I had the privilege to meet sir when he was here in Shillong. He had come to address a gathering of students in Shillong College on World Environment Day in 2010.I was introduced to him by Wanrie Booth and had interacted with him on several other occasions. One day at his office in the Secretariat, a staff had just brought in a handful of freshly sharpened pencils and carelessly stacked then into a stand on the table. Instantly sir’s eyes brightened and as he smiled underneath his moustache, he uttered these words, “Always keep your pencils the right way up”. It did not strike me at the time but as I recall that incident, I realise that he was teaching me a very important lesson in life- that one should always do things the right way and that it’s the small things in life that matter. Such a gem of a person, an unusual combination of wit, humour and humility, a fine gentleman, well read and intelligent, a big heart. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
