AVisionary Leader Departs For His Heavenly Abode

Ifirst met Mr. Behl in 2013 at one of the industry events, when i handed him a copy of Exhibion Showcase magazine. His personal warmth resonated a sense of belonging and confidence in me. He saw the magazine and paed my back and invited me to visit his office someme. Soon i went to see him in his office and while sing in the guest room i could see him addressing his team in the meeng room. Though not being able to comprehend anything, i could sll feel the movaon! During our meeng, he told me many useful things about how this industry works. I was very impressed by his office and how fondly (& professionally at par with MNC’s offices) he had created its look and feel.

He told me that he is fond of philately, numismacs and music. Born on September 10, 1944 in Delhi, he did his educaon from La Marniere College, Lucknow and later Bachelor in History from Delhi University. He

A ViSiONARY LEADER DEPARTS FOR HiS HEAVENLY ABODE

Tribute wrien by Raghav Khosla, Group Editor, Exhibion Showcase

started his career in 1965 as the Area sales execuve for India Foils Ltd., Calcua and his last snt was as the Director at India Internaonal Wool Secretariat, Bombay in 1984. He started his own business as a proprietary firm in the year 1987 and soon Exhibions India Group started to scale one height aer another. Inially, he took groups of Indian exhibitors to trade shows in Asia, then the rest of the world.

Before leaving, he said that he would like to mentor me personally and he would always remain available for advice & guidance. You meet many people in your life but these are some of the things which you never forget about a person and what essenally separate a person from another. Mr. Behl is globally recognized for his path-breaking and visionary contribuons to the exhibions industry. Through his pioneering role, he set new standards to aract unparalleled levels of foreign and domesc investment inflows, generang new employment opportunies and changing lifestyles. Innovaon was one of his core values. He launched his 1st tradeshow, which became iconic over the years – The Convergence India expo in 1992. Over the years, EIG has organised over 100 internaonal trade shows including the creaon of some of the largest exhibions in the country. Their current porolio of expos comprises of the Convergence India (incl. Internet of Things India, Mobile India, EmbeddedTech India, Fintech India & Gamethon) and Smart Cies India (incl. Buildings India, Clean India, Solar India, Transport India, Water India) series of expos, Chartered Instute of Logiscs & Transport (CILT) India expo, Global Economic Zones Expo & Convenon 2019, Indo-Russian Friendship Celebraon (IRFC) 2020, in collaboraon with the Russian Embassy, India.

Mr. Behl received several accolades during his decades of exemplary service to the industry. Under his guidance, the Exhibions India Group also received several naonal and internaonal awards in recognion of its connued commitment to the exhibions sector. Well, Mr. Prem Behl was a true leader in every sense of the word and he inspired many to work & excel in this industry, especially at a me when very few understood it!! The visionary leader le for his heavenly abode on the morning of 7 December, 2020 aer baling crical illness and lately Covid-19. His departure is a great loss to the industry but his legacy will connue to live on. Exhibions India Group connue to forge ahead with the vision of Managing Director, Chandrika Behl and Director, Dhruv Behl.