In the passing of Capt Ashoke Bansal on 28 May ’25 in Chennai, at the ripe age of 92, the Indian Merchant Marine and its legal fraternity have lost a highly knowledgeable and talented professional.
Having been bestowed with `Command’ at the tender age of 25 in India’s famous shipping firm Scindia Steam Navigation in its Liner sector was itself a great achievement of the times. Qualifying in Law from England and moving to Madras -a not so easy migratory transition for a Punjabi couple- to spearhead commercial operations in the Dry Bulk sector there was another.
As a lawyer who had preferred to settle disputes amicably as an Arbitrator, he became a “Go-To” person for resolutions on any commercial dispute. He recalled that he had actually ‘earned’ his land where he built his house in the Kilpauk locality of Chennai from a Tamil businessman family for having resolved a dispute for them.
He and his wife, Dr Moni Bansal, a gynaecologist, were a well-recognised couple in the city’s social circles.
Upon his retirement Capt Bansal started IWL India Private Limited, a modern Waterproofing Business that his son Ashok later developed further.
Capt Bansal is also survived by his daughter in law, Anshu, and grandchildren Arti and Anika.
(Incidentally, Capt Bansal’s first name is Ashoke, and his son is named Ashok)
Capt Bansal will continue to remain in the hearts of many.