Celebrating Sharad Sharma: A national treasure, no less #JeenaIsiKaNaamHain

Today, 4th April 2026, is Sharad Sharma’s birthday. This edition of JISKN is dedicated to him, a very special man in my life.

Sharad and I have had a long-standing partnership, dating back nearly two decades, first at NASSCOM and then subsequently at iSPIRT. Admittedly, the parting wasn’t easy, and it took me some years to come to terms with it, but I realised that Sharad is larger-than-life, and when you have worked very closely with him, as I did, it leaves a deep and lasting impression. The vision and the extremely high energy which he brings to the table to drive transformational change, are indeed very rare. And now, while he is recuperating in a hospital bed, none of that has diminished.

We met a few times over the last couple of years, and he has always shown great fondness for me, which touched me a lot. I have never really hugged him, but when he held my hand, I felt a surge of emotion. We reminisced about some of the great things we did at iSPIRT, and since our partnership has been for such a long time, we share a bagful of beautiful memories, really.

The other thing about Sharad is that he makes you feel on top of the world when he introduces you. The way he does it creates such a warm feeling, of which I don’t have the words to express.

Sharad, as you know, suffered a stroke a few months back. As usual, he was very busy preparing for an important meeting, but just a day before, he started to feel nauseous and got admitted to a hospital.

He has been there, recuperating, for more than three and a half months, and I can tell you the way people rallied around to save him, speaks volumes of the kind of man he is and the thousands of lives that he has touched during his illustrious career. Someone actually said, “Sharad is a national treasure and we must do whatever it takes to get him up and running. The nation needs him.”

Any medical condition of this magnitude is a harrowing experience for the family and well-wishers. And they all rallied around to ensure that he received the best medical care that’s possible in India. Through a series of social media posts, he has conveyed deep gratitude and acknowledged all his well-wishers, and they make for a compelling read. It shows that even after the stroke, his mind is as sharp as ever, and he is able to process every bit of information about the illness. That same willingness to learn, explore and go deep — the very attributes that made Sharad Sharma a national treasure.

The other thing which I found rather amazing is his sheer will to get better, walk without support and return to his old life. He also trains his mind every day so that he can remain focused for long hours. That is most inspirational and a learning for all of us — how to fight back in times of great adversity.

So far, I have had the privilege to meet him twice at the hospital.

The first time I met him was on a Friday, late in the afternoon. Given his condition, a hospital staff member advised that I should exercise caution, but when I saw him lying in bed, I couldn’t keep my emotions in check, so I rushed over to meet him. I touched him lightly on the shoulder and told him, “I cannot see you in this state”. And sure enough, someone came running and said I should sanitise my hands. They were all on their toes to ensure that Sharad Sharma was back on his feet at the earliest.

I was there for almost one and a half hours, and he made great efforts to speak. Given his delicate condition, his voice came through weakly, but his thoughts were crystal clear. First, he enquired about my family, how I was doing, and then delicately waded into deeper waters — the inexhaustible world of AI. He used a notepad to jot down his thoughts, but his handwriting — understandably — wasn’t very legible. In the midst of our chat, a doctor came in and cleared the phlegm. That eased him a bit and brought some relief.

His passion for work, as I mentioned, remains undiminished. He told me, “Avinash, if I could get on a wheelchair and go to the meeting to make my point, I would go.” I looked at him, awe-struck because I knew he meant every word of it. That’s the kind of commitment he has while driving a mission.

He can also regale you with anecdotes that are not only funny, but deeply insightful as well. I guess the sheer experience he has had over many decades has made him deeply observant.

Once he is a little stronger, I have a good mind to put together a panel of sorts, comprising a select group of his friends, so that informally, they can talk about the man, his great vision and extreme willingness to drive change.

The idea is that Sharad is also a part of the panel and listens on. It would be like a tribute to someone who has done so much for India’s product ecosystem.

Sharad Sharma is not just an exemplary industry leader; he is a great friend to many. Stories abound, and once, he stayed on with a friend because the man had lost his will to live. Sharad was there to ensure the friend got back on his feet. In our world, where we are so caught up, one rarely finds such well-meaning friends.

While speaking to him, I realised that while he was concerned about the extensive healthcare support he needed, he also ruminated about all the unfinished work. His mind remains sharp, and I am confident that once he overcomes the health-related challenges, he will return stronger to doing what he does best — contribute to the nation.

I told him the kind of impact he made in my life, and not one to listen to praises, he simply brushed it aside. He is a national treasure, and we must all pray that he recovers fully and continues his role as India’s great visionary.

He has seen death very closely. He realises that and remarked solemnly, “Mai bachh gaya” and adds, “there’s a reason perhaps”. A larger unfinished agenda, which he will pick up very soon. I held his hand.

My dad was from a different world, so he didn’t quite understand what I did for a living. Of course, he was very proud of me. While Sharad saw potential in me very early, and like all great gurus, he nurtured me and created opportunities so that I could learn and grow. I remain eternally grateful, and in many ways, he is like a father figure.

The one-and-a-half hours flew past, and it was time for me to leave. He held my hand and said, “Let us pick another mission.” Now that he is more spiritually inclined, that’s the pathway he wants to walk, I think.

And I am certain he will.

I got a picture clicked with him, came home and proudly showed it to my mother and wife. It is a frame I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Thank you, Sharad, for being my guru and father figure, all rolled in one. The learnings I got from you pivoted me into an altogether different orbit.

Get well soon…and let’s pick up one more mission — “picture abhi baki hai”. India needs you…so you have to get back to doing what you do best — inspire the next generation of young Indians and be the change agent. And once more, I hope I will have the privilege and joy to contribute, alongside, under your inspirational leadership.