demise of Rajiv.  Since the day news of he getting diagnosed with this deadly infection, I was quite sure that Rajiv would ultimately win his battle against Covid but unfortunately he succumbed to it.  He was a wonderful person with ever smiling face.  Finding like minded people in the industry is near to impossible. But i was very lucky to have Rajiv always a call away to discuss any matter, be  it related to personal matters or the business leads and industry issues.  He always worked hand in hand with the industry partners in all the issues pertaining to the domestic industry.   He was  a very passionate person with a positive approach in every aspect. With a heavy heart I pay my deepest condolences to his family on their loss.  May the  Almighty give them the  courage to bear this irreparable loss. On Shanti, Regards , Sanjeev Kakkar, President & Chief Strategy Officer, VNL Systems

Dear All, My heartfelt condolences on this tragic loss .  In grief, RAdm Rahul Shrawat Retd 

Very saddening! May Almighty give strength to his family friends and coworkers. Om Shanti, Prof B.M. Suri

Extremely sad News! A big blow to the nation. Heartfelt Condolences! Regards, Alok Bansal, Captain (IN)

Dear Smita, It is truly sad and tragic that someone like Shri Rajiv Mahajan has succumbed to this terrible pandemic! It is, as you have said, not just a loss for his family and his friends but also for the nation, for he was a true patriot who worked ceasely to promote national interests. We are poorer for this great loss. Please convey my deepest condolences to his family. Om Shanthi! With you all in sorrow, Amb. Balkrishna Shetty, IFS(Retd.)

Dear Smitaji, Our heartiest condolences on this very big loss to our country to Rajiv’s family and friends and all of us in this community.  May God rest his soul ! Sarita Nagpal, DDG, CII

Dear Esteemed Members, My deepest condolences on the sad demise of Shri Rajiv Mahajan. Satyam Kushwaha, Wing Commander (Retd), Founder, KRANTII, Founder, Scytale Alpha Pvt Ltd

Heartfelt condolences on the demise of son of India.  It places responsibility on our shoulders to carry forward his mission with vigour and dedication . R K Narang

My heartfelt condolences to his family and to you. May his soul RIP and lets try and carry on the good work of Shri Rajiv Mahajan. Brig. Deepak Das

It’s really a sad day. Rajiv was a champion in representing Indian industry view in meetings. Was very meticulous and would come prepared with data to supporting his observations and comments. Personally I miss interaction and learning, I am sure Industry will miss his leadership, it is a great loss.  Condolences to his family, friends and colleagues at Tejas. Shri T.S. Ramu, Lekha Wireless

Very sorry to learn about sad demise of Shri Rajiv Mahajan. Please convey our heartfelt condolences. May God grant peace to his soul and give strength to his family to bear the loss. In grief. Shri Nalin Kohli, CII

Saddened to hear this. We worked closely with him just 2 months ago as Sitara. My heartfelt condolences to his family, Tejas Networks and Sitara.  Smt. V. Charulatha, L&T

Very sad news – have interacted with him on numerous occasions. May his soul rest in peace. Shri Sailesh Chopra, HCL

Covid has taken away several of us, but to SITARA and TEMA, the loss of Rajiv Mahajan is truly tragic. I am not able to reconcile that he has left me. We used to discuss, strategies on almost all issues. No meeting of TEMA TEPC (and SITARA) was held without his active intervention. His views on domestic production and china role are very intense and passionate. The articles, papers written by him serve as Gita and Bible for us. Yes he suffered but was in hospital, so we were hoping all well. He was on 100% ventilator for some time but during last ¾ days he recovered and for one day on 30% self support. Each one of us will miss, but I maximum. He and me were really close buddy. It is a loss, which words cannot explain. Nothing we can do except to pray for peace to his soul. Prof N.K. Goyal, TEMA

Extremely sad on the untimely demise of a dynamic personality and a noble soul. May the divine soul rest in peace.  Sandeep Lahoti, Lekha Wireless

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