Dr. Ramashish Rai

Dr. Ramashish Rai (Dr. Rai) passed away on 4th August 2021, at the age of 71, in Navi Mumbai. His battle with health in recent years shows his courage in facing life challenges with a smile. Despite the pain in the last few days, he came out as a hero and stayed strong until the very end.

He was born in a small village in Bihar in July 1950. “Discipline and Dedication” as a key to Success was taught by his uncle Awadhesh Rai, a Tehsildar and a teacher to village kids. He dreamt big and was the first kid from his village to become an Engineer.

After graduating from BIT Sindri, his first stint was in the same college as an Assistant Professor, but soon got a chance to join one of the NAVRATNA Public Sector Organization of India, ONGC. Taking a three-day journey, changing two trains, joining ONGC in Ahmedabad was like going to a different world to him. Hesitant to go, he was pushed by his friends and colleagues to board a train to Ahmedabad.

Life was difficult in a new City with an entirely new language, 2000Km away from home. His colleagues and his managers helped him settle in Ahmedabad and made him feel at home, thus starting a lifetime journey as a professional.

ONGC, was not just his workplace, it was a place of worship for him. The three “D”s (Discipline, Dedication and Dreaming Big) helped him achieve great heights at ONGC. He kept his learning intact and completed his M-Tech and Ph.D. in Petroleum Engineering while working at ONGC. He was also instrumental in setting up an Institute of Oil and Gas Production Technology (IOGPT) in ONGC. He also designed a new concept of “Auto-gas Lift” which helped in operating the onshore and offshore fields. Over his illustrious career of 37 years, he received numerous awards for his contributions in the field.

Although he retired from ONGC, he never retired from work. He along with his ex-colleagues opened and ran a consultancy firm Raeon Energy Services LLP, earning enough to keep them and few youngsters busy. In March 2020 when the pandemic hit everyone hard and they decided to wind up the firm.

He was a firm believer that ones’ knowledge increases by sharing with others. While being a professional, he was also a visiting Professor at MIT Pune and few other institutes where he used to take lectures for students of Petroleum Engineering.

Although Learning and Work was a topmost priority, he still managed to find time to network and socialize with his colleagues and friends. He formed the “Mitra Bihar Sangathan” with his like-minded friends to promote the Cultural, Spiritual and Festivities of Bihar in the small world of ONGC Panvel. Chatt Puja first organized by Mitra Bihar is still followed like a ritual in ONGC Panvel every year for last 30+ years.

On the personal side, he got married to Vinya Rai at an early age and celebrated 50 years of togetherness last year. He took over the mantle of being a fatherly figure to two of his younger brothers (Shio Dayal Rai and Rajnarayan Rai) while bring up his two sons Rakesh Roshan and Rajiv Ranjan, and helped shape their lifes. He taught the three “D” (Discipline, Dedication and Dreaming Big) mantra to all of us in the family, helping the family to elevate from illiteracy to being well educated, well off financialy and yet a unified family. He is survived by his wife Mrs. Vinya Rai and two sons Rakesh Roshan Rai and Rajiv Ranjan Rai, his two younger brothers Shio Dayal Rai and Raj Narayan Rai, two sisters Lalmuni Tiwari and Dhanmuna Tiwari and many cousins, nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

Dr. Rai faced his death and his mortality, as he did with his life, face on with dignity and honor. 

Time will not dim the face I love, The voice I heard each day, The many things you did for me, In your own special way. All my life I’ll miss you, As the years come and go, But in my heart I’ll keep you, Because I love you so.