Bharat was a good friend and a truly wonderful guy

"Bharat was a good friend and a truly wonderful guy.
I was shocked and numbed when I heard the news of Bharat's passing. I have been spending the last 3 hours contemplating. He was truly a wonderful guy with a great sense of humour, and a good friend too. I met him first at IPM 98 (Int'l President's Meet) in freezing cold Slovakia where I was new to international conferences and he was already a veteran. We duly elected him as the Asia-Pacific regional chair. What truly amazed me was his strong work ethics and great sense of humour. And that laughter - you can hear it 2 floors down!

It was a great one-year - he expressed good leadership during work, and when it came to party time, he didn't disappoint either. Trust him to make an Alcoholic Fruit Punch! We all parted ways at IPM 99 in Taiwan.But I hosted a reunion for AIESEC Presidents of our year in 2001 in Singapore & Malaysia when Bharat came over for 2 days and stayed at my place. We had a hilarious time, and that was the last time I saw him. There's another reunion this year where we will do something in his remembrance. I can go on and on but let me end with this sloka
Om, Asadhoma Satgamaya, Damasoma Jothigamaya, Mridhyorma Amrithamgamaya. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti he".

Thanneermalai Lakshmanan, MCP AIESEC in Malaysia 1998-99

Bharat Bhasin ---my friend from MSVV 1982 - 1995

"Words will not express my grief on the loss of Bharat. Bharat & I were friends since we were in junior school at Modern School, Vasant Vihar - New Delhi. We travelled every morning and aftrenoon in the same school bus for 10 years. Humble and polite - always willing to give up a seat and stand so that others cud sit thru the ride. Every now and then play pranks on fellow bus mates....intelligent and witty - very quick on the uptake, a genius.

Last I bumped into him at Hyderabad airport when he was coming to join ISB -- it was a pleasent surprise to meet a Delhi friend at Hyd airport -- meeting was short but we connected instantly -- the bond was always there!!!

Last friday nite (Jul 22nd, 2005) 2:30am EST ... came the shocking news ....left me shattered....putting everything in perspective - that LIFE is so uncertain, taking away Bharat from us - leaving this void -- but connecting us all in his memory --- his body left us - but the soul is doing it's duty - as Bharat was always a leader he continues to be ONE for us in our hearts forever !! Miss U Bharat !!!"

Sharan Bhavnani, MSVV - class of 1995

Bharat, I salute you man!

"Its unfair when young people don’t live long enough to accomplish what they want to. I didn’t know Bharat for too long. First and last time I met him was when he chaired a local DU conference. Over those two days, I remember him always being in control. I remember him playing a dialogue from “Any Given Sunday” where Pacino talks about “winning inch by inch”. I remember him for his supreme confidence.

I don’t know, in some ways, it’s a reality check of how much time there really is. I came across this speech by Steve Jobs sometime back. I know most here would’ve re-read it a few times by now, but it’s the first thing that I thought about after the weird numbness of hearing a young person passing away….. “Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.”

Few people in this world leave behind a legacy for the people they met. Even fewer when they die young. Bharat, I salute you man!"

Aditya Khanna
AIESEC alumnus

"AIESEC in India has been born and brought up on 'legends' and 'heroes' who defied the norm and did great things as leaders both in the organization and outside it. Bharat was one such individual...along with having played a mentoring role for both the organization and the International Congress this year (as a an advisory council member) he was a great human being who really cared for his role. He was an inspiration. In one of the best colleges in the country, he was LCP, MCP , got into ISB, then worked for HDFC and i learnt recently that he had got admission into LSE.

A handsome and charismatic person with the most characteristic 'delhi-sense of humour' that still brings a smile to my face. We wil miss Bharat, the Indians we dream of and speak of constantly, were embodied by him. My heart goes out to his family."

Dhruv Chitgopekar
http://chitgo.nomadlife.org

Bharat at IC 98

At IC 98 opening ceremony - Helsinki

At IC 98 global village - Helsinki

Thanks to Dips

In memory of Bharat

"I first heard of Bharat through a few DU AIESEC'ers where he was spoken about as an inspiration. I also heard from a few aiesec'ers from Bangalore how Bharat's MC was one of the most charismatic ever, thanks to Bharat's leadership. I first met Bharat at natcong 2000 which he chaired in Mahabaleshwar and I immediately realised why he was talked about with a sense of respect bordering on awe.

Bharat exuded a confidence which is rare in most people but he also instantly put you at ease if one were to approach him for a few words. As a rookie aiesec'er meeting Bharat only reinforced my belief that AIESEC was an organisation I wanted to be a part of and his manner, words & passion left me with an increased sense of pride that I was part of something that had the likes of Bharat Bhasin in it. I, like many others was inspired in ways both small & big by Bharat and will always remember him as a person who will be larger than life. We'll miss you Bharat. But your memories will always bring back a smile."

Regards,
Abhijeet Mehta

Talented, Easy-going, Ambitious, Humble, Caring and Honest

"Bharat, was all that and more. We spent a lot of time together during our time In AIESEC India. I will never forget his easy manner and his hospitality on the several occasions I stayed at his home in Delhi. We traveled to Europe and the US together and spent many evenings chatting about his future aspirations & goals, many of which he had recently fulfilled and was well on his way to fulfill the rest.

On one such trip, I had just gone through a disappointing day and about to go to bed when I found a long letter from Bharat to me in the hotel room. His words lifted my spirit and changed my attitude. That was just his style - understated, caring and always a friend.

When Bharat was president of AIESEC in Delhi, he set high standards for himself and those around him. It was a fitting tribute that his team won the best performing local committee award with him at the helm. He then took on the mantle as National President and led with his characteristic pride and zest, which endeared him to all he knew.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family, to give them the strength to bear this cruel and tragic loss.

Rest in Peace - Big Man."

Vivek Bajaj, AIESEC Alumni

"I joined AIESEC 2 years after Bharat left, and I only met him once. Notwithstanding, he has been an important, if subtle, influence in my life. In her own words, probably owing to the enthusiasm with which Bharat's mother spoke of him and his achievements in AIESEC, did my mother encourage me to join the organisation and perhaps make of it as Bharat made of it.

I had my opportunity to meet Bharat when I organised an alumni event. As I sweated and stressed, desperate to make sure everything worked like clockwork that night, it was Bharat who made me sit down and gave me a lecture with mock severity about how it was all about having a laugh and making it look effortless at the same time.

Even for someone who was acquainted merely with a drop of what constituted the ocean that was Bharat, the news of his passing away came as a deep shock. There are many, many like me out there, whose lives have been touched by Bharat, and our thoughts remain with his family and friends during this period of grief."

Megha Mukim, AIESEC

Friends at Tata AutoComp

"I knew Bharat during his days at Tata AutoComp. Like everyone else who spent
time with him, we had one grand time together". Arjun Kakkar

The Gold Standard

"I cannot even begin to think how many people across the world are in pain because of Bharat's untimely and cruel passing away. He was my role model. He was barely 2 years older to me. He was only 27.

I have so many memories of Bharat. Powerful memories. That's because he made such a big impression. Some images come to mind:

Hamma...Hamma!! - His favourite song. I still remember how he made the Indian delegation swing to this song, innumerable times at so many international conferences. Kurta - His signature. Bombay Boys - One of my fondest memories of Bharat and his NC team at Nat Cong 98 in Jaipur doing an awesome roll call on the song "MumBhai".

Vision - If I remember correctly, Bharat and his NC team were the "Look Beyond" team. Bharat always aimed high. More importantly, he got all of us to aim high as well. His legacy is still carrying on in AIESEC India. He changed AIESEC India's destiny, and in the process changed the destiny of all the AIESECers who came after him.

Character - He always did the right thing. He always meant what he said. He was a straight shooter. Laughter - I can still hear his booming laughter. It came to him easily. Bharat exuded a quiet confidence. He had such a strong personality, so much charisma. As Nirish said, Bharat truly did set the Gold Standard.

I know that there are so many of us desperately trying to keep his memory alive in different ways. I know whatever we do will never be enough, but it's the least we can do.

We should feel lucky to have known Bharat. To have been a part of his world. And though he's gone and taken his world with him, I know he will continue to live on in our hearts and minds...I hope and pray that wherever he is - he is in peace".

Anupam Yog
AIESEC Alumnus

Presidents' Meet 1998 (Mulund House, pre-ABD)

Bharat with some members of his focus commission at the Presidents' Meet pre ABD in the AIESEC India MC house in Mulund. 1998. He's almost hidden, though.

This picture is from Dips.

Bharat - A born leader

"If there was a job he was cut out for, it was to lead. He lead from the front, he led by example, he made sure people realized their own latent potential and he did it with a natural ease. He could make ordinary people do extraordinary things. He would be equally at ease with a waiter in a small restaurant and at the same time with some of India's biggest industrialist - He struck a chord with all, Bharat was never an acquaintance to anyone, if he met someone, they would definitely become his friends sooner or later. He was a man who had his head and his heart in exactly the right place.

Bharat could talk about everything with equal knowledge and passion be it Govinda's latest dance steps to IMF's latest lending policies, from Jack Welch to JD Salinger. Such was his sphere - too large and quite unfathomable and that too in such a short life. I could safely say, the world lost a great leader, but more importantly most of us lost a great friend and a fantastic human being. I will miss the man and his larger than life attitude, I will miss his zest for life and his heart warming smile which can never be wiped out. I appreciate all that times I spent with you and all that I learnt. I miss you DUDE!!"

Amit Bhatt, AIESEC Alumni

Bharat's HDFC Team bids farewell

Bharat's Obituary in Todays Times epaper

Bharat was my first Role-Model

"I first met Bharat in January, 1997 at my NLDS in Hyderabad. He was the Local Committee President at DU then (i think) and was the Mentor for our team of new recruits from all across India. They first thing that struck me about him was his Smile...that broke all barriers. I have the fondest of memories of my NLDS and one of the reasons I stayed back in AIESEC was because of Bharat. The innumberable talks I had with him about AIESEC and he cleared my doubts by sharing his wonderful experiences and inspiring me to "Seize The Day".

During our NLDS, we were asked to do crazy things with our coordinators and one of the things was to carry Bharat and throw him into the pool at the resort. Being the BIG GUY that he was; it took us quite an effort but we managed to throw him in the pool and his smiled remained..He was truly an amazing human being!

It was indeed a proud moment for me when he became National Committee President and I joined the Bangalore Executive Board. We met at many conferences then and he remained the same guy always - smiling, down-to-earth, ever approachable and sharing a word with me everytime we got a chance.

Bharat was my first Role-Model and I hope and wish I can emulate his personality in someways in my own life. I seem to have lost a mentor and role-model today but his memories live on."

Vishal Talreja, AIESEC Alumni

"When we joined Aiesec,this name was worshiped by all
our idols and i got lucky and met him on my
natcong,and what a person he was.that short meeting
was something i'll remember always.
May god give strength to his family....."

Karan Mahajan, AIESEC Chandigarh

Bharat was the epitome of leadership.

"Bharat was a role model and an inspiration to me. I first met him at an AIESEC conference and was blown away by his personality. Bharat's legacy lives on in the hundreds of people he came in contact with. I stayed in AIESEC because of the amazing leadership it had. Bharat was the epitome of leadership. He set the gold standard. On a personal note he was a great guy who lit up a room when he walked in. It is truly a tragic loss."

Regards,
Nirish Mathias, AIESEC Alumni

Friends visiting the MC office

66 Days To Go
Counting the days to discharge.

ABD 1998.
Malli's hour!
And the only photograph of the team in formals.

Remember the mad rush to change in time?

And anybody remember the previous year's ABD, when Bharat got out of the taxi and practically put on his pants on the road?!

"Bhan Singh, yeh le puttar"..

That's what he said, flexing his smile, when I met up with him in Pune in 2001. He was working for the Tata group then, happy with this first job after AIESEC.

With Ankush (Mally)

Ankush and Bharat

The President and his team- AIESEC India National Staff, 98-99

Our final stance together as the National Committee of AIESEC India, 98-99.

From left, Bhanu, Bharat (our Mr. President as Tambi would call him), Progga, Ankush (Mally), Sahil, Brano, Kaarthik



At our office in Bombay, the AIESEC India NC. Happy times.


Glory days!

Bharat's laughter

His laughter was "always on", and was quite his signature.

Bharat with us at Sahil's wedding

While Ankush and Brano couldn't make it, Progga, Kaarthik, Bharat and Bhanu met at Sahil's wedding. Dec, 2005

Bharat and Bhanu at Sahil's wedding

Bharat and Bhanu at Sahil's wedding in Dec, 2004. It's the last time we met.

Our friend Bharat

Today I couldn't find a reason to thank God. Today I couldn't find a reason to pray. Today I was cheated, mugged and robbed of a good friend. Today Bharat left us all alone, only to look back and cherish the times we spent together in this unseemingly fragile life.