RIP, Commander

WALKING into MiD DAY as an intern last year, I knew I was getting something priceless on my first day itself an opportunity to meet Jyotirmoy Dey.

For anyone aspiring to write on crime and the underworld, the name J Dey and his photograph with a cap hiding part of the face (above) were legendary.



And, standing face-to-face with the man behind the cap and that eye-catching smile, I knew I was being given an opportunity so many reporters would die for.

That very day, he sent me to cover a press conference at the Mumbai Police headquarters. I was nervous. On returning to office, Dey Sir asked me, "What do we have that is different?
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How can we cover the story in a way that no one can?" He prodded me to come up with ideas and, after I told him a few, he smiled and said, "Boss, aap toh pehle din pe hi chaa gaye." I was on cloud nine.

I would often get depressed when, unlike those of my senior colleagues, my stories would not work out the way I wanted them to.

I would lose heart, but Sir didn't. There were times, early on, when I thought of giving up crime journalism, but Sir egged me on.

He used to encourage me and was taking all efforts to ensure that I grow, with time, to become a good crime reporter.

One of the things he told me that I will always remember is: "Boss, aapne mere under crime reporting start ki hai aur mere under kaam karte hain.

Main chahta hoon ki jab aap bade reporter bane toh duniya mujhe dekh kar bole ki yeh Roshan ke guru hain, jisme mujhe khushi ho".

He treated me like his own child and not a day went by when I did not get a call from him not even my offs.

On Friday, a day before his death, he was very happy in the evening and when I asked him for the reason, he told me that he had polished his watch. That is how he was made, the little things made him happy.
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I've learnt a lot from the Commander, as he was called by many friends and colleagues. Not only has he taught me everything I know about journalism but has also given me important lessons on life.

Thank you, Sir. You may be no more, but your legacy will live on and we, your foot soldiers, will make sure your contributions to making this city a safer place are taken forward.