Obituary

SP Agarwal, President Delhi Exporters Association

9 July 1940 – 29 Nov 2012

The Academy of Business Studies is sad to announces the death of our dear friend Shri Shri Prakash (SP) Agarwal, President Delhi Exporters Association (DEA) on Thursday, 29 November 2012. He complained of chest pain in the late evening after which he rushed to Parmanand Hospital in Civil Lines where he suffered the fatal heart attack.

SP is survived by three daughters and his wife. He is a traditional Chandni Chowk Kinari Bazar resident operating from the “Naughara” haveli. His father Shri Ramcharan Agarwal was the Mayor of Delhi, the ITO Crossing at Bahadurshah Zafar Marg is named after him. His younger brother Jai Prakash Agarwal is an MP from North East Delhi and President of DPCC.

We in ABS knew SP very well for the last 20 years. He fought for the exporters with the government agencies and took up their problems with characterises zest and earnestness. His outspoken nature earned him the love of the trade, and often attracted the ire the vested interest. His reactions to the Annual Foreign Trade Policy were delivered in characteristic plant and straight forward manner. Very often he said, there is nothing in the FTP for exporters, it is import oriented and will turn India in another traders paradise Dubai!

He operated on a small resource base of skeleton staff operating from his residence and the many DEA “May I Help You” counters in the DGFT/VAT Department and the ITPO. His large presence and continuous follow up on the telephone and the Press give him a visibility which would save time largely than live.

SP was a generous friend. He mobilised the top exporters to organise the lavish annual get togethers over food and music at Pragati Maidan. None could say “No” to SP. He has now joined his bosom pal and import policy stalwart Takhat Ram in the other world.

It was not that he concentrated only on government rules and regulations. The Delhi Exporters Association was very active in participation in Trade Fairs and Exhibitions in India and outside specially Germany. He also was instrumental solving the banking problems and also getting the payment of exporters released from unscrupulous foreign buyers.

We hope that his legacy does not die with him. It is impossible to find another SP Agarwal. In today’s world but the experience of living with SP will guide the exporting community.