Our Memories with Chitra.....

I first met Chitra many years ago when she brought her daughter to my house to learn Bharatanatyam. My first impression was simply "Oh my! what a beautiful lady". Her laughter which still resounds in my ear and her enthusiasm for life  was infectious. Family , writing and music were three very important pillars of her life. We differed on many issues and have had so many passionate arguments on a wide vareity of subjects. For Chitra though the argument was always about the issue - never about the person holding a view different from hers. There was not a single person she spoke negatively about it. She truly cared about everyone who she came in touch with. Anyone who got know her could not help loving and admiring her. For me Chitra was life, love and laughter...

My dear Chitra.. you are in my heart ..always! I love you!

Ranjani Saigal

My association with Chitra began when we formed Lokvani. No Lokvani meeting ever could begin without Chitra proposing a ton of new ideas.  Chitra worked hard to make Lokvani a quality publication that is a reflection of  the views of the Indian American community. Her energy and enthusiasm is greatly missed.

Her wonderful writings will keep her in our minds for ever.

Anil Saigal

So many happy memories I have of Chitra, too many to count them all...

How do you reminiscence for a friend you spent a lot of time with for a number of  years. Where do I begin? From the daily morning phone call asking each other “what plans we have for the day, to shall we go shopping to the mall, there is a sale today ? Or rushing to put on our sneakers after a morning Lokvani meeting for our favorite pilates or African dance class ?

Standing in front of my gym class last week, I had a déjà vu of Chitra’s hearty laugh beside me. And then some days back, as I drove to a T station to interview Deepa Mehta in Boston, the thought that went into my head was how much I missed Chitra at my side.I realized that I felt sad and a little panicky.  I thought to myself “what does this mean, this constant reminder of her in my thoughts at some moment of each day”?

It has been a year now since Chitra is no longer among us and I am of course deeper into the process of understanding. Working through the anxiety and sadness , so you can connect with the people you love isn’t simple or possible to dispense with once and for all. But an experience with loss makes you grasp at a profound level that change, loss and death are ironically a part of life.

I have many memories of Chitra, and somehow all of them are happy. Like having a girls night out, eating samosa chat, going to the movies and sharing a glass of wine around a table at 8 in the evening, because we always got a kick out of sitting around and talking about the stuff we did, and I know that it’s through these stories that she would like to be remembered.

Reading the Parade magazine this weekend in the Boston Globe I found inspiration in these simple words. ‘Deal with loss by Celebrating Life’ It reminded me of how much we have shared and laughed about in our friendship because she was such a cheerful and loyal friend dispensing her energy, laughter, enthusiasm, support and her sense of humor freely. I think the best thing I can do is remember the best, the happiest, the most joyous moments of what I had with her and relish those. These are what still keep our friendship alive.

Chitra, Remembering you is easy
I do it every day
But there is an ache in my heart
That will never go away

I will always remember the phone calls from Chitra during the final edits of the Lokvani. Chitra would say, “Can you change the teaser from … to ... Can we add a link audio in this article? etc. etc.  â€¦Thank you very much!” Her passion and enthusiasm showed in every thing she did and it lasted through the end.   Even today, the evenings I send Lokvani, I have a feeling that I will get a call from Chitra and she will have some suggestions to improve the newsletter.  

At every Lokvani meeting Chitra came up with new ideas and thoughts to improve the E- Magazine.  She treated Lokvani like her baby and she nurtured it through.  She was the ‘Dreamer’ in our group.  Yet she had the fervor to make the dreams come true.  

Anoop Kumar

Please share your memories by posting comments

We also bring you a sample  of Chitra's columns

Bollywood Baatein http://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/article.php?article_id=2222

Red Sox Victory
http://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/article.php?article_id=2096

IAGB celebrations
http://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/article.php?article_id=1939

Interview with Kiran Bedi
http://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/article.php?article_id=1872

Music Review - Junoon
http://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/article.php?article_id=1774

Film review - Ab Tak Chappan
http://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/article.php?article_id=1638

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