I was so shocked and saddened to hear of Oberoi’s passing and all my thoughts are with all of you. I find it difficult to express how much we shall all miss him.
Regrettably I did not know Oberoi very well. I remember when I was first introduced to him by Chief Secretary Ranjan Chatterjee at his office chamber in 2017. The next day, I received a telephone call from his Private Secretary requesting me to come and meet him.
As a journalist, I was expecting a scoop, but Oberoi had asked me about my thoughts on sustainable development for Meghalaya. I remember he had asked me to pen down my thoughts on it. Infact, Oberoi was the first officer to have asked me to do so, and his approach to development was a whole-society approach.
I realised that the trust and confidence Oberoi had in me was when I had oragnised a seminar at my alma-mater St. Edmund’s College in 2008 on how to further improve the trade relations between villages along the international India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya at the grassroots level.
He was so impressed with me for successfully organizing the seminar, that he invited me for a drink. That was the last time we met face-to-face but we did interact over the phone even when he was posted in Paris.
I am sure Oberoi did bring light and happiness with him everywhere he goes. He is one of the finest gentlemen with many innovative ideas. He will be missed by many.
Please accept my sincere sympathy for your loss. Please accept my apologies for not being able to attend the funeral. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
With Sympathy,
Raymond Kharmujai,
Shillong, Meghalaya.