After an association of over 68 years, JK Roy Choudhury bade farewell to his mates of the 14th course and the Navy on 15 December 2023.
The association began on 22 July 1955 when we joined the NDA. Chou, Roy Chou, JK or Jayanto as various friends chose to call him, was sent to 'A' Squadron and I to 'F' for one term followed by 'K'. I did not know him too well then except that he was excellent in Physical Training, vaulting over wooden horses with ease, Boxing, Football and Athletics in each of which he was awarded NDA Blues. Who can forget that memorable 100 metres sprint in which the elastic in his shorts came loose with Jayanto continuing to run at top speed holding up the shorts throughout and still winning the race!
After passing out from the NDA, the 20 or so us naval cadets boarded the cadet training ship, Tir, and Jayanto and I started coming closer. On to the cruiser Mysore as Midshipmen for six months and then for our three month small ship time, Jayanto, BB Singh and I were transferred to the destroyer Ranjit. That is when I really got to know this happy-go-lucky, full of life and carefree person.
We moved on to different ships and shore appointments and after our specialisations, he, in Gunnery and I, in Communications, were posted on the carrier Vikrant and Trishul respectively. In July 1969, Vikrant was sent to the East Coast for two months with Trishul as the plane guard. During this period, the two ships were based in Madras and Jayanto and I spent many evenings together.
On our return to Bombay, there was that incident when after the engagement cocktails of RB "Bunny" Suri, Jayanto and I accompanied by JK "Tally-Ho" Talwar, went to Taj Hotel to satisfy our hunger. Jayanto recommended Swedish Open Sandwiches and we ordered that. The waiter brought a whole tray and after we had one each, Tally-Ho said that was enough as the price was high. Jayanto, however, said that we could have as many as we wanted for the price indicated for the dish on the A la Carte. So he and I had one more sandwich each. When the bill came, we were charged for five sandwiches. With no credit cards in those days, it turned out that only Tally-Ho had the cash and duly paid the tag cursing under his breath, "You and your open sandwiches!"
Shortly after, Jayanto was transferred to Trishul as Gunnery Officer. But we spent only a couple of months together before I was transferred out to Signal School, Cochin.
With war clouds hovering, Jayanto was sent to the Eastern Sector to assist the Mukti Bahini forces. He commanded a converted fishing trawler and had the strange experience of being strafed mistakenly by our own Air Force. For his valour, he was awarded the Vir Chakra.
We were to serve together again. In early 1973, Jayanto was appointed as the Fleet Gunnery Officer on the staff of Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet while I was already the Fleet Communications Officer. By now, both of us were married and our wives got along with each other well. I vividly recall seeing the movie "Bobby" all together. Shiela and Akhila were in the centre with Jayanto and I on either side. When the song, "Chabhi kho jaye" came on, both of us started singing loudly much to the embarrassment of our better halves.
Our boss was Rear Admiral Ronnie Pereira who as you know, went on to become Chief of the Naval Staff. When the annual report time came, Admiral Pereira called us to his office one by one to show us our report, something which is rarely done. I remember Jayanto coming out all flushed and excited saying he never expected such a fine report as the Admiral had given him.
We spent a great one year together before I was sent for the Staff College Course. Unfortunately the Navy did not treat Jayanto well and he resigned, settled down in Darjeeling and joined the Merchant Navy. Our interaction became infrequent limited to occasional phone calls. Jayanto being what he was, never opened an email account!
In 2013, Premvir Das, Virendra 'Magoo' Nehra and I decided to go to Darjeeling with our better halves for a holiday. Accommodation was readily arranged with the Army thanks to SK Sharma, another mate who sadly and unexpectedly passed away recently. The Army Annexe where we stayed was within walking distance from Jayanto's house and we spent a lot of time with him and Shiela.
That's the last time we saw them. The only contact remained occasional calls.
About six months ago, Nalini Das sent me a forward of The Archies song "Sugar Sugar", saying that Jayanto had sent it to her asking her to forward it to me to remind me of Trishul days. Magoo too told me that Jayanto was unwell and wanted to talk to me. I immediately rang him up and the phone was answered by his son, Kaustav, who said Jayanto was unable to speak but he would put the phone on speaker for Jayanto to hear me talk and answer through Kaustav. We did that and Kaustav and I are in touch todate.
I told Kaustav that I write a blog and there are many posts where I have written about Jayanto. He said to forward those to him and he would read them out to his father. Which is what we did and I got many sweet messages that Jayanto enjoyed those posts with a heavy dose of nostalgia.
The regular interaction with Kaustav kept us uptodate with Jayanto's condition. The messages were kind of mixed, some saying that he was improving. The end, however, came unexpectedly but with the consolation that he passed away peacefully with Shiela and Kaustav by his side.
Jayanto, you may be gone but memories of the happy times we spent together will live with me as long as I do.
Rest in peace.
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