The emotion of a friend can never perish, it stays on forever, writes Shombit Sengupta
From mid-February 2023, my intuition was pushing me to see Mr Keshub Mahindra as soon as possible. So I acted upon it and requested a meeting. When we met on March 21, 2023 he was as vibrant and alert as I have known him since this past quarter century. He passing away (9.10.1923 – 12.4.2023) is really devastating and unwanted news for me.
His wife Sudha and he welcomed us very graciously to their lovely home.
Renee and I can only console ourselves that we proactively wanted to see him and felicitate him before his 100th year on October 8, 2023.
As we are scheduled to be in Paris at that time we requested for a date at his earliest convenience. Very spontaneously and generously, he had asked us to come over to his home in the morning of March 21, 2023.
He was so positive and chatty with me even on this our last meeting.
We spent a beautiful hour with Mr & Mrs Mahindra in Mumbai. I didn’t find him any different that day from when I used to meet him earlier in his office every 6 months or so. We used to exchange ideas on the global business world, on art, history and he would pump me to know of new trends and behavioural changes of consumers across the world.
In 2010, I one day arrived at his office dragging a suitcase full of paints, brushes and a canvas. He was startled and continued to watch me with a smile as I laid them out on his office table. I turned to him and he said, “Do I have to paint?” He joyfully and spontaneously made a painting for me. I captured him on video as he did so. Just see his sincere involvement during his painting session attached below this post.
On our request, Keshub recounted to us four memorable stories of his life
Over a cup of tea on March 21, 2023 I asked Keshub to recall the most memorable stories of his life. This is what he recounted:
- He was in the US, studying at Wharton, during WW2 so he had experienced the war through the American perspective.
- He met Sudha in London
- They married in Mumbai in 1956.
- They spent their honeymoon in Darjeeling.
He said he now enjoys books that have pictures illustrating the content.
When I asked what he’d like from my frequent global travels, he said, “Send me pictures of you wherever you go so I can enjoy the place too.” He loves to read. When I asked what he’s reading now he said he loves to browse through books with visuals nowadays. 
So I quickly found and sent him a book of Henri Cartier-Bresson’s photographs taken in India, which he received on April 5, 2023.
I must say that I cherish this particular intuition I had which enabled this priceless last meeting with Keshub. He was in a happy mood in the spring month of March, relaxed in his familiar Mumbai home surroundings. His graceful, elegant wife accompanied his conversation even as she was hospitable with many delicious snacks that came with the tea she served.
I have done a lot of things with intuition in my life, but this intuition has given me the greatest returns. I will always remember Keshub Mahindra as a precious friend who was truly a compassionate and visionary person.
