Diksha turned 22 on 2019-10-06

It was Panchami on 1997-10-06 that Diksha came into our lives. 22 years later it was Asthami, her birthday, all the more reasons to celebrate. Time has just flown by.
The late evening on 2019-10-06 after a hectic day of Durga Puja pandal hopping was private moments for the three of us, comprising of a fabulous tasty dinner at 'Momo I Am' in Offbeat CCU and the unmissable fresh chocolate cake from Mio Amore.
Many happy returns of the day.
Stay blessed.
Keep smiling 😊

Haruda's 'sraddha' (last rites) on Saturday, 2019-10-19

Dear Haruda (Amitabha Chattopadhyay), all these years it used to be you who invariably took centre stage and would cheer up all family members and guests in every event and/ or get together, happy or sad.
On Saturday, 2019-10-19 morning it was such a heart wrenching sight watching you smiling at Indrani boudi, Babai (your son), all your cousins (which included me), all your mamas & mamis, other family members, batchmates of BE College and numerous well-wishers from Ganguly Bagan and elsewhere, but from within the frame of a photograph with scores of white 'rajnigandha' flower garlands around you, lighted incense sticks, amidst the chanting of hymns by the purohit (priest).
The dreaded C disease snatched you away from us in exactly about 2 months 10 days on Wednesday, 2019-10-09, a day after Ma Durga left for her abode in the Himalayan ranges.
It took me over 3 hrs to pen these few words because I have broken down everytime I realized that you will no more be there to make me laugh my guts out during another meet.
You will always remain in my mind. I have always had huge respect and regards for you.
I need your blessings.
Om Shanti 😢😢😢
.
.
.
* obituary

Haruda's last journey on 2019-10-10

In just about 2 months 10 days the dreaded  c***** disease  snatched away our very dear and jolly good fella cousin (Haru da), ex MAMC Ltd, Tata Robins Fraser Ltd, Simon Carves India Ltd and finally National Marketing Head at Tata Steel (Structural Engineering & Projects) and a Civil Engineering alumni of 1970 passout batch of B.E College, Shibpur on Wednesday, 2019-10-09 at 9.45pm .... a day after Ma Durga returned to her abode in the mountains.
At the peak of his career he called it quits in end 2001 to live life on his own terms and pursue structural engineering projects on his own.
He would never miss a single family event and was invariably the first to reach with Indrani Boudi (bhabi) and more often than not the last to leave after making everyone gasping for breath with his whacky jokes.
He turned 70 a few days ago but never looked more than 60 even till 3 months ago.
We 'bhonda kajis' (his signature term to address us) will miss his physical presence dearly. However, I personally will always remember every interaction with him.
I only pray that Boudi and Babai (only son) copes well with the irreparable loss in their life.
Om Shanti 😪
.
.
Amitabha Chattopadhyay dada, I am saddened to pen your untimely obituary.
.
.
.
Photo of Haruda's last ride from the hospital mortuary in New Garia, Kolkata at 6.30pm on Thursday, 2019-10-10  😪

Sadhan and Jolly's younger son Prithijit (Badshah's) 'subho upanayan' dinner at Salkia on 20019-07-28

Sadhan and Jolly's younger son Prithijit (Badshah's) 'subho upanayan' dinner at Salkia on 20019-07-28. 

'Thodi si pet puja' with hand cooked prawn and 'ruhi' by Ma in Behala on 2019-07-22

Whenever I visit Ma, there's this irresistible pangs of hunger. Ma at 80, is invariably ready with her self cooked yummy stuff.
This evening, viz Monday, 2019-07-22 it was a bit of boiled rice, prawn curry, ruhi fish curry and potatoes to taste.
Feeling delighted after the 'thodi si pet puja' 😊

Diksha's 1st day (orientation session) at St. Xavier's University Kolkata on 2019-07-06

Visited Behala house with Diya and Diksha on 2019-07

At Behala house with Diksha and Diya for lunch on 2019-07.
Collected Jayashree Park P.O new savings account passbook. 

Pierce holes in empty plastic packs before disposing those offplr

I am a marketer.
I contribute wholeheartedly to minimize possibilities of unscrupulous people packing spurious products in genuine packaging and flooding the market with fakes. This is how I dispose off plastic container packs of branded medicines, lubricants, consumer products (viz. cooking oil, talcum powder, cosmetics, etc).
I pierce multiple holes in the package with a scissor or screw driver or some sharp object. I even scrape off some of the writings on the pack.
I'd request you to be equally responsible.
.
.
.
#Marketingpundit
#MarketingGyanology

With Na Kaku at Ariadaha on 2019-06-26

Customary periodic eye check up by my sis at Disha Eye Hospital in Baguiati in the afternoon followed by a drive further northwest to my uncle's place in Ariadaha in the northern fringes of Kolkata.
Happy to be at our favorite Na Kaku's place with Diya on Wednesday, 2019-06-26 evening.
Daughter Diksha equally happy to meet her favorite Na Dadu.
He is 84+. He is my late father's fourth brother. Baba was the eldest.
Although I am a regular visitor, Diya & Diksha could make it after almost 20 months because of the later's rigorous BBA schedule ever since July 2016.

Last meeting with Br. Brendan MacCarthaigh Sir before he left for Ireland on 2019-06-15

I wonder if I will ever get Br. Brendan MacCarthaigh Sir at arms length to soothe me every time I feel extremely low or disturbed 😥

It's almost 8.30 am on Saturday, 2019-06-15. By now his aircraft must be airborne. He is on his way from Kolkata to Dublin via Dubai. He will be there in Ireland for 3.5 months and will return to Chandigarh in India but not to Kolkata anymore 😢

Sir was my class teacher in St. Patrick's School in Asansol during the 2 yrs of my ISC after ICSE.
A life shattering incident immediately after my ISC brought me in close touch with Mac Sir. The sky had almost come crashing down on me on a 30th June decades ago. He was a godsend. He pulled me into his arms.
It was only then I realized what a gem of a man he is. His guidance and pep talks for about 10 months helped me to take up worldly challenges in my stride.

Thereafter, for about 17 years (till early 1997), I was not in touch with him since I was busy pursuing my higher education and shaping my career.

However, from thereafter I gave him gyan on how to market SERVE NGO better. I got him his email ID, taught him how to send and receive emails, opened his Facebook account, etc, etc. I have lost count of how many times he'd called me up and say that so & so content was there 15 minutes ago and now it's no more there :D

Anytime I felt depressed or have gone through terrible lows, I simply had to land up at Sir's place in Kolkata. Discussions of 1 - 4 hours would brighten up my mood and I always felt like fully serviced and refuelled for another journey of life till boredom or sorrow stuck me again.

I reached his office at St. Joseph's Collegiate School Annexe on Bowbazar Street around 3.00 PM on Tuesday, 2019-06-11 to get hugged by Sir, maybe for the last time ever. He was not there. Neither was he reachable on his number. I kept waiting trying to recalll all that I learnt from him.
At 5.50 pm, I spotted him walking towards me on the narrow lane between St. Joseph's and St.George's. He was in a hurry. He hugged me and then held my hands tight for the next 5 mins. My eyes swelled up. I think I saw his eyes watering up, too.
He smiled and said "Cheer up, son. Stay blessed. Convey my blessings to your daughter and wife. Let's have the selfie session fast"
Selfie over, I kept staring at the 81+ busy young man limping off to the next back to back meetings lined up.

On Friday, 2019-06-14 at 8.00 pm, I phoned him for not more than 20 secs to hear the signature "Hello Deep" and "God bless" for one more time.

I only pray that the decision makers at the Christian Brothers organization has a change of heart and asks him to return to Kolkata, his home.
At 81+, there's no way that Sir can adjust himself in Chandigarh.

Sir, I for one will be missing you every moment.
.
.
.
.
P.S: It was exactly 5 yrs ago on 2014-06-15 at 4.45 am, I lost my other mentor, my Father, forever.
When I met Mac Sir after 15 days, his comforting words were enough for me to realize that 'life must go on'.
.
.
.
* Meeting Mac