Bibek's Personal Obituary

It was reflective of life. It spoke of death. It mentioned the in-between. It was realistic. It was platonic. It was also the first time I read an obituary before it appeared in print, and it was written by Bibek Debroy himself

- SANJEEV CHOPRA

Last month, I sent a WhatsApp message to Bibek Debroy, inviting him to deliver the keynote address at the Chennai edition of VOW on December 13/14. I was a bit concerned, as his reply was not as prompt as usual. A few days later, he wrote back, saying he might not be able to travel outside of Delhi for medical reasons. So, one knew that he was unwell, but the hope and expectation was that he would overcome. Therefore, it was with a great sense of shock that I received the (now viral) forward of his own obituary, which he penned for the Indian Express, where he published his columns regularly. Even as it was reflective of life, death, and the in-between, it was both realistic and platonic. This was also the first time I had read an online version of an obituary before it appeared in print. Is this a reflection of times to come?