BEIJING: 

KHALID A-H ANSARI IN BEIJING

The expression "Those whom the gods love, die young" was coined expressly for the likes of former Asian junior badminton champion Gautam Thakkar, who passed away after a brief illness, stoically borne, in Mumbai yesterday.

A former president of the Bombay Gymkhana and vice-president of the Squash Racquets Association of Mumbai (SRAM), Gautam was the epitome of good grace and sportsmanship.

Superbly fit until the end, Gautam played badminton regularly at the Bombay Gymkhana, with his good friend and doubles partner Sunil Gavaskar, until three months before his death.

All those who came in contact with him could not but be captivated by Gautam's  warmth and sincerity and delighted by his infectious, puckish sense of humour.

A sincere friend, Gautam was Mr Reliable, unfailingly dependable and always willing to go the extra mile to help the deserving and those close to him.
 
Friends aplenty

WILL BE MISSED: Gautam Thakkar

Gautam had innumerable acquaintances, but 'dost' and 'partner' were his favourite terms of reference for his close-knit circle of friends (Nandu Natekar was among them), whom he chose with rather exaggerated circumspection.

I was privileged to be considered a 'dost' by Gautam for 35 years going back to our cricketing days at the Rotary Club of Bombay Mid-Town and the Bombay Gym managing committee down to the SRAM, over which he would have presided in the very near future.

Saturday afternoons with Gautam at the Gym as members of the exclusive Saturday Club (which he founded) were an unfailing recipe as much for uninhibited hilarity as for serious food for thought and discussion of the world's problems.

Gautam's distinguished good looks, his immaculate dress sense and gentle demeanour bring to mind the expression: Handsome is as handsome does.

There was much more than good looks to Gautam: His humane nature was exemplary. And, his services to sport, in general, and Mumbai sport, in particular, invaluable. To that extent badminton and squash have been orphaned.

Goodbye dost. Your loss is unbearable. We will miss you. May your soul rest in peace.
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