Bhaskar Das – a dear friend is no more

I knew him since my Kolkata days when I was in Clarion  He used to come from Mitra Prakashan and subsequently from Time Of India, I liked him for his simplicity but also admired his ferocious ambition to complete however difficult the  task was.  In fact, our friendship began way before his marriage and  both me and my wife were present at his weddding in Kolkata. We kept enjoying being family friends and regularly visited each other beyond office hours. 

Subsequently, we moved out of Kolkata and he, at Times of India, was given a difficult task of putting the house in order at Ahmedabad. Which at that juncture, seemed beyond control of top team He managed it admirably well, titned it around with superlative man management skills. In fact he did it so well  that Pradeep Guha, his boss at TOI was finding it difficult to shift him to Mumbai with a better opportunity  as he had made himself indispensible  at Ahmedabad.

When we also shifted to Mumbai, me and my wife Tulika frequented their house often and so did Bhaskar and Soma - being regular visitors at our home. Even our kids enjoyed  the company of each other and it was always an warm, enjoyable evening.

Thereafter, his annual party in Mumbai, became the talk of the town for all who mattered. This is one get togather that we made sure to attend as we were welcome from their hearts by both Bhaskar and Soma. Gradually, he went on to greater heights careewise, academically got several  Ph D in various disciplines, taught in most pretigious institutes including MICA besides becoming mentor to many students and professionals – always with an unselfish motive but only to help them grow in their career.

We will miss you Bhaskar.

(Tapan Pal is the founder of Mediasys Solutions)