Arvind was born in pre-Independence India in the magnificent city of Bombay- and she was magnificent then. The early loss of his mother (he was all of 4 when it happened), meant that his father, a doctor shipped his sons off to boarding school - Christ Church in Jabalpore, as it was called then. This very ‘propah’ British school left its indelible stamp on his personality and all through his life. Later in adult life, his friends aptly conferred the nickname of ‘Western Ghat’ upon him. Although he was equally at ease at the Supper Club at the Oberoi as he was at a khanaval like AnanthAshram in Girgaum. Or whether it was watching Dara Singh wrestle King Kong at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium in Bombay or Ghanaian Afro-Rock band Osibisa performing live at the same venue!

He spent much of his early working life in media at ad agencies like Interpub, MAA and Ulka. Corporate life wasn’t his cup of tea (always tea for him, never coffee), he would go on to work with a few close friends in what we would certainly call a ‘start-up’ these days. They were 30 years ahead of the world! 

It was during this period that he pursued his love and passion for teaching. In the early years and for a good part of his life at XIC (the Xavier Institute of Communication, with the legendary workshops at the Xavier Villa in Khandala) and then of course at Northpoint (Northpoint Centre of Learning) in Khandala. The ‘Western Ghat’ clearly had a natural affinity for the Western Ghats!

He enjoyed working with young minds, moulding them, provoking them and in his own way, counselling them as they prepared for the unknown, on the brink of adulthood.

You would have known him as 'Arvind' or 'Mr Vinayak' or even 'Mr. V'. However you knew him, he was mentor and friend to so many over the years. One minute he'd be shooting a sharp jibe at you (those could hurt), the next he'd be buying you a drink to cheer you up. Always pushing you to 'think'. That was so him.

So often the life of the party, he loved his drink, his music and we loved his moves on the dance floor. He's always lived by his own rules and he's refused to play by the new ones. This world has been a little crazy of late and he's not having any of it. So he's packed his bags one last time and gone to do his magic, wherever he is.

The best way to remember him is to pour yourself one, play some music and say, 'Cheers Mr. V' or 'Mr Vinayak' or 'Arvind'. Be careful now, you can't call him 'Sir', because the Queen hasn't knighted him. Yet.

Cheers Arvind, Cheers Dad.

Always in our hearts, Always in our thoughts, Always with us.

Pat, Vinay, Ayesha & Leia

Late Prakash & Elizabeth | Kishen & Nishitha, Kanishka | Rhea & Jairo

Shekhar & Madhu | Pranay & Dinaz, Aryan | Preeti