Adieu, Dev Sahib!

on December 7, 2011

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Squadron Leader Anil Sehgal

The author with Dev Anand and S D Burman at an Officers' Club
The author’s face is obscured by Dev Anand’s glass. To the right is composer-singer S D Burman

He was a classmate of our Air Force commander. So, whenever he was anywhere around the place Air Marshal Rajaram was posted at, Dev Anand would invariably make it a point to meet. That is when I met him at ‘Air Force Station Hindon’. Seeing him in flesh, holding a glass of whisky in his lanky hands and cheering to you was a scenario I had never imagined!

Thanks to his friendship with Rajaram, he was a darling of the officers’ mess; there was always a small get-together in his honour. I recall him mingling with the officers affably, cheering each one of them, and always holding a glass of whisky in his hand without finishing a single drink! His visits would always be short, sweet and cheerful.

In 1990, I was posted by the Air Force at Mumbai, which provided me a few opportunities of interacting with him in occasional filmy get-togethers. In 1996, I sought pre-mature release from the Indian Air Force. The following years afforded me greater interaction with Dev Sahib. Many of these meetings were along with friend and journalist Ali Peter John who is a great admirer of the actor.

Meeting Dev Sahib was an experience I will always cherish. He was a bundle of energy, full of enthusiasm for life and great optimism. His very presence was invigorating. He was always lively and his enthusiasm was not only charismatic, it was infectious too.

I recall a day sometime in 1997 when I had to meet Dev sahib at his pad in Pali Hill. That was the day I was feeling feverish and short of energy. So, I rang him up to say that I would like to be excused. “Officer, if you are not feeling bright, that is good enough a reason for you to make it. You must come over. After meeting me, you are bound to feel better!”

He shared a sandwich and some hot tea. We spent about two hours discussing subjects ranging from films, society, and politics to social obligations of a public performer and Lalu Prasad Yadav. He was in his elements and kept me in good humour all through.

By the time I left him, I was feeling energetic, cheerful, and full of bounce with all that feverish feeling gone to the wind! He had rubbed his verve and vitality on me. And that is exactly what happened each time I met him.

He was never patronizing, and by his own example, charmed and inspired me to live life to the fullest extent, irrespective of the hurdles or unfavorable circumstances; never waste time on meaningless social interactions, and do all the things you like if these do not hurt others.

As an actor, he was more youthful than most of our younger crop of actors! Enthusiasm, energy, optimism and joie de vivre are some of the synonyms of Dev Anand.

Death he did not recognize; he believed in living. Even after learning of the death of his dear friend, he always referred to Rajaram as if he had talked to him a short while ago only. That was his zest for life. “Officer, zindagi se badi nemat aur koi nahin hai! Just live it up!” he would say.

Also printed in The Express Tribune


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