Tribute

Remembering Hema Viswanathan

Cool and unflappable whatever the crisis! That was the hallmark of Hema Viswanathan. She joined IMRB in the mid-1980s and very quickly she became a sought-after name in Social research. Her reputation grew with a mammoth Quant-Qual study for UNICEF and the Government of India among mothers and doctors. In 1990, this path-breaking work was published by her in a series of volumes titled ‘Diarrhoea in Rural India: A nationwide study of Mothers and Practitioners’ with contributions by Jon E. Rohde, the representative of UNICEF in India. A specialist division was created to champion Social and Rural Research Institute (SRI) with Hema as head. Subsequently Hema went on to head PQR, the Qualitative research unit at IMRB. After two decades with IMRB, Hema moved to set up a consultancy company of her own, and her work at Barometer Research and at her international partners Baird’s Consulting further built her stature as the go-to person for Social research.
I have traced her career in some detail because it’s a remarkable career and it is one that is truly worth retelling and celebrating. In the last few years, we met each other – at a farewell, a wedding or a chance meeting at a doctor’s clinic. Always open. Always calm. We are all the richer for knowing and working with her!

-Thomas Puliyel, Former President, IMRB International (Kantar)

Hema was a dear friend and senior colleague at IMRB – one amongst a group of bright, IIM grads who started their careers in market research in the ‘80s, in what was then a nascent industry!
Hema was equally proficient in both Qualitative and Quantitative methods. She led the Social research initiative in IMRB setting up the Social & Rural Research Institute (SRI) and built it using her research rigor and skills, when working with several international organizations, e.g., UN specialized agencies, The John Hopkins University amongst others. Hema worked on several path breaking social research projects on diverse social issues spanning development, health, education etc.
Hema was a pleasure to work with and played an active role in mentoring research talent in IMRB, and in Business schools. She had a charming personality, always with a smile on her face!
My condolences to Vish and the family and may her soul RIP.

-Gireesh Sabari, ex IMRB International (Kantar)

Everyone would tell you what a great researcher Hema was. But I am here to tell you about my memories of Hema the person behind the researcher Hema.
For one, Hema had great taste, and it reflected in her excellent collection of sarees. And one saree was more gorgeous than the other.
Being a Gujju, being a foodie came naturally to Hema. Her love for Gujarati snacks and farsan, which she missed sorely sitting in Delhi - to the extent that I had to carry some for her every time I went to Delhi for work.
My memories of Hema also include the numerous trips we made to Chennai on the Ford account, during and after Ford’s 1st successful launch of Ford Ikon. And while in the city, many a times the “Viswanathan” side of her took over and she would be longing for good Tamilian cuisine. We often ended up gorging on Tamilian food when we stayed back in Chennai or savouring on the masala dosa at Chennai Airport (2nd Floor restaurant), when our Jet Airways flight was delayed in schedule.
Though our contact had reduced after she moved, we often did bump into each other when she was walking her dog Scoobie on Carter Road promenade.
We will miss her and the good old times at IMRB always.

-Nikhil Rawal, Founder, PXLLens (Market Research, Consulting, Photography outfit)

---

Remembering Samit Chakrabarti

This is a tribute to Samit Chakrabarti who passed away at the untimely age of 55 in Kolkata.

Samit , an MBA & M.Stat. from Calcutta University joined (then) IMRB as a trainee from campus in 1996. Samit’s excellence in research, his commitment, his leadership & mentoring skills and his ability to develop great client relationships ensured he became one of the pillars of Kantar Kolkata and was Executive Director, Kantar, Kolkata at the time of his passing. In between, Samit had a very successful four-year secondment as Insights Head at ITC Personal Care.

Samit’s professional achievements were immense, but it was his personal qualities that made him so special. On the professional front, it was rare to come across anyone who had such a phenomenal grasp of numbers and an ability to understand what the numbers meant in a business context. We often talk about being a client’s trusted advisor – the client’s trust in Samit was so deep that for several months, he literally donned two roles daily – as the client’s MR Head in the morning and the agency’s account lead in the second half !

Samit was so self-effacing that it was a surprise to many of us to see how many former ITC executives now in senior positions elsewhere reaching out on LinkedIn to express their grief and shock as well as to record their respect for his knowledge and fondly appreciate his inherently helpful nature.
Within the agency, Samit was an immensely liked and respected leader. He was a true mentor & guide to many - not just to those whom he formally led – but Samit was someone who went out of his way to welcome any newcomer and made it a point to be helpful and a problem solver to his colleagues across the wider organisation. Samit treated everyone in all functions and across levels with utmost respect and consideration - this came but naturally to him.

Samit was so self-effacing that it was a surprise to many of us to see how many former ITC executives now in senior positions elsewhere reaching out on LinkedIn to express their grief and shock as well as to record their respect for his knowledge and fondly appreciate his inherently helpful nature.
Within the agency, Samit was an immensely liked and respected leader. He was a true mentor & guide to many - not just to those whom he formally led – but Samit was someone who went out of his way to welcome any newcomer and made it a point to be helpful and a problem solver to his colleagues across the wider organisation. Samit treated everyone in all functions and across levels with utmost respect and consideration - this came but naturally to him.

Samit was a person of great integrity, humility and never sought the limelight. It was never, ever about himself. Samit was warm , cheerful, helpful, supportive and generous to a fault. His positivity was infectious. The full extent of how many people he had helped and what he meant to them only emerged after he passed away.
Samit forged close relationships with the ‘IMRB Calcutta’ alumni over the years, and whenever any alumni were in town, their first port of call was inevitably Samit, and the warm and insightful adda that was to follow. Much loved and respected, the ever-cheerful Samit will be deeply missed as a talented professional and as a true friend by many.
Au revoir , gentle soul , your legacy will live on…

-Jasojit Mookerjea, Retired as Senior Vice President, Kantar IMRB

---

Remembering Anang Dev Jena

Not everyone in our organization knew Anang Jena closely. And perhaps, not many outside will know of him either. But for those of us who did, even briefly, his passing leaves a quiet ache.

I had the rare privilege of being both Anang’s manager and his peer. We joined erstwhile IMRB Delhi around the same time, and he was one of the first people I would chat with. Over the years, we shared countless moments grumbling about structures, navigating tricky pitches, and occasionally, getting into trouble for his over-commitment to clients. Through it all, Anang remained the purest of heart.

In a world often clouded by insecurities, Anang never spoke ill of anyone—not even the most junior team members. He wasn’t driven by ambition, but by a genuine love for research, client centricity, and a humility that only true experts possess.

As time passed, our conversations grew fewer as part of changing roles and responsibilities. But the warmth of those early years never did.

This loss has hit hard. I’ll return to work—chasing numbers, reviewing decks, etc. It will seem normal. But it won’t be.

Anang, you were one of a kind. And you will be missed.

-Soumya Mohanty, MD, Chief Client & Solutions Officer - South Asia, Kantar

It has been a true privilege to be associated with Anang and to have worked so closely with him. His depth of knowledge and clarity in the field of auto research are truly unparalleled. I have never seen him flustered, no matter the situation, his distinctive laughter often served as a calming force during challenging times. The confidence he exuded stemmed from his vast experience and expertise. Anang is a genuine authority in auto research, and both our clients and I will deeply miss his presence in the years to come.

-Susmita Somjit, Executive Vice President, Quantitative, India, Kantar

Anang Dev Jena was an icon in automotive research, but to us, he was simply a friend, mentor, and a steady compass. I was lucky enough to know him closely for ten years, yet it still feels like I needed so much more time.

His boundless curiosity and exacting professional standards were always tempered by an easy smile, lending a sense of grace and possibility to every challenge.

His greatest gift was his clarity of thought. In rooms thick with jargon, Anang was the rare leader who could instantly cut through it all. He’d start with, "You see," and then transform the complex analysis into plain, actionable language, essentially turning data into a story. He made clarity feel simple, and simple feel profound. He was a true champion of intellectual honesty. He genuinely believed in the power of disagreement and always created a safe space where you could "agree to disagree." He welcomed every view, listened without defensiveness, and knew that respectful debate sharpens ideas and strengthens teams.

Anang took life easy, not because he cared less, but because he cared deeply about what truly mattered: people, purpose, and progress over perfection. He was a person of immense dimension, often enjoying deep discussions on a wide variety of topics, from history to cultures. He was the one who always encouraged us to breathe and keep perspective when deadlines piled up.

Larger than life, Anang will be profoundly missed—not just as a colleague who set the standard, but as a cherished friend. We will remember his clarity of mind, his collaborative spirit, his wonderful humour, and the kindness and grace he brought every day. Rest in peace now, Anang. We will miss you dearly.

-Rajesh Nagare, Executive Vice President, Quantitative, India, Kantar