Gooch's passing was a hard pill to swallow. I recently got back in touch with him on Orkut after many years of just getting news about him from common friends. I remember him as lively, easy to get along with and affectionate, someone who could lift your spirits by making you laugh. I am so sorry for the loss that his friends I am sure will feel with him no longer enriching their lives. He touched my life briefly, but I will remember him always.
Simply unbelievable this could have happened; the earliest memory I have of Jayanth dates back to '93 when he, despite being three years my junior at BMSCE, tried to rag me along with a bunch of other juniors; and he got what he deserved for that back then! We went on to become friends; there was something about his cheerful disposition that was endearing and will always remember Jayanth as a friend who had a permanent laugh etched on his face, no matter what. When we reconnected on Orkut late last year after almost a decade, we exchanged notes and told each other we should catch up when I was in Bangalore next. Sure we'll catch up, my friend, one day we will.....
Hi Jay, This is Rosa from shanghai china, i am your cousin Vikas 's friend . I never meet u and talk with you , even no any chance to add u as my friend in orkut now. But i hope u can hear me from heaven.. There is a chinese friend pray to the god, hope he can take care of you there ...I like u smile, pls keep the smile for ever. If I get chance to Bangalore, I will send u a rose flower. As Vikas said , May your soul rest in peace. Rosa
Hello Jay, You were my brother's friend and a couple of years my senior at St. Germain's. Though we really didn’t keep in touch after you left Germian's, I was happy I got to meet you again when I was visiting your cousin Vikas. I wish I was saying these things under different circumstances, but it is clearly your mischievous and infectious smile that will be hard for all of us to forget. I still carry fond memories of all the times we teased each other and the fun times we all shared. I cant tell you how much it saddens me to realize that we are not going to have you around...Jay Chander- A gentleman till the end...you will be missed! Praveen Ram California, USA. (I'd really appreciate it you could mention this )
Hey Jayanth, I am typing-deleting-typing-deleting what I want to say...there are so many things Bro. words are always limited when it comes to express feelings..Chacha (as I used to call you)I still remember those RadioCity days we spent together..I still remember those days when I was down & U took me to your place just to cheer me up & we had a long conversation...jahaan sirf main bakbak karta raha & you listened with the legendary patience U are known for & will always be remembered for.. I never had an elder brother before...& I never will have one.. Sorry for my grammar & spell mistakes...U used to proof read & correct all my mails there at RadioCity..no one is around to correct me this time... Miss you bhai.. (If you wish you can read this out...)
Hey JC, I still find it so hard to believe that you are not around, brother. Not a day passes these days without you on my mind. Though we weren't in touch of late, our friendship goes a long way since our BMS days. You were definitely my nemesis back then... still remember how badly we used to pull each other's legs! You got me into trouble so many times... but in all of that, we still shared a great camaraderie. I think our gang really made history in BMS. We didn't spare anybody, did we?!!
You were definitely one of the wackiest and craziest guys I ever met. There was never a dull moment with you around. You were brutally honest sometimes but at the same was always around in times of crises. Of-course, how can we all forget that mischievous smile of yours?!
Been wanting to talk to you over the past 2 months or so. I'll never forgive myself now. Anyways, it was fabulous knowing you, my dear friend. Knowing you, I'm sure you must be having a great time up there someplace, but you've left a big void here. RIP brother! Shine on, you crazy diamond!
Suresh... aka Suri- Mumbai
(PS: I'd really appreciate if you can share my thoughts with the gathering)
I got to know Jayant whilst working for Radiocity, i instantly took a liking to him coz he came across as calm and peaceful...we then discovered during our neverending chats that he was from Germains and me from st. Francis Xaviers, two very popular schools though he was way way senior to me we had a ot of common friends and he also lived in the next street...we made many plans to meet up at home and many a times he offered to drop and pick me up during the days that I was pregnant. Motte as I fondly called him left a ingering image in my mind...he was someone Id call genuine...no airs...easy to get along with...Of late i did remember him quite a bit and the news of his death hit me coz that morning i was thinking of mailing him...i didnt even know that he was ill, i wudve have written earlier. RIP Jay....Only the good die young!!!!!!!!
My first memory of Gooch was at a party 8 yrs back. A friend’s cell phone was stolen and he went berserk! He made sure that everyone knew he wouldn’t rest till the culprit was caught. That’s the kind of guy Gooch was…the kind who would do anything for a friend. Since he had so many friends I imagine that kept him pretty busy! Gooch you were so easy to get along with and I’m glad I got the opportunity during our wedding time. We will miss you so much. Thank you for always being there for Viggy (ok, ok, Piggy…as you said the names you guys all had are classics and cannot be changed!) and for enriching both our lives in so many ways. Rest in peace dear Gooch.
Every morning as i wake up... few minutes are spent convincing myself of the loss... Like all of you, I am still coming to terms with the terrible tragedy of my dear cousin brother,Jayanth. But today is an occasion not only for mourning but for celebrating the extraordinary and beautiful person Jayanth was and will remain that way forever. On my own behalf and the family,i thank his friends for having this meeting in memory of and celebrating all the moments spent with Jayanth.As a part of the family,though We're there to support each other because its such a hard thing to deal with,all of your support and love shown during this hardest time will be remembered and appreciated forever. I feel sad that I never got a chance to talk to Jayanth or see him during his last days...i hate myself to be staying so far,away from home and not being there due to circumstances.I hate myself more that i diddn't even chit-chat with him once in a while. How I wish I could press rewind and change some things or maybe even tried to contact him or talk to him more....but, it's too late because he's never coming back. I haven't seen him in 12 months - I spoke to him occasionally,and sometimes emailed.The last time I spoke to him was in March,he said he was coming to Jaimaica for the world cup...,all excited i asked him to visit me...but then his typical answer,"what makes u think i'll want to ruin my trip...",as usual i screamed into the phone and then we laughed and he said that he'd meet me in may...may 29th 2007....really wish it happens. They say that to have an older brother is like living with Hitler...well,it may be a little true when it came to Sumanth...thats because i knew i could get my things done from Sumanth if I'd say or just scare him by saying,"i'll tell Jayanth...i'll call him now...i'm dailing his number....or, hey Jayanth's here" . I will miss him, terribly. I will surely miss you,Jayanth. My sisters have always told me this,"closeness is not when u share your good times with someone...but its when you can share your worst sorrows and be sure that person will be there for you",this holds so true in the case of Jayanth.I will miss his calm,easy going and at the same time responsible attitude and the positive energy he brought to me...He has always made me feel on top of the world,especially when I would call him....I'd only call him when i was in trouble....thats when his mobile number would flash in my mind,and Jayanth so selflessly made time to meet me,listen to all the sobbing and my never ending complaints and stories....He was the one i'd turn to after Shaila and Sheela....the only one who has always supported my opinions,views and decisions...even when all others thought I was wrong.He, apart from my Brother-in-laws,Shashi and Praveen, would call me and ask if I needed more pocket money....if I partied hard last weekend..... Though I have so many cousins.....I never really had anybody run around for my college admissions, we used to leave early morning and get back home in the evening or sometimes night.I really had so much hatred for the principal of St. Josephs college,for making us run around so much and at the end diddn't give me addmission there....but today I thank God that because of that i actually got to spend so much time with Jayanth,which otherwise would have wasted.None of my cousins or relatives have cared so unconditionally as he did for the three of us,Shaila, Sheela and me.I still remember the talk we had before my marriage,thats when he told me this,"your like the little one my parents have always wanted....the little girl of this house... my cute sister... any problem or any help and i'm just a phone call away....." - It's so painful to know that he is gone and I keep thinking about all those things we did together as a family. But, he lived his life to the fullest and he was a happy guy. A jolly and fun guy. Always ready to do the next adventure, always the one ready to help.Words cannot express how i'm feeling right now....I keep hearing him call me,"chabbi.....chaybeeee. I know its very hard for aunty,uncle and Sumanth going through this....it's never easy to lose a loved one. Although tears just roll down as im writing this....I did cry a lot after hearing the sad news,but then Divesh kept saying this,"do u think Jayanth would have liked to see you cry....do what he would have liked you to do at this time...Jayanth is still there with you,he is still watching you...." thats when I decided that i will smile remembering him and not cry,because thats what he was..."ALWAYS BROUGHT A SMILE ON MY FACE". Thank you Dominic and all the others for having this meeting.
"brother, I cannot express, the void that is my life right now. All that remains are memories. You've touched my life in every possible way and i couldn't thank you enough. I never got to tell you that i love you, before you left, but if you can hear me.....i love you."
Thanks a lot, Love, babs Satyajit
My first time of meeting gooch went something like this: we were in BMS where I had come to hang out with Babs and Navin. Babs introduced me to Gooch and then Goochie took me to the canteen. I was as usual belting some kesari bath while Gooch was belting some bloke in the corner of the canteen. We then stepped out and lit ourselves some zups... smoked for a bit and there was another guy who walked past and Goochie caught him and belted him too. I was like what the... and thought to myself... I need to stay away from this guy. seems like the wrong company. How wrong i was... turned out to be one of my best friends for life. What I didn't realize that these two lads who got belted were apparently bullying some kids in the 1st year and treating them really badly and Goochie decided to take some good corrective action.
Another incident I will never forget: Goochie, Babs, Prashu (chin's cousin) and I went to Chennai to watch Boris Becker playing in the Goldflake open. While we were touring the grounds, we ended up at the speed gun booth where you could measure you serve. babs went first... 161kmph, then i went... 159kmph... then goochie decided to give it a try. we warned him to take it easy and that he hadn't played tennis in many years... "watch and learn boys" was his response. BAM!!! 79kmph... and a sprained shoulder. I don't think we've ever laughed so hard and we made fun of him about that one thing for the longest time... and even after 7-8 years of the event, he'd complain... my shoulder still hurts because of that one damn serve.
From the Jumbo rolls at Shakil bhai's to the late nights on the Chander family terrace. From the yummy Biryani that Aunty made for us to the several bills that we split at OCs, I've enjoyed every moment of Gooch's company and I truly truly value his frienship. He touched so many people's lives in ways that are hard to describe... a person so genuine that words cannot describe the generosity that came from within him. I don't think I've ever heard him say No to someone asking him for help be it a favor or money or whatever. I'm jealous that he was born a Chander and not a Sasnur... I really wanted him to be my own brother. I will miss him dearly but his spirit will be with me forever and help me become at least half the good person that he was.
May God help his soul rest in peace!
Tada . Anand Sasnur
I want to send a message for Gooch. I know there will be a million messages for him which makes me happy. I am proud to have known him and he will never leave my heart or my mind. I have so much to say but will keep this very brief. I am finding it hard to say everything I want to say in one or two sentences....
"Gooch has always taken the time to be a part of every ones life and help in every possible way. He's been a good friend and brother to all of us. Gooch, you will always be in our prayers, thoughts and your love for life will always be an inspiration for all of us. Rest in peace my brother......"
I met Jayanth when he joined Radio City, used to call him Taklu. Every time i said, "hey jayanth", he'd say "talk to me baby", I always told him it was such a cheesy line & that he just had to find a new one.I've never met a marketing guy who smiled so much, but that was Jayanth..Peaceful, Kind and someone who always had the time to listen.
Hi Jay..you have been an inspiration to me ever since my childhood and today its hard to believe that you are no more with us. I will remember you for the rest of my life as one of my dearest cousin. Miss U brother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! May your soul rest in peace.
This is unbelievable. I'm very saddened to hear this news.Gooch was a very sweet person. I pray to god to give strength to his family and guide his soul in his journey ahead.
I still expect to see you at your computer each time I walk into work. Just yesterday I used your computer to retrieve a document you and I had discussed. Man!
We never did get to have that wild party at the new office guesthouse, but trust me, when it does happen, we'll make sure it's WILD!
There's no one to discuss cricket with at work!
I'll always remember you as a great, fun-loving, good soul!
I am writing to all of you with a broken heart to share with everyone this moment of grief involving our dear friend and brother gooch. I am thankful for all the wonderful moments I have shared with gooch over the past decade and the many instances he has allowed me to be a part of his life. As I look through my collection of photos over the years, he has been a part of many significant moments in my life. His love for life will always be an inspiration for Anu and me.
I still remember the hot headed gooch I met, almost 15 yrs back, in front of yellow house with Pradhan, as I was riding by in my cycle. I think I was shit scared of gooch the first few times I met him. As I got to know him better his tough exterior seemed like like a ruse for his gentle nature. The pics in battas's blog bought back memories of the not so bald gooch. The number of lives gooch has touched and influenced is amazing. I am honored to have known him and he will always live in our hearts and mind.
I wish I could have made that one last phone call which I was postponing out of sheer laziness or maybe I just assumed I'll catch him the next time I visit Bangalore. Thanks Pradhan for calling me and letting me know about the memorial service.
hey gooch..... u will be missed.... and all i want to say is that, this is not something i was looking forward to...., thanks for being there and being a great friend!
I was studying with Jay at St. Joseph's college. He was very jovial and full of enthusiam. Although its been a long time since I last met him, I can remember his voice and his jokes. We pray that his soul rest in peace, and my sincere condolences to his family members.
- regards, Edward Irwin Toronto, Canada edward.irwin@gmail.com
Was glad I met you the last time I came to B'lore- You looked happy and were at all the pubs we visited. I was shocked to hear of your death- I still cant believe it- It was great knowing you for those few years through Jayanth and Josh-Your smile and fun attitude will always be remembered- May the Lord give your family the strength to cope with this immense loss- God Bless your soul
Jayanth and I worked together at Radio City. he was the guy who smiled even under pressure and a great team player
On a personal note, Jayanth was one of the nicest human beings and great fun to hangout with. My last memories of him are partying together recently in Mumbai and I will cherish those
Shocked to hear that u r no more, but will always kindly remember the perseverance & smooth transaction we had, though i was coordinating as an vendor(client). will always remember the shine (glow)& smile on your face. keep it going
Gooch to me will always represent what I loved about growing up in Bangalore the most..He captured that gusto for life that a lot of us seem to have lost along the way..
I first met DaGooch in YH when he tagged along with Tada...In a very short period I knew that he was someone special..he was always around when you needed him...always the helping nature and his characteristic "yavannu avanu?" when he found out that someone was inflicting pain on one of the YH guys...
Back in December 2000, when I decided to surprise my parents by visiting home, I had casually mentioned to Dagooch about my plans...All he wanted to know was when I was landing in India...and sure enough he was there after enduring a three hour flight delay...the usual smiling self...this has been etched in my memory forever...I am glad that I spent a lot of time with Dagooch in India when I visited last December....Mridul was especially fond of Dagooch and she got along very well with him for his "down to earth kannada speaking self"...
Since Dagooch was always there for his friends, I think that we would take things for granted and assume that he would always be there for us...I feel very sad that I could not be there at the time of his needs...I hope we can learn form this and I am sure daGooch will bring us more closer...Bangalore to me is now incomplete without Bro Jay...
DaGooch rest in peace...you are always in our thoughts
The first time I met Jayanth, was on a trip to Mumbai, and being introduced to him at that point by Akshay as Melvin DaGooch, I was easily convinced that that really was his name. It was slightly odd, but, hmm, he could have had ancestors who were Portuguese. I don’t know whether it is because I am easily taken in, or whether from that point on, he really became DaGooch, but that is who he is to me.
That trip, my first on a train, was quite a blast, with a 24 hour journey from Bangalore to Mumbai taking over 48 hours with a detour through MP and I think we may even have touched Bihar. Although I chewed my nails to the quick I noticed that Gooch was in his element. When the kitchen car ran out of food and the train had no more water, he was the one who managed to buy us a bunch of bananas that became all the food we got for the second day on the train. His spirits never got down, he was absolutely composed and convinced that he could handle any of the ‘bhaiyas’ if they gave us trouble and we’d get to Mumbai without any major problems.
That set the tone for our friendship, and he could be counted on at any time to be around, especially if anyone was in trouble. I really enjoyed his company, especially when we got addicted to ‘pool’ or billiards ? and could always be found together at our local ‘adda’ Prime Time. He was such a great friend that I dragged him along with me every time I went to Sue’s or when I wanted to take her out during the time I was trying to ‘patao’ my wife. It’s hard to accept that he won’t be there when we visit; Bangalore will never be the same without you, Melvin DaGooch.
When you were around, I never worried about how I’d stay in touch with everybody, what was new in anyone’s life, who was meeting up where or how I’d get there. You never made the excuses the rest of us did about not being ABLE to keep in touch. And no one looked out for his friends more than you did, Brother Gooch; there were times when we didn’t want to be looked out for, when we wanted to do something silly, but you made sure that we didn’t get stupid. Having you around made me feel safe; you watched my back.
I don’t think I can ever go to Coffee Day again, because their coffee is incomplete without you to share it with and I doubt I’ll ever listen to a Mani Ratnam item number without thinking of it playing in your car. No one could ever say ‘Wassup! Bro’ like you did …….
But wherever you are, I hope the beer is cold, and the pool table is smooth. Hopefully your afternoons are always sunny and great for a game of ‘anything but chess’; that the biriyani is as good as Mum’s every single time; the roads long, the driving easy, the laughter endless and someone always ready to argue politics.
But for now, I cannot get out of my head a song that you introduced me to. You bought me the tape because you loved this and you knew I’d like it, but I never imagined that I’d be saying these words about you….words that Gulzaar seems to have plucked straight out of the emptiness you’ve left behind…..
Na le ke jaao, mere dost ka janaaza hai Abhi to garm hai mitti ye jism taaza hai Na le ke jaao, …….
Ulajh gayi hai kahin saans khol do iski Labon pe aayi hai jo baat poori karne do Abhi ummeed bhi jinda hai gam bhi taaza hai Na le ke jaao, …….
Jagaao isko gale mil ke alvida to kahun Ye kaisi ruksati hai ye kya saleeka hai Abhi to jeene ka har ek zakhm taaza hai Na le ke jaao, na leke jaao…mere dost ka janaaza hai …….
I ve known jayanth since my BMS days.Though I was not particularly close to him ,I can never forget the few "noisy" interactions I had with him.He was easily one of the most jovial,animated and surely friendly guys around.The last i met him was about a couple of years back at geoffery's where I had dropped in with a few friends of mine and suddenly I hear a loud " SAAAANTYY " and I was shocked to find jayanth with a few friends of his.It was followed by a large bear HUG . A very heartening gesture from a person whom I last met probably 6-7 years back at college.I will always remember you ......
Gooch…always there, greeting you with his loud and meaningful…"Maacha!!! ..long time no see…" coupled with an ever comforting hug… he was such a gem, in so many respects, selfless and thoughtful.
I remember dear gooch from our countless meetings in primetime over snooker and chai. primetime was where i first met him. then meeting him in other (real) social settings with papa, baabs etc. always a cheerful chap, always fun to be with, always quick to offer help, always a good friend.
it was sad to hear about his death. a man with a truly nice heart. u will be missed buddy. subbu/subra
Its been a year since Jayanth passed away. But reading through this blog and looking at the pictures, just brings back good memories, all the good times i spent with him.
One such time i remember when we were kids, we stole the keys to our uncles scooter and rode off. We were like 10 - 11 years at that time. Was such a blast everytime we met when we were kids.
Hey Brother Gooch, Whats up man? Missing you bro. Take care and you are always in mind, soul and body. Brother Babs and Brother Srini will always miss you and will always remember you. Later srini
5 years on, finally able to smile through the tears. part of the amreecan contingent is meeting at akes' house and we'll down a drink in your name, still no good biriyanis in this country. miss you 'gyan' and the wonderful debates we'd have had about current politics.....
It's been a really long time and for sure things have moved on...you did come in my thoughts today...and I thought I check on this blog to see if it still exists...It's still an empty feeling to visit Bangalore and visit only ur parents n getting to see u again!! Rest in Peace Bro!! Luv Soapy
You were always the first to arrive and the last to leave. You talked the most and laughed the loudest. You could make friends with anyone and you would do anything for a friend. You gave so much of yourself that it was easy to take you for granted and to assume that you would always be around. That your smiling face would remain a constant at every birthday and wedding and get-together.
But now that you have gone, you have left a hole in each one of us. A gap that is filled with shock and heartfelt grief. We hope that one day this sorrow will be replaced with the joy of having been a part of your life and with warm memories of the good times we had together.
But that day is not today. Today we are heartbroken for the loss of a brother who always made time for his friends, who offered his hand before we could ask for his help and who never wanted anything back, except our love. Today we are all bonded by that love and in the knowledge that what we love deeply becomes a part of us.
So goodnight and God bless, my brother. And wherever you are, may the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hands.
Click here for pictures from Jayanth's memorial service.
52 comments:
Gooch's passing was a hard pill to swallow. I recently got back in touch with him on Orkut after many years of just getting news about him from common friends. I remember him as lively, easy to get along with and affectionate, someone who could lift your spirits by making you laugh. I am so sorry for the loss that his friends I am sure will feel with him no longer enriching their lives. He touched my life briefly, but I will remember him always.
Pavithra
Simply unbelievable this could have happened; the earliest memory I have of Jayanth dates back to '93 when he, despite being three years my junior at BMSCE, tried to rag me along with a bunch of other juniors; and he got what he deserved for that back then!
We went on to become friends; there was something about his cheerful disposition that was endearing and will always remember Jayanth as a friend who had a permanent laugh etched on his face, no matter what.
When we reconnected on Orkut late last year after almost a decade, we exchanged notes and told each other we should catch up when I was in Bangalore next.
Sure we'll catch up, my friend, one day we will.....
I'll miss your smile. I always thought you will be back to work. But that did not happen.
Hope your smile works up there too jayanth!!
Hi Jay,
This is Rosa from shanghai china, i am your cousin Vikas 's friend . I never meet u and talk with you , even no any chance to add u as my friend in orkut now. But i hope u can hear me from heaven.. There is a chinese friend pray to the god, hope he can take care of you there ...I like u smile, pls keep the smile for ever. If I get chance to Bangalore, I will send u a rose flower. As Vikas said , May your soul rest in peace. Rosa
Hello Jay,
You were my brother's friend and a couple of years my senior at St. Germain's. Though we really didn’t keep in touch after you left Germian's, I was happy I got to meet you again when I was visiting your cousin Vikas.
I wish I was saying these things under different circumstances, but it is clearly your mischievous and infectious smile that will be hard for all of us to forget. I still carry fond memories of all the times we teased each other and the fun times we all shared. I cant tell you how much it saddens me to realize that we are not going to have you around...Jay Chander- A gentleman till the end...you will be missed!
Praveen Ram
California, USA.
(I'd really appreciate it you could mention this )
Hey Jayanth,
I am typing-deleting-typing-deleting what I want to say...there are so many things Bro. words are always limited when it comes to express feelings..Chacha (as I used to call you)I still remember those RadioCity days we spent together..I still remember those days when I was down & U took me to your place just to cheer me up & we had a long conversation...jahaan sirf main bakbak karta raha & you listened with the legendary patience U are known for & will always be remembered for..
I never had an elder brother before...& I never will have one..
Sorry for my grammar & spell mistakes...U used to proof read & correct all my mails there at RadioCity..no one is around to correct me this time...
Miss you bhai..
(If you wish you can read this out...)
Alok,
Mumbai
Hey JC,
I still find it so hard to believe that you are not around, brother. Not a day passes these days without you on my mind. Though we weren't in touch of late, our friendship goes a long way since our BMS days. You were definitely my nemesis back then... still remember how badly we used to pull each other's legs! You got me into trouble so many times... but in all of that, we still shared a great camaraderie. I think our gang really made history in BMS. We didn't spare anybody, did we?!!
You were definitely one of the wackiest and craziest guys I ever met. There was never a dull moment with you around. You were brutally honest sometimes but at the same was always around in times of crises. Of-course, how can we all forget that mischievous smile of yours?!
Been wanting to talk to you over the past 2 months or so. I'll never forgive myself now. Anyways, it was fabulous knowing you, my dear friend. Knowing you, I'm sure you must be having a great time up there someplace, but you've left a big void here. RIP brother! Shine on, you crazy diamond!
Suresh... aka Suri- Mumbai
(PS: I'd really appreciate if you can share my thoughts with the gathering)
I got to know Jayant whilst working for Radiocity, i instantly took a liking to him coz he came across as calm and peaceful...we then discovered during our neverending chats that he was from Germains and me from st. Francis Xaviers, two very popular schools though he was way way senior to me we had a ot of common friends and he also lived in the next street...we made many plans to meet up at home and many a times he offered to drop and pick me up during the days that I was pregnant. Motte as I fondly called him left a ingering image in my mind...he was someone Id call genuine...no airs...easy to get along with...Of late i did remember him quite a bit and the news of his death hit me coz that morning i was thinking of mailing him...i didnt even know that he was ill, i wudve have written earlier. RIP Jay....Only the good die young!!!!!!!!
My first memory of Gooch was at a party 8 yrs back. A friend’s cell phone was stolen and he went berserk! He made sure that everyone knew he wouldn’t rest till the culprit was caught. That’s the kind of guy Gooch was…the kind who would do anything for a friend. Since he had so many friends I imagine that kept him pretty busy!
Gooch you were so easy to get along with and I’m glad I got the opportunity during our wedding time. We will miss you so much. Thank you for always being there for Viggy (ok, ok, Piggy…as you said the names you guys all had are classics and cannot be changed!) and for enriching both our lives in so many ways. Rest in peace dear Gooch.
Every morning as i wake up... few minutes are spent convincing myself of the loss... Like all of you, I am still coming to terms with the terrible tragedy of my dear cousin brother,Jayanth. But today is an occasion not only for mourning but for celebrating the extraordinary and beautiful person Jayanth was and will remain that way forever.
On my own behalf and the family,i thank his friends for having this meeting in memory of and celebrating all the moments spent with Jayanth.As a part of the family,though We're there to support each other because its such a hard thing to deal with,all of your support and love shown during this hardest time will be remembered and appreciated forever.
I feel sad that I never got a chance to talk to Jayanth or see him during his last days...i hate myself to be staying so far,away from home and not being there due to circumstances.I hate myself more that i diddn't even chit-chat with him once in a while. How I wish I could press rewind and change some things or maybe even tried to contact him or talk to him more....but, it's too late because he's never coming back. I haven't seen him in 12 months - I spoke to him occasionally,and sometimes emailed.The last time I spoke to him was in March,he said he was coming to Jaimaica for the world cup...,all excited i asked him to visit me...but then his typical answer,"what makes u think i'll want to ruin my trip...",as usual i screamed into the phone and then we laughed and he said that he'd meet me in may...may 29th 2007....really wish it happens.
They say that to have an older brother is like living with Hitler...well,it may be a little true when it came to Sumanth...thats because i knew i could get my things done from Sumanth if I'd say or just scare him by saying,"i'll tell Jayanth...i'll call him now...i'm dailing his number....or, hey Jayanth's here" . I will miss him, terribly. I will surely miss you,Jayanth.
My sisters have always told me this,"closeness is not when u share your good times with someone...but its when you can share your worst sorrows and be sure that person will be there for you",this holds so true in the case of Jayanth.I will miss his calm,easy going and at the same time responsible attitude and the positive energy he brought to me...He has always made me feel on top of the world,especially when I would call him....I'd only call him when i was in trouble....thats when his mobile number would flash in my mind,and Jayanth so selflessly made time to meet me,listen to all the sobbing and my never ending complaints and stories....He was the one i'd turn to after Shaila and Sheela....the only one who has always supported my opinions,views and decisions...even when all others thought I was wrong.He, apart from my Brother-in-laws,Shashi and Praveen, would call me and ask if I needed more pocket money....if I partied hard last weekend.....
Though I have so many cousins.....I never really had anybody run around for my college admissions, we used to leave early morning and get back home in the evening or sometimes night.I really had so much hatred for the principal of St. Josephs college,for making us run around so much and at the end diddn't give me addmission there....but today I thank God that because of that i actually got to spend so much time with Jayanth,which otherwise would have wasted.None of my cousins or relatives have cared so unconditionally as he did for the three of us,Shaila, Sheela and me.I still remember the talk we had before my marriage,thats when he told me this,"your like the little one my parents have always wanted....the little girl of this house... my cute sister... any problem or any help and i'm just a phone call away....."
- It's so painful to know that he is gone and I keep thinking about all those things we did together as a family. But, he lived his life to the fullest and he was a happy guy. A jolly and fun guy. Always ready to do the next adventure, always the one ready to help.Words cannot express how i'm feeling right now....I keep hearing him call me,"chabbi.....chaybeeee.
I know its very hard for aunty,uncle and Sumanth going through this....it's never easy to lose a loved one. Although tears just roll down as im writing this....I did cry a lot after hearing the sad news,but then Divesh kept saying this,"do u think Jayanth would have liked to see you cry....do what he would have liked you to do at this time...Jayanth is still there with you,he is still watching you...." thats when I decided that i will smile remembering him and not cry,because thats what he was..."ALWAYS BROUGHT A SMILE ON MY FACE".
Thank you Dominic and all the others for having this meeting.
(If you could read this....)-Sabita
"brother,
I cannot express, the void that is my life right now. All that remains are memories.
You've touched my life in every possible way and i couldn't thank you enough. I never got to tell you that i love you, before
you left, but if you can hear me.....i love you."
Thanks a lot,
Love,
babs
Satyajit
My first time of meeting gooch went something like this: we were in BMS where I had come to hang out with Babs and Navin. Babs introduced me to Gooch and then Goochie took me to the canteen. I was as usual belting some kesari bath while Gooch was belting some bloke in the corner of the canteen. We then stepped out and lit ourselves some zups... smoked for a bit and there was another guy who walked past and Goochie caught him and belted him too. I was like what the... and thought to myself... I need to stay away from this guy. seems like the wrong company. How wrong i was... turned out to be one of my best friends for life. What I didn't realize that these two lads who got belted were apparently bullying some kids in the 1st year and treating them really badly and Goochie decided to take some good corrective action.
Another incident I will never forget: Goochie, Babs, Prashu (chin's cousin) and I went to Chennai to watch Boris Becker playing in the Goldflake open. While we were touring the grounds, we ended up at the speed gun booth where you could measure you serve. babs went first... 161kmph, then i went... 159kmph... then goochie decided to give it a try. we warned him to take it easy and that he hadn't played tennis in many years... "watch and learn boys" was his response. BAM!!! 79kmph... and a sprained shoulder. I don't think we've ever laughed so hard and we made fun of him about that one thing for the longest time... and even after 7-8 years of the event, he'd complain... my shoulder still hurts because of that one damn serve.
From the Jumbo rolls at Shakil bhai's to the late nights on the Chander family terrace. From the yummy Biryani that Aunty made for us to the several bills that we split at OCs, I've enjoyed every moment of Gooch's company and I truly truly value his frienship. He touched so many people's lives in ways that are hard to describe... a person so genuine that words cannot describe the generosity that came from within him. I don't think I've ever heard him say No to someone asking him for help be it a favor or money or whatever. I'm jealous that he was born a Chander and not a Sasnur... I really wanted him to be my own brother. I will miss him dearly but his spirit will be with me forever and help me become at least half the good person that he was.
May God help his soul rest in peace!
Tada .
Anand Sasnur
I want to send a message for Gooch. I know there will be a million messages for him which makes me happy. I am proud to have known him and he will never leave my heart or my mind. I have so much to say but will keep this very brief. I am finding it hard to say everything I want to say in one or two sentences....
"Gooch has always taken the time to be a part of every ones life and help in every possible way. He's been a good friend and brother to all of us. Gooch, you will always be in our prayers, thoughts and your love for life will always be an inspiration for all of us. Rest in peace my brother......"
Take care dude,
-Anu and Vignesh
I met Jayanth when he joined Radio City, used to call him Taklu. Every time i said, "hey jayanth", he'd say "talk to me baby", I always told him it was such a cheesy line & that he just had to find a new one.I've never met a marketing guy who smiled so much, but that was Jayanth..Peaceful, Kind and someone who always had the time to listen.
Hi Jay..you have been an inspiration to me ever since my childhood and today its hard to believe that you are no more with us. I will remember you for the rest of my life as one of my dearest cousin. Miss U brother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! May your soul rest in peace.
Vikas
Brisbane,Australia
May your soul rest in peace, miss u jayanth
sujay
Bangalore
This is unbelievable. I'm very saddened to hear this news.Gooch was a very sweet person. I pray to god to
give strength to his family and guide his soul in his journey ahead.
Chander!
I still expect to see you at your computer each time I walk into work. Just yesterday I used your computer to retrieve a document you and I had discussed. Man!
We never did get to have that wild party at the new office guesthouse, but trust me, when it does happen, we'll make sure it's WILD!
There's no one to discuss cricket with at work!
I'll always remember you as a great, fun-loving, good soul!
You're already missed, brother!
On Behalf of Piggy
I am writing to all of you with a broken heart to share with everyone this moment of grief involving our dear friend and brother gooch. I am thankful for all the wonderful moments I have shared with gooch over the past decade and the many instances he has allowed me to be a part of his life. As I look through my collection of photos over the years, he has been a part of many significant moments in my life. His love for life will always be an inspiration for Anu and me.
I still remember the hot headed gooch I met, almost 15 yrs back, in front of yellow house with Pradhan, as I was riding by in my cycle. I think I was shit scared of gooch the first few times I met him. As I got to know him better his tough exterior seemed like like a ruse for his gentle nature. The pics in battas's blog bought back memories of the not so bald gooch. The number of lives gooch has touched and influenced is amazing. I am honored to have known him and he will always live in our hearts and mind.
I wish I could have made that one last phone call which I was postponing out of sheer laziness or maybe I just assumed I'll catch him the next time I visit Bangalore. Thanks Pradhan for calling me and letting me know about the memorial service.
-Vignesh (Piggy)
hey gooch..... u will be missed.... and all i want to say is that, this is not something i was looking forward to...., thanks for being there and being a great friend!
Jestin
i'm zakir hussain, classmate of jayanth at germains.may his soul rest in peace. may allah bless his families....
regards,
zakir
Hello,
I was studying with Jay at St. Joseph's college. He was very jovial and full of enthusiam. Although its been a long time since I last met him, I can remember his voice and his jokes. We pray that his soul rest in peace, and my sincere condolences to his family members.
- regards,
Edward Irwin
Toronto, Canada
edward.irwin@gmail.com
Picu - I only wish you'd come and said hello. :o(
Was glad I met you the last time I came to B'lore-
You looked happy and were at all the pubs we visited.
I was shocked to hear of your death-
I still cant believe it-
It was great knowing you for those few years through Jayanth and Josh-Your smile and fun attitude will always be remembered-
May the Lord give your family the strength to cope with this immense loss-
God Bless your soul
Jayanth and I worked together at Radio City. he was the guy who smiled even under pressure and a great team player
On a personal note, Jayanth was one of the nicest human beings and great fun to hangout with. My last memories of him are partying together recently in Mumbai and I will cherish those
My trips to Bangalore will not be the same
IT was his smile that made the man. Tough IT meant different things to different people; one knew IT was always warm.
Gooch !! .. KEEP SMILING .. U r the MAN !!
- mags
hey Jay,
Shocked to hear that u r no more, but will always kindly remember the perseverance & smooth transaction we had, though i was coordinating as an vendor(client).
will always remember the shine (glow)& smile on your face.
keep it going
You will be missed ... by one .. by all ..
Hi Jay,
We grew up together right from class1 to class 12. But now that u no more its hard to believe.
May your soul rest in peace.
Vijay Rasquinha
Gooch to me will always represent what I loved about growing up in Bangalore the most..He captured that gusto for life that a lot of us seem to have lost along the way..
He will be truly missed.
Shilpa
I first met DaGooch in YH when he tagged along with Tada...In a very short period I knew that he was someone special..he was always around when you needed him...always the helping nature and his characteristic "yavannu avanu?" when he found out that someone was inflicting pain on one of the YH guys...
Back in December 2000, when I decided to surprise my parents by visiting home, I had casually mentioned to Dagooch about my plans...All he wanted to know was when I was landing in India...and sure enough he was there after enduring a three hour flight delay...the usual smiling self...this has been etched in my memory forever...I am glad that I spent a lot of time with Dagooch in India when I visited last December....Mridul was especially fond of Dagooch and she got along very well with him for his "down to earth kannada speaking self"...
Since Dagooch was always there for his friends, I think that we would take things for granted and assume that he would always be there for us...I feel very sad that I could not be there at the time of his needs...I hope we can learn form this and I am sure daGooch will bring us more closer...Bangalore to me is now incomplete without Bro Jay...
DaGooch rest in peace...you are always in our thoughts
luv
Soapy & Mridul
my very dear friend,can't believe it that he is not around,had the best times! rest in peace my friend
Memories of Melvin DaGooch
The first time I met Jayanth, was on a trip to Mumbai, and being introduced to him at that point by Akshay as Melvin DaGooch, I was easily convinced that that really was his name. It was slightly odd, but, hmm, he could have had ancestors who were Portuguese. I don’t know whether it is because I am easily taken in, or whether from that point on, he really became DaGooch, but that is who he is to me.
That trip, my first on a train, was quite a blast, with a 24 hour journey from Bangalore to Mumbai taking over 48 hours with a detour through MP and I think we may even have touched Bihar. Although I chewed my nails to the quick I noticed that Gooch was in his element. When the kitchen car ran out of food and the train had no more water, he was the one who managed to buy us a bunch of bananas that became all the food we got for the second day on the train. His spirits never got down, he was absolutely composed and convinced that he could handle any of the ‘bhaiyas’ if they gave us trouble and we’d get to Mumbai without any major problems.
That set the tone for our friendship, and he could be counted on at any time to be around, especially if anyone was in trouble. I really enjoyed his company, especially when we got addicted to ‘pool’ or billiards ? and could always be found together at our local ‘adda’ Prime Time. He was such a great friend that I dragged him along with me every time I went to Sue’s or when I wanted to take her out during the time I was trying to ‘patao’ my wife. It’s hard to accept that he won’t be there when we visit; Bangalore will never be the same without you, Melvin DaGooch.
Godspeed Brother
Prashanth ‘PISS’ Santhekadur
When you were around, I never worried about how I’d stay in touch with everybody, what was new in anyone’s life, who was meeting up where or how I’d get there. You never made the excuses the rest of us did about not being ABLE to keep in touch. And no one looked out for his friends more than you did, Brother Gooch; there were times when we didn’t want to be looked out for, when we wanted to do something silly, but you made sure that we didn’t get stupid. Having you around made me feel safe; you watched my back.
I don’t think I can ever go to Coffee Day again, because their coffee is incomplete without you to share it with and I doubt I’ll ever listen to a Mani Ratnam item number without thinking of it playing in your car. No one could ever say ‘Wassup! Bro’ like you did …….
But wherever you are, I hope the beer is cold, and the pool table is smooth. Hopefully your afternoons are always sunny and great for a game of ‘anything but chess’; that the biriyani is as good as Mum’s every single time; the roads long, the driving easy, the laughter endless and someone always ready to argue politics.
But for now, I cannot get out of my head a song that you introduced me to. You bought me the tape because you loved this and you knew I’d like it, but I never imagined that I’d be saying these words about you….words that Gulzaar seems to have plucked straight out of the emptiness you’ve left behind…..
Na le ke jaao, mere dost ka janaaza hai
Abhi to garm hai mitti ye jism taaza hai
Na le ke jaao, …….
Ulajh gayi hai kahin saans khol do iski
Labon pe aayi hai jo baat poori karne do
Abhi ummeed bhi jinda hai gam bhi taaza hai
Na le ke jaao, …….
Jagaao isko gale mil ke alvida to kahun
Ye kaisi ruksati hai ye kya saleeka hai
Abhi to jeene ka har ek zakhm taaza hai
Na le ke jaao, na leke jaao…mere dost ka janaaza hai …….
I didn't know Jayanth. But reading what everyone has written, it's not difficult to decipher what a unique man he must've been.
A life, full of life,
Smiles and mirth.
Short-lived, lived well.
Now many grieve
And many envy;
It's only the good
Who die young.
May Jayanth's sould rest in peace.
I ve known jayanth since my BMS days.Though I was not particularly close to him ,I can never forget the few "noisy" interactions I had with him.He was easily one of the most jovial,animated and surely friendly guys around.The last i met him was about a couple of years back at geoffery's where I had dropped in with a few friends of mine and suddenly I hear a loud " SAAAANTYY " and I was shocked to find jayanth with a few friends of his.It was followed by a large bear HUG . A very heartening gesture from a person whom I last met probably 6-7 years back at college.I will always remember you ......
Santy
(Santosh )
Gooch…always there, greeting you with his loud and meaningful…"Maacha!!! ..long time no see…" coupled with an ever comforting hug… he was such a gem, in so many respects, selfless and thoughtful.
I will miss him forever.
Vasco George
I remember dear gooch from our countless meetings in primetime over snooker and chai. primetime was where i first met him. then meeting him in other (real) social settings with papa, baabs etc. always a cheerful chap, always fun to be with, always quick to offer help, always a good friend.
it was sad to hear about his death. a man with a truly nice heart. u will be missed buddy.
subbu/subra
Its been a year since Jayanth passed away. But reading through this blog and looking at the pictures, just brings back good memories, all the good times i spent with him.
One such time i remember when we were kids, we stole the keys to our uncles scooter and rode off. We were like 10 - 11 years at that time. Was such a blast everytime we met when we were kids.
Miss you Bro
missing you Jayanth ...
Happy Birthday.....
Vikas
Still miss you so much it feels like a physical pain sometimes........
Hey Brother Gooch, Whats up man? Missing you bro. Take care and you are always in mind, soul and body. Brother Babs and Brother Srini will always miss you and will always remember you. Later srini
Happy Birthday....jay
Thinking of you Goochie.....
Already more than 3 years since you are gone....but you are still missed down here! :(
Thinking of you today and missing you
sue and me are on the same page today.... kruti and i were at blue bar this evening... we miss you sooooooooo... much goochie
love always...
5 years on, finally able to smile through the tears. part of the amreecan contingent is meeting at akes' house and we'll down a drink in your name, still no good biriyanis in this country. miss you 'gyan' and the wonderful debates we'd have had about current politics.....
It's been a really long time and for sure things have moved on...you did come in my thoughts today...and I thought I check on this blog to see if it still exists...It's still an empty feeling to visit Bangalore and visit only ur parents n getting to see u again!! Rest in Peace Bro!!
Luv
Soapy
This place seems as good as any to leave thoughts of you.... was remembering old times and feeling your absence Goochie.
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