He co-founded Advertising Avenues, which was associated with path-breaking campaigns in the 1980s and 1990s…
The advertising industry mourns the demise of veteran adman Goutam Rakshit, who passed away on March 31.
Pradeep Guha, managing director, 9X Media, said, “Goutam was the quintessential Bengali bhadralok and bhalo manush (good human being), overflowing with joie de vivre. I have known Goutam from the early ‘80s since his days at Clarion. Although we began by sitting on opposite sides of the table, over the years our business relationship quickly metamorphosed into a personal one and became ever more enduring over the years. His commitment to professional integrity and his infinite quest for fairness endeared him to all his friends. Although he headed a lot of coveted professional bodies like the AAAI , ABC, ASCI, ACI etc, with intrinsically polarised views on every matter, I have never seen him get angry with anyone. Although he would make his views known quite forcefully, his conciliatory approach, laced with humour saved many an awkward situation. No industry matter was ever settled without Goutam’s valuable advice.
As Chairman of the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations, Goutam led the committee that put together the Adasia in Jaipur in 2003. For me it was an absolute delight and privilege working with him and Ramesh Narayan to organise that mammoth event. The ever gregarious Goutam’s sense of situational humor at work and joke-a-minute after hours, which I experienced during our promotional travels overseas will be etched in my memory forever. To relive the experience, we even kept planning a holiday together – the three of us – which unfortunately never happened.
Will miss you, Goutam. Your wisdom, your banter, your smiling face. I am sure you are entertaining someone somewhere up there,” Guha said.
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ETBrandEquity iStream Congress: A Video and Audio Streaming Virtual ConferenceBobby Sista, founder and executive trustee of Population First, said, “Goutam Rakshit is no more. I just don’t want to believe it. I know he was ill but I hoped his remission would last longer.
Goutam is a person I was very fond of as a friend and had a high respect for as a professional. He had a very distinguished career and he excelled in whatever he did. To the best of my knowledge he was one of the few, if not the only, person of his era to leave a very well known company, Cadbury’s, to start an advertising agency. ‘Advertising Avenues’ had to its credit many firsts and quite a few successes. He was on practically every advertising related association. He was also a member of several committees and represented India at many international advertising conferences. He leaves a deep void in the advertising profession.
Personally, I was very grateful to him for the tremendous support that he gave to our NGO Population First. Both Dr. A L Sharada, our CEO and I were highly honoured and happy that he got involved with our flagship programme ‘LAADLI’. We were greatly encouraged by his endorsement of our Girl Child Initiative, the ‘ LAADLI Advertising and Marketing Awards to Media for Gender Sensitivity’.
My very sincere condolences to his family.”
K V ‘Pops’ Sridhar, Global chief creative officer Nihilent & Hypercollective, said, “I knew him for more than 3 decades. Goutam was the only person who used to call Chax as Chax and Pops as Pops. RIP. Will miss him. My heartfelt condolence to the family and close friends.”
Kaushik Roy, president, brand strategy and marketing communication, Reliance Industries, is remembering the stalwart for his sense of humour and gentleness.
“It’s a sad day to lose one of the gentle giants of Indian Advertising. His sense of humour was something special, as Ramesh Narayan would always remember! We will all miss him. May he continue to spread cheer and happiness in his peaceful resting place. Nina joins me to express our sincere condolences to Vidita, Partho and other members of his family,” Roy added.
For Jaideep Gandhi, founder, Another Idea, Rakshit was an inspiration with warmth and care.
“Never knew that 28th Feb 2020 . – The After Wedding Party of my son would be my farewell meet to this profound industry stalwart with a million-dollar smile. He was not just an inspiration but an amazing company to be with, filled with warmth and care. I will never forget those times spent with him at many international trips and the stories he narrated to me about his relationship with my father. I would like to specially thank Mr. Pradeep Guha and Mr Ramesh Narayan for introducing me to Goutam Sir and gifting me an opportunity to know him and have him in my cherishable memories lifelong. My deepest condolences on this sad demise and may God give strength to his family,” Gandhi said.
Megha Tata, managing director- South Asia, Discovery Networks, says a gentleman of the ad industry is no more.
“One of the finest gentlemen of our industry. When I was a rookie in sales and used to go and meet him in Advertising Avenues, he always was warm and fatherly like . Even when I met him a few months ago..he continued to be the wonderful human being I always knew him as. The advertising industry has lost a stalwart. May his soul rest in peace,” Tata said.
Subhash Kamath, CEO and managing partner, BBH India, said, “Saddened to hear about Goutam. Remember him as a thorough gentleman, with charm, grace & dignity, and always with ready smile and a twinkle in his eye. May his soul rest in peace and God gives his family the strength to cope. “
Hormuzd Masani, Secretary General, ABC, remembers Rakshit as a father-like figure who would have a human touch in finding solutions to different problems.
“Our heartfelt condolences to Goutam Sir’s family . I had the privilege to be appointed by him at ABC some 22 years ago and thereafter under his guidance and direction ABC went on from strength to strength and also took forward NRSC for many years . What an intelligent and soft spoken person almost father like . We at ABC those who were in touch with him will surely miss him dearly . Rest in peace Sir , we shall always remember you and your human touch in finding a solution for any difficult issue put forward to him . May your noble soul rest in ever lasting peace . Yours in grief,” Masani said.
