When we hear of a school mate, who’s associated with many old memories, suddenly leaving us, those memories become a treasure as nostalgia returns laden with grief for his friends and the 71 batch Colvin classmates in general. Interestingly, I had known Alok (Raja) as a family friend even before I joined Colvin College in Class V in 1964 and his twin sister Shreela (Rani) was my sister Shibani’s classmate in La Martiniere Girls School in the 1960’s.
When I joined the ‘All Boys’ institution like Colvin from La Mart, I was subjected to a bit of harmless bullying because of my short height and earned the nickname ‘Tenchi’! Alok had ‘Nice Guy’ image and was the tallest in class. He came forward for me as protector and friend as we shared many common interests like sports, music and family ties. He recognized that I could bat & bowl a bit too and my earliest memories are being a part of his team that would be formed every day to play cricket during the class intervals.
Not only did we play together in cricket matches later, but would compete in singing & debating competitions, he from ‘Ajanta’ House and I from ‘Taxila’. In College, we went different ways in our subject choices, he chose Arts and I, the Science stream. For his all round brilliance & persona, Alok deservedly became the College Captain. Elder brother Ajit too had been College Captain. Sadly our interactions became erratic after leaving College though after news circulated, we all proudly claimed that our classmate had become the ADC to Prez of India, a rank few can achieve. We understand that Alok had settled in US. It was a pleasant surprise as he connected on FB a few years ago, maybe because my face on my DP hadn’t changed much ! More time has passed & we hear that the large hearted, wonderful ‘Big Guy’ is no more ! Alok sang SD Burman songs well & maybe for him:’Ore Maajhi, Mere Saajan Hai Uss Paar’..
Working on Living 