Tuesday, October 7, 2008

A colleague and a gentleman

JB passed away on Monday morning after undergoing a cardiac surgery which went off successfully, but for the negligence of the hospital post operative care!


The news on Sunday of his physical state of affairs post the Saturday surgery came as bit of shocker to me.


JB and I were a lot in touch the last few weeks because of this “big” event happening in Singapore this week. Infact, the last sms I got from him was informing me that he was in hospital and that I should not worry and keep my cool and not stress over things that are not in my control!


JB, you were a man with immense patience and a great sense of humor. You have always shown warmth and affection to me in the last 12 years since I have known you.You were a man of style and class, a sassiness that not many men have. Always very properly dressed and with “that” very English sahib accent, you called many of us ‘cutlet’! I really really wonder what that ever meant though.


I remember the stories about Assam, about your college days, the gyan you gave me on the ASEAN region and the reason why I need to focus more and how during the several jaunts we made on work.

Our last travel out together was to Bangkok this year, end July. How can I ever forget how you were ready to miss the flight, but not miss picking up the new Jacket you got stitched from that particular tailor and how you made me me jump off the van that we were travelling in to cross that busy Sukhmvit Street with our suitcases dragging behind us and how you smuggled me into the business class lounge and then got a foot massage!

I remember the last time you and Ramola were in Singapore a few months back and spent many a hours at the office and refused to go out in the light rain lest your jacket got wet and your shoes caught the mud. I remember how you refused to drink the coffee I offered because you the last of the surviving English Sahib who had only green Darjeeling tea!

What classiness, what a man……….what a gentleman!

The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose.
JB, you fulfilled your every purpose.

You will be missed dearly.
Where ever you may be now, may you rest is peace.

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