This morning, the Bridge World in India awoke to a rude shock as news of Debashis (Inu) Bose's death was relayed across WhatsApp groups. The cause of death was reported as a massive heart attack. Many of his colleagues in the Railways recall interacting and playing with him in the Inter Railways Championship held just last weekend.
We have put attempted to put together some kind of biography based on memories shared of him by players in various Whatsapp groups as well as directly with us. We hope we can do some sort of justice to his memory.
Debashis first sprang to limelight when he won the 2002 Holkar pairs at Ludhiana with Asit Kundu. In the words of Amarnath Banerjee:
Inu was usually a very instinctive player, who did not play many complicated systems. I was playing with Venky and leading the field with 3 or 4 rounds to go, when we faced the Inu-Kundu duo. They bid almost straight 6❤️, missing 2 cashable aces. Venky was void in clubs. He under led from ♦️AKQXXX, hoping to come to my hand with the diamond jack, hopefully to get a club ruff. Bad luck! Dummy produced the singleton jack and he quickly claimed his slam.
This deal pushed us to 4th place and gave them the title.
This win got him a job with Easter Railway, making him the first Holkar Champion to play for the Railways according to Sumit Mukherjee.
He was very close and like an elder brother to me. He was a gentle player who was always smiling. He used to have a stammering issue. We therefore teased him about how he would be deployed as an announcer at Howrah station!
A tribute to his instincts was also paid by Pinaki Khan
He was a simple person and a gentleman to the core. Inuda was one of the finest natural Bridge players WB has ever produced. He relied mostly on insticts and table presence, caring less about fancy gadgets and systems. He produced some fine results for his teams.
Once, non vulnerable against vulnerable opponents, he opened 6c with x-xx-x-KQJTxxxxx. He went down 3 undoubled!
Another time, on hearing his partner open 3H vul he chose to bid 6h with xx AJxxx xx xxxx. He got doubled and went for minus 4 (1100). This may sound horrible but opponents were cold for a variety of grand slams on the hand.
A recent major feather in his cap would have been the HCL Silver Championship in 2018. We present below a picture of the winning team
He used to play with Deepak Satra post the Holkar. In the recent past, he had formed a partnership with the young Joyrup Mullick who says
I have played with him many times as a partner, and as team mates. He was such a nice person as a team mate, and as a human being. He never liked argument on the table as well as after the match. He preferred technical discussion. He was famous for his quick dummy play. Ha could make impossible contracts on the table. Also his defense was very sharp. That is why he was very successful in Match Points events. He won many trophies and some of them with me as well. Latest was HCL invitational team winner on BBO and G meet together. I will really miss him a lot. May his soul rest in peace.
Another youngster Debashis played with a lot was Sayantan Kushari. In his words
He became very close to me after I joined Railways in 2017. We had many conversations about bidding dummy play etc.. He was a very sharp and fast card player. His bidding was a bit aggressive.
We all have to go some day, but did you have to leave so early Inu Da?
We echo this question in sorry.
Debashis Bose Rest in Peace