Warm remembrance of a dear friend who passed away just short of his 65th birthday. 

Close friendship is not necessarily based on how long you have known someone, but this box is also squarely ticked, as Sanjiv and I have been friends from our days in Jammu, when we were 7- 8 years old, and he later followed me to Sna’. We were both Army brats, our parents were good friends, and the families were neighbours in the Army cantonment area in Jammu. During the early days of the ’65 war, I recall us having to jump into bunkers constructed in our Army compound whenever the air-raid siren would blare, only to then compete about who hustled into the bunker first! Sanjiv, his sis Neelam, my sis Sanjivta, and me, all studied in Presentation Convent school in Jammu, and we couldn’t wait for school to be over, before us kids would rush to each other’s house to start playtime. 

In S’na, Sanjiv was known as Mark, as were the other Rastogis’, (the name “Mark” started with his elder cousin, presumably because he loved to break into a speech, a.k.a Mark Anthony!). Unlike the elder Mark, Sanjiv was more deliberate, and there was no fear of him giving speeches, or jumping over hurdles like the elder Mark, who was a champion athlete. Solid and very dependable, Sanjiv could always be counted on. He was unpretentious, down to earth, with a warm heart, and a sharp brain. He did well academically, even though wasn’t the typical studious type.We were “besties” in Upper V & VI, and memories of this friendship is very precious. We lost touch after school, but then reconnected years later, and were in close contact ever since. 

When I think of Sanjiv, I recall his laughter, not a loud infectious laugh, but a quieter laugh that conveyed warmth, and a special close connection. We both enjoyed single malt, in particular the peaty variety, and spent many a merry session over tipples of ‘Lagavulin’, reminiscing about Jammu and Sna’ days. 

Sanjiv had taken to mountaineering rather late in life, I guess having been a shipy over so many years, the mountains were an effective balance to any lingering seasickness! He passionately pursued this hobby. Sanjiv is very warmly remembered as a thorough gentleman, one who valued old friendships and made the effort to keep in touch. Even though he was Malaysia based, we met whenever work would take me to KL , and he too always got in touch when visiting Delhi. 

Goodbye my dear friend, keep climbing the peaks……you left way too early. 

Sarabjit Chhatwal 

SBD '72