Achin Da was my first Regional Manager in Press Trust of India.
A fine gentleman with fantastic sense of humour... and witty with words. During my initial days in PTI, Delhi -- Achin Da had visited the news organisation's headquarters ---
When we met in the once upon a time 'the famous TV-room'; Achin Roy said --- "Ki hey .. shun chhi khub bhalo kaj korchcho. Ei khane anek rokom chakkar achhey ...
Yes Sir, No Sir kore chaliye jao".
There is lot of 'chakkar' here .... you are doing well... Let the show run with Yes Sir, No Sir formula"
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| PTI - First Day Cover - 1999 : Golden Jubilee |
As a youngster still believing in the power of the dictum that 'work defines a man'- I did not seem to believe what he said.
Perhaps I did not understand properly ... half the things. Later I shared details of this interaction with senior colleague Pradip Chowdhury (PC). PC was News Editor in Kolkata office under Achin Da and later posted in Islamabad for a brief period.
PC and we ... the likes of me and Kirti Patil - a talented Sports Reporter - became friends ... thanks to our 'late evening meetings ... and no alcohol dinner' at PTI Guest House, E-20 Jungpura. PC also left for the heavenly abode a few years back.
Achin Da left on Nov 5, 2025. He was 87 - I was told. There are a few more anecdotes about Achin Da.
Once he told me in Kolkata office - "Jao Delhi ,,, amar mukh ta rekho (Translation may not reflect the true spirit of the statement ... he meant -- Now that you are going to Delhi; see that my prestige is not pucntured/hampered as I had recommended your case)". With him, my response generally used to be to play it safe -- just maintain silence, keep grinning and listen patiently his words.
But I always thought he spoke from the heart --- and there was love for youngsters. In Delhi office -- both these elements of human life --- frankness to speak from the 'heart' and love for youngsters were missing.
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| Achin Da and others .. At a function in Kolkata |
No doubt --- Late chief secretary of Nagaland A M Gokhale had his reasons to say - "New Delhi still behaves and thinks like Aurangzeb's Delhi".
Ting tong. Secularism was still tolerable in India and it had not turned Sickularism and to be a Hindu did not matter much I suppose. But diagnosis about Delhi was right !!
'Different Delhi' greeted us --- me (from Kohima) and my Mizo friend H C Vanlalruata was surprised by many 'mannerism' of Delhi as a city and our colleagues and the people in general in the national capital. Even Bengalis of Delhi have a typical CR Park variety of snobbishness. They forget the entire world knows -- that was once upon a time that was a 'refugee' locality and most houses had come up there due to Partition of India.
In other words; things that have happened to Delhi have not just happened to it, but ... they happened ... because of it and the city's people !!
Coming back to Achin Da's approach to life.
I thought I should express my gratitude to Achin Da for all the initial help and guidance he gave me during the crucial period of life.
So, me and PC told him .. "we will meet you tomorrow at breakfast time and the bill is on us".
He readily agreed and gave a residential house address from Gulmohor Park. We thought it could be a 'guest house' or something. I had a bottle of local honey from Siliguri and so I took that and PC bought cakes and bread. To our surprise .... that was the house of Bangladesh News Agency Delhi bureau chief.
And that Bangladeshi family was his host.
That reminded us that Achin Da was PTI's Dhaka Correspondent for sometime and hence that bond. So my gratitude episode was just thrown into the margins.
The hostess (boudi/bhabhi) offered us delicacies from Dhaka, plates full of Peethas and lovely Luchi and Chicken. Breakfast had turned into a grand feast for two PTI Guest House 'guests' - the blogger and PC.
We hogged virtually. As he saw us relishing the Dhaka hospitality --- Achin Da was in his element: "Remember both of you have to go to PTI office ... otherwise someone will ban my entry into that office".
Notably; Achin Da was former PTI AGM Arun Kumar's bosom friend. And then ironically -- Achin Da's visit to PTI headquarters figured in one of the morning meetings.
The 'top man' understandably expressed displeasure -- "why a retired person should visit our office so much... at least I will never do that".
This was reported to PC by a senior colleague who had 'access' to such esteemed meetings and morning 'dressing down shows'.
PC looked pensive ... almost in moist eyes as he told me this !!
The words reached Achin Da and at least till I was shunted out to Chandigarh ..... for almost getting a job with 'Deccan Herald' .... I never saw him in that prestigious red-stone building.
PC and Achin Da will discuss about all these when they meet up there !!
A few friends of mine these days are also talking about a new book .... titled -- "what they don't teach you in journalism ....
I tend to agree. Ting tong.
This piece would not complete without reference to the following minor episode.
1999 or so ... were my good times at the Parliament Street office.
I was called inside the 'big room' for an assignment.
The then PTI chairman Aveek Sarkar accompanied former army chief Gen Roy Chowdhury and senior journalist Vir Sanghvi were to meet PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee with a cheque for Kargil Funds.
I was asked - "Have you met Aveek Sarkar before .... (before I could say No ... the instructions were clear). You will find him in Dhoti and little beard here on the chin ... like your Achin Roy".
So ... in PTI's lingo ::: I was Achin Roy's man .....
Though I was called once 'a man for all seasons'. My days were numbered !!
Tail piece:
We once jokingly asked Achin Da ... "... will you take up another job .... post retirement writing stuff etc ?"
His response was : "Anek hoechhey .. jotheshto Enough .... No more Tomfoolery".
This is also ... normally most working journalists and especially mortals like us from the old school of print medium will agree at some point of time of the career.
For the new generation in hurry ... yet reading this piece - Tomfoolery means - foolish or senseless behavior. Should I say .... Achin Da was much far-sighted than some of us. Kirti has quit journalism ... that's the last rumour; I have heard.
ends
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