RIP Chinmay Mohapatra - Bobby

 He was my classmate in school and my friend. A very active individual filled with warmth and affection, a talented singer and a huge fan of Sanjay Dutt. Chinmay Mohapatra, who also happens to go by his nickname Bobby, lived his life to the fullest until he passed away yesterday.

It is a small world. Chinmay was the son of Mr. R.C. Mohapatra, our history teacher in my Alma mater D.M. School in Bhubaneswar and a colleague of my mother-in-law Mrs. Swarnalata Devi who incidentally passed away exactly a decade ago. Chinmay lived in Acharya Vihar, a stone's throw from my in-laws house, a walking distant from School. I wasn't so lucky, so had to commute to school in our school bus, though traffic wasn't too bad those days when the arteries of roads of Bhubaneswar weren't clogged yet, so no bypass was needed.

Chinmay used to sing Kishore Kumar numbers pretty well, though his favourites were songs from Sanjay Dutt movies, an upcoming actor during our growing up days. Always an active member of our School Orchestra team, he enthralled the audience with his energy and enthusiasm. Unforunately I missed his performances in School during our Higher Secondary (called +2) days as I shifted to B.J.B. College closer to my home.

We lost touch for a while before reconnecting just before my marriage. Well known to me as well as my in-laws family he attended both sides of our marriage reception. I starkly remember him at our marriage reception at "Pantha Nivas", Bhubaneswar proudly holding his foot long mobile (cell) phone, a new gadget in town those days - neighbors envy, owner's pride.

After I moved to USA, connectivity increased as the world shrank to a global village. Soon we were back in touch via email, followed by social media which opened the floodgate of communication. We met many times in our hometown Bhubaneswar during my frequent trips to India. Recently I heard about him not keeping well these days, but never expected him to leave so fast, so soon. The news of his untimely demise was stunning, came like a bolt from the blue.

As I finish writing my obituary, I am tersly reminded of this Hindi song, an ode to a nice human being whose repertoire of affection towards his family of friends was never empty.

ZINDAGI SAU BARAS KI SAHI,
ZINDAGI KA BHAROSA NAHI;
CHAAND CHHOOP JAE KAB KYA PATA,
CHANDNI KA BHAROSA NAHI.
Transliterated..
Life is for living hundred years,
But destiny is unreliable forever;
Never know when moon can go into hiding,
For Moonlight is not worth relying.

May God give strength to his family, his brother and my friend Satyajit to overcome grief in this torrid time. Be happy in heaven my friend. Om 🕉 Shanti.