‘BD was a man who lived without regrets—whether in work, life, or anything else’

It is really a daunting task to write about a man who was, in many ways, ‘possessed’ by a relentless drive to do something ‘hatke’—whether in how he addressed his bosses, employers, colleagues, and friends or how he presented himself. I have never come across a senior colleague who had the ‘balls’ to color his hair ‘rainbow’…like it or lump it but everyone said “wow!”

I first heard of BD (everyone called him that or Dada) when I joined Times Internet Delhi and he was heading Response out of Mumbai. If we both did our jobs as per our original JD, we may have never come face to face, but who wanted to be boring …neither of us.

In 2001, hardly anyone understood what the Internet or digital media truly was, except for one fact: Vineet Jain, the visionary MD, believed that staying No. 1 required outpacing the stagnant traditional media. He foresaw that sooner or later, all forms of content would need to be available 24/7.

BD caught on to this and tried to adjust his game plan—until PG (Pradeep Guha) put him back where is belonged, but BD did not give up.

During a chance meeting in the executive lunchroom in Mumbai, I happened to cross paths with BD. In his signature style, he didn’t simply ask but rather “requested” if I could spare a few moments from “saving the digital world” to meet with a “humble colleague” eager to enhance his learnings. We instantly clicked, and this marked the beginning of our unique ‘love-hate’ relationship. Until November last year, this bond remained, as he described it, a ‘Guru and Sishya’ relationship. True to his nature, he always insisted he was never a ‘Guru,’ even though, in reality, he was-- Dr. Bhaskar Das.

Over a phone call, I think in 2022, I was telling him about my wife’s illness (she is a C-survivor) and how as a family we were trying our best to cope up. BD, in his usual style, was the best motivator of life and spirits to say the least.

It is very difficult to write about a man who lived without regrets—whether in work, life, or anything else—and expressed this unapologetically by shocking people with his bizarre outfits, unconventional hairstyles, quirky glasses, and unique mannerisms.

I left Times in 2013 to start my own digital company – it was in true BD style when he said, “abhi nahi kiya toh saala kab karega” `

From whatever little I know – he had a rock-solid family life – his wife & his son were his pillars, and he was very proud of them. He could talk endlessly about his wife’s music or his son, to the point where I would say, "ab bas." In the end, even his health seemed to echo those words: "ab bas."

He came, he loved & he conquered!!

Gone to soon, Boss!!

Rest well…and pad-up for second innings.