I woke up this morning to a rude shock when a friend messaged me saying Abhijit Chakraborty had passed away. I first confirmed with a couple of his partners because I found it extremely difficult to believe that this beautiful human being had breathed his last. But alas, this indeed was the case and it is with a tremendous sense of grief that I am penning these words.
A lot of people have been inquiring about what happened. What I have been able to put together is that he first took ill during the Indore event where he had to be hospitalized. Since he was not recovering in Indore, he was airlifted to his home town, Bardhaman where he was placed in a clinic. After a few days, the clinic suggested they move him to Kolkata where better tests could be run. Only when he reached Kolkata was it diagnosed that the degree of illness was far more severe than anybody could have imagined (he was talking to people in Kolkata). There seems to have been rapid, multi-organ failure which could not be overturned.
Abhijit hailed from a middle class family. Post his graduation, he commenced business as a distributor of medicines which was flourishing.
His earliest presence in the bridge fraternity seems to have noticed in the 2003 Aurangabad Nationals. Among his first partners was Sowmik Das who says "I was fortunate to see his immense talent blossom. It took very little time for him to attain the title of a grandmaster on his own merit".
His last few tournaments were with Hema Deora's team and as her mixed pairs partner. I remember fondly some humorous exchanges I had with him during the event. Hema had this to say about him. "He was always very polite and helpful. Even when he wished to correct me, he did it very sweetly. Without doubt, one of the best partners I have had".
Perhaps the sweetest eulogy I have received till now comes from Alka Kshirsagar, his first mixed partner.
Anguish comes like unbudgeted bolts of lightning. This morning, it came with the news of Abhi's shocking demise.
'Too young to die' is an epithet that life, sadly, has no regard for!
My mind took a backward leap to a day in early 2018, when I received a call from an unknown number. The caller was someone I had neither met, nor for that matter, heard of (my bad...as Abhijeet Chakraborty, the young man at the other end was already a force to reckon with in the world of bridge). True to his generous disposition, he said he would play my system at the upcoming mixed event in Pune!
To cut a long story short, three months later, Abhijeet and I found ourselves in Jakarta as part of the Indian mixed team at the Asian Trial Games. The cherry on the cake? India bagged a silver medal at that event. Another bronze at the Asia Cup in Goa a couple of months on made for heady times!
There is no formula to determine if a partnership will succeed. Ours did, but the main takeaway is not that we succeeded, but that as a partner he combined fine play with fine human qualities.
As it happened, Abhijeet moved on, but he exuded the same warmth every time we met.
Abhijeet, you will be much missed by every one who crossed your path. For me, the hardest part will be knowing that you will never answer the number in my phone book listed as Abhijeet Bridge.
RIP dear partner, teacher and friend.
We would request all other players and people whose life Abhijeet touched to leave their memories of him as comments on this page for all of us to remember and share.
Disclaimer : All opinions are entirely those of the author and are no reflection of the views of the BridgeFromHome Team.
Very sad. He had many more years of bridge left.
I was touched and honoured when he asked if he could play as part of Deepadhaar. He was to be part our team in FNCC Hydrabad this year. At indore in a brd that he played against Prosenjit and I, his was the only pair who bid a 6 NT. My reaction… super he is in our team next time. A player of great calibre and wonderful person.A loss to all.
My first and only interaction with Abhijeet was at Bombay Gymkhana during the Prime tournaments. He was sitting by himself in the lounge in one of the breaks. We got talking and he asked me I was participating at Kolkata winter nationals. When I said I was in two minds, he said I must participate. He also urged me to book accommodation asap as hotels were filling up fast. His encouragement was one of the factors that led me to participate in ladies pairs at Kolkata. Thank you Abhijeet. Om Shanti!
I am the most unfortunate person who got that news first.
Abhijit was my childhood friend as well as family friend too.for more than 35 years .
I was with him almost his last breath.
When he was shifted from our home town, I personally lifted him to the Ambulance. He was quite normal as I spoke with him although extremely weak.
He had some problem with liver and fever which was occurring frequently. Dr Arnab Majhi, who was his doctor who is very well renowned. He had recommended that we seek treatment from any Rheumatologist as this facility is not available in Bardhaman.
Actually, during the last 6 days, when was he admitted in Bardhaman, there was no such severe breathing problem or any critical situation.
We shifted and admitted him in Kolkata on 23rd January evening 6.30 pm and he was quite normal and even spoke normally at that time.
The very next morning, at 6.00 am, he was shifted to Ventilation.
This was very shocking to us as he had no known respiratory or cardiac problems.
He breathed his last at 130 am today.
Dear Suku,
Thank you very much for sharing what happened in the past few days. None of us knew anything about that.
Thank you Sukalyan for your information about his last few days….
I was shocked by the news and couldn’t believe that. Then thought some accident must have happened.
I still find it difficult to believe.
Abhijit was the kind of person who touched everyone’s heart . I first met him in Pune selection trials and after that it was always a warm smile and handshake I got from him. The last time I met him was in Mumbai prime tournament where he lifted my spirits by saying “Alkaji aapka partner bola aaj Alkaji ke saath khelne ko mil raha hai. “ It was very nice for an average player like me.
A shocking news , difficult to digest and difficult to come to terms with. A fine soul and a great player will be missed at every tournament. Rest in peace .
I have known Abhijit for along time having played tournaments in Kolkata. We had never been in the same team. He became an astounding Claas player having started his play at least 25 years after me. But he had been the same soft spoken boy always . Whenever we cane across each other he smiled broadly an replied to my nods with most noble words.
We are at the sunset years of our life and have to swallow God’s wish to see the passing away of youngster in shining Midday of his life.
Very difficult to accept.
A deep sense of grief has descended upon the Bridge fraternity as a whole.Abhi had no enemy.I still can see that inimitable infectious smile.Thw moment you have wye contact with him he would invariably present you with a beatific smile.Hw was a great player but more than that he was the most endearing player Indian Bridge has seen.Bhai Abhi rest in peace! We all shall miss you!
knew him from 18 always a hello always sweet smile never an attitude he and I were both in between pds (which I knew later) he called me up and asked me to play Goa mixed with him and we fixed up meanwhile got a very tempting invite to play in Hongkong ladies pairs in some Asian cup from Bfi so I had to cancel goa but he promised that we shall play soon I fixed him up a typhoon arrived at Hongkong putting end to our visit and we did play in Dehradun but I lost him
the Dehradun encounter was super he was unbelievably nice smiling ever no tantrums no superiority a pleasant comfortable person to be with
I will miss you sorely you deserved not to go so soon
Turns of events over a couple of weeks caused demise of a Bridge Talent so early. Indeed its a great loss for all of us and many memories with him still so alive and vibrant that it would take a while to accept the reality and regain my composure. Good bye brother Avijit and may God give his family the courage and strength to tide over the crisis.