In Memory

In the year 2004, I had gone to Delhi for a trip with my parents. While on this trip, I had the pleasure of meeting up and spending some time with a bunch of four guys. I spent around half an hour sipping on hot tea and talking to these guys about the music they played and how their music had influenced me. It was one of those moments which come once in a lifetime. A moment when I got to spend time in the direct presence of people i considered to be my heroes. We spoke of music, influences, inspirations. For the teenager that I was, it was an exhilarating experience.

It's been over five years since then. The memory of that Carol Bagh house has dimmed considerably. The easy chair, the tea with no sugar at all. The black Johnnie Walker ashtray.

I was reminiscing about that day today. Nostalgia, or call it what you will. Because I learnt that one of those four people died yesterday.

At the age of 52, Asheem Chakravarti had a lot of music left in him. I'm sure. I can vaguely remember his laughter as Rahul Ram had cracked a joke. So full of life. Full of music. And so down to earth.

For someone who knew him for the entire length of 30 minutes i will miss him. And the music he could have made.....