RAMMOHAN SUNDARAM, Country Head, Integrated Media, DDB Mudra Group
I was first enamored by the opportunity of e-commerce in India back in 1999, so much so that I had blocked a potential website domain, that expired eventually, by the name of Munafa.com. Such was the flurry of activity in the dot-com era, which marked the second half of 1999 when everyone with an idea wanted to do something.
At the time, I was at Microland when Pradeep Kar had envisaged the big internet opportunity and PlanetAsia was one company that I thought had massive potential though several of his ventures were much ahead of its time. However, some of the biggest names of the industry came from Microland as entrepreneurs so I am very proud of being part of such an alumnus. At Microland, I was introduced, for the first time, to a company called Fabmart.com and I made my first-ever online purchase. It was an audio cassette. Having broadband at the office made life easy, a speed of 100 kbps was like god’s gift to mankind then; today we know that such speed means nothing but back then it enabled me to complete a transaction online using my first ever credit card from ICICI Bank. I still remember the audio cassette I purchased — it was Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and I got it delivered in four days. I think it cost me Rs 60; I am not quite sure about the price, but it made me feel highly empowered.
The Ecommerce Pioneer
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