Three years ago, as Covid went on a relentless rampage across the world, my old and dear friend Bejan Daruwalla passed away in an Ahmedabad hospital. When I got the news my heart stopped. He was 90. And had been ailing. But for half of the 35 years that I knew him, Bejan was in poor health. Calling me from his hospital bedside each time. Once even from the ICU. Imperiously ordering me to speak to the doctors and get an update on his health. And to pray for him. I always did. But prayers sometimes don’t work. In 2020, mine failed. And there was no call when he got discharged. His voice boomed “Shree Ganesha Namah!” on the phone. Which was his way of telling me he was back. And I will miss the bawdy Parsi astrologer forever. Especially today. It would have been Bejan’s 93rd birthday.
He had the uncanny gut instinct of knowing when I going through Life’s fires. And he would call. Just to inquire how I was doing and to assure me that planetary positions always changed. All would be well. I knew Bejan since 1984. I was a young journalist at Midday in Mumbai. He wrote the newspaper’s astrology column. Bejan became world-famous that year by predicting Indira Gandhi’s assassination and the Bhopal gas tragedy. He was also a poet and a litterateur. Who was 5 feet tall and 200 lbs. But he still
boasted about his days as Ahmedabad’s 100 meters sprint champion. And when he played cricket and hockey for the varsity. Of course, there was nothing athletic about Bejan. But his girth matched his mirth. And it was a strange but close friendship we
had despite the inequality in our ages. He came to Mumbai twice a year. For his birthday on July 11. And in September with the manuscript of his book of astrological
forecasts for the next year. We met both times. And it pained me to see him increasingly struggling to keep going each year. The last time he was 89 and wheelchair-bound. An attendant helped him with most bodily functions. He read my palm. I asked him
whether he was worried about death. Bejan rudely pooh-poohed my question. Cursing me in Gujarati, English, and Hindi. When I was leaving, he solemnly handed me an envelope. “Your forecast for next year,” he said ominously, “just in case we never meet again.” It was an awkward goodbye. I wonder if Bejan had a premonition.
I know he’s somewhere in the Universe. Watching my back. Saal Mubarak, Sahebji.
About Mark Manuel
The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.
With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.
Further
His interviews have been featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.
Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.
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