By Pablo Bartholomew New Delhi, September 06, 2012
Since your passing on so much has been said and more will follow in time, I guess. And I have been part of some of your life… knowing you all these years will remain important, being by you at the funeral by the sea was somewhat consolation. I helped with the cyberspace interventions that followed, posts by many people that you grew up or worked with, little anecdotes and stories emerged, I learnt facets about you, and on the 13th day after was your remembrance at the NGMA, the compound, where you played as a child. This touching memorial where your friends and family spoke lovingly and openly of you, leaving them very vulnerable and us all shaken… what else could we all do for you, a friend, a colleague, my brother-in-arms?
It is nearly a month since 12th August. A date that, as years go by, may become more important for me than the 15th. Like it is with the date 11th January, when my father left life. He died young at 58, but at 55 you even eclipsed that. You left too early and as you knew, it has taken me over a quarter-century to consolidate his life’s work, to be able to structure it as a series of gallery shows, a book of his photographs and finally now this thick book of writings about the birth of modern Indian art, of which your father is part of, but sadly you are not here; it would have been great for you to look, hold and have a copy.
Yes, you and me, we supported each other, needed each other to be able to make sense and reference the outside world, the larger happenings, the changes and the rumblings in the photography and art worlds. Our worlds intertwined, sometimes not because of choice but coincidences or circumstances that went beyond our generation.
Our parents’ worlds overlapped. The arts were the bridge that joined us in our youth. As a young nation was born, the idealism of nation building took over our parents. Both came from somewhere else to make Delhi their home. You had an artist father; mine too was an arts writer, a critic. Your father became an administrator of an art institution; mine did too, unfortunately mine died while holding his post. In our teens you moved into the house that we were leaving. You found my guitar left behind, you reminded me.
But I say this as an outsider, an admirer, and however much I would like to claim that I knew you, I really didn’t. There was a closed side to you. Something densely private and I think we got on all these years as I met you on your own terms. If and when in Delhi, which was quite often, should you make that phone call then we would meet. And if you didn’t, it didn’t matter. After all you had homework to deal with; two growing daughters can be a handful. I enjoyed, however, your diktat: When in Goa, it was mandatory to stay with you. I did, the occasional times I did visit your part of the country. Not enough, I can say now with regret.
(This story appears in the 28 September, 2012 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)
I met him once for an hour or two during a shoot. He changed my life, he had shown me how to dream in the midst of reality . . how to see things differently, imagination of beauty everywhere, even in a dirty pond. Thanks a lot Prabuddha for that hour of yours.
on Oct 14, 2013Ankita Dewan, that\'s a cheap shot. I felt Pablo\'s piece was honest and heart-felt, but unfortunately there will always be people like you. Show some respect, or your will lose the little you have.
on Sep 26, 2012The only meeting I had with Prabuddha was at his Nizamuddin Barsati in the late 90\'s. It was in a serene environment. with a light shower in the background, and a rolling cigarette in Prabuddha\'s hand. Met him along with my editor (of Gentleman Magazine at that time). It left such a sharp impact and impression on me that photography became a part of my life. Earlier with studies, then as a hobby and now may be as profession. Kudos to a self learned and self made man.
on Sep 26, 2012Pablo, you really gotta be subtle with self-propaganda, the space has more of Pablo\'s biography than Dasgupta, or his work, attached together insignificantly.
on Sep 26, 2012good read. thanks.
on Sep 25, 2012