"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