Obituary: Indo-Japan Business Council (IJBC) President Shrikant Atre succumbs to massive heart attack in Pune

NEW DELHI: Shrikant Atre, the President of Indo-Japan Business Council (IJBC), died of a massive heart attack on Tuesday, November 10.  He breathed his last in the Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and Research Center, Pune where he was rushed to for treatment.

Shreyas Atre, son of Shrikant Ate was in Japan when Atre suffered cardiac arrest.

According to Abhishek Choudhury, Vice President, IJBC Mr. Atre suffered a massive heart attack on Tuesday early morning when he was at home in Pune, and he was rushed to Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital where he passed away.

The funeral will take place on Thursday. It was really an unfortunate development and a setback to the evolving Indo-Japanese relations, he added.

Shrikant Atre was an Entrepreneur with deep knowledge of Japanese Language and Culture, and also former Head of the Japanese Language Department at Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth.

In his message, Tomio Isogai, Freelance Advisor, Indo-Japanese Relations and former MD, SHARP India, and close friend of Shrikant Atre said, “Deep shock struck me yesterday to know about the sudden demise of a close friend of mine here in Pune. It is still hard to believe and accept it. I regret with pity his son Shreyas Atre, living in Japan, missed his last moments to be with his beloved father and now on board a flight to India from Japan. Shrikant Atre has always been very proud of his son who has become an ambassador promoting Indo-Japanese relations there.”

Just a while ago Tomio Isogai was with Atre sensei (teacher) at his new “Japanology” classes where a good number of his students expressed appreciation to him for the newly established course.

“I wish to contribute to completing the course for the sake of his students if only I could be of assistance to inherit Atre’s passion. For me, Shrikant Atre was the one who gave me lots of opportunities to feel useful and worth being in Pune that made Pune my workplace cum home!,” Tomio Isogai added.

While terming Atre a man of integrity, Tomio Isogai said, “I will miss him a lot and his friendship to me will be remembered forever. A great man of integrity, a dedicated researcher, and a devoted educationist, with his strong wishes, determination, and confidence, Shrikant Atre has departed leaving us all, Indians or Japanese, with uncountable delightful, unforgettable, and thankful memories that will never depart from us.”

“I believe in the eternal soul of every being and think that he has been called for his next duty much earlier than expected by all including him. I wish and pray for his soul resting in peace to get ready for another journey. He will be with me at all times, encouraging me, inspiring me, and mentoring me just as he has been doing to me and many all the time. My deep heartfelt and sincere condolences to all his family.  Aum Shanti Shanti Shanti,” he concluded.

Established in 2011, the Indo-Japan Business Council (IJBC) is one of the apex bi-lateral Chambers synergizing India-Japan Engagement in the field of business, trade, commerce, education, and culture. IJBC is working forward, intending to make India an attractive investment destination for the Japanese industry.