Remembering Chau — Sid Chaudhuri

My earliest memories of former classmate Sid Chaudhuri — who passed away in Perth, Australia, July 4 — are from our time at Delhi’s Frank Anthony Public School (FAPS). He joined in the 6th or 7th Standard; my sister Lorna and I joined in the 4th. I’m not sure if he had a nickname then but in later years we knew him as “Chau.” Before FAPS,  he was proud to have studied at La Martinière in Lucknow — a snobby school for the hoi polloi, as I often pointed out to him! 

The Chaudhuri family lived in Greater Kailash. His dad worked at Indian Airlines. Chau had siblings: a younger brother, Deepak, who (like Chau) also joined the Indian Air Force but tragically passed in an air crash several decades ago. He had two sisters, one in the U.S. and another in India. 

FAPS

Chau always stayed in touch; it was one of his best traits! He made sure he kept tabs on nearly everyone we knew at high school. It was through Chau that we reconnected with FAPS classmates, Vinod Bhargava and Shyam Venkatesan, in New York about 10 years ago which ultimately led to our batch having its “grand reunion” in Delhi in 2016 — so we have Chau to thank for that, although he himself couldn’t attend because of ill health.

I appreciated that Chau was familiar with (and respectful of) historic FAPS lore about visits to school by then India-based teen idol pop singer-sensations, Tony Brent (“Dark Moon,” “In My Little Room”) and Cliff Richard (“Outsider,” “The Young Ones”) — both major names in Indian radio broadcasting before they hit the international big time! Tony passed away in Oz some 30 years ago; Cliff, in his 80s, is still making music in England! 

Agra

Chau was based in Agra for several years while working as a navigator for the Indian Air Force. Lorna and I have fond memories of visits, organized by him, to view the Taj Mahal in all its glory during full moon nights! 

In Delhi, in the late 1980s, he joined some of my India Gate after-hours “allu-paratha” picnics where we ate delish potato-stuffed wheat pancakes! Friends would gather on the lawns, play raucous games, and then buy up all the cassata ice cream from vendors!  

Noir Humor!

When Chau first came Stateside in the late 1990s — having retired early from the IAF as squadron leader — he lived in Florida for a few years before moving to NY-NJ.  Lorna and I met him at Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. It was then that he taught at a civil aviation school in Florida — years later, I used to kid him that it was the same school where 9/11 hijacker Mohd. Atta infamously trained to fly a plane — but not land it! 

Chau visited us frequently in New York where he worked (mostly) as a project manager in the IT, engineering, and construction industries. At one point he tried his hand as a professional blackjack player in Atlantic City — no kidding! I saw him in “full player mode” at a Las Vegas casino — his wife Mangal and my Mum Evelyn were also present. But he soon abandoned full time gaming!

Doing the Waltz!

He was personable and articulate and surprisingly adept at ballroom dancing, a legacy from his NDA (National Defense Academy) training, he said — although partner dancing was (and still is) a fairly unique and sought after skill! When the European Union office (where I worked) first opened at the Taj Palace Hotel in Delhi, Chau came to a party and we did the waltz and some rumba (he called it the box step!) — to enthusiastic applause from EU staff and hotel guests!  Nice memory! 

In the late 2000s, he moved to Oz and settled in Perth. He would ring me on What’s App — the last time was in January this year when I told him about the sad passing of former FAPS head boy, Deepak Kochhar. When Chau heard that several class mates were going to a school reunion at Port Blair in the Andaman Islands (January 2024), he was very excited and wanted to join us. 

But by then his health was deteriorating rapidly. He was already living at a care facility as Mangal could not manage his treatment and therapy at home. The PD (Parkinson’s Disease) — he was diagnosed with some years before — had  progressed irreversibly plus there were other medical complications. That was the last time I spoke to Chau. 

Life in Oz

Despite small gigs, he could not get steady employment in Perth which he attributed to a sluggish economy.  There were limited opportunities but they fizzled. Still, he remained upbeat on the phone, never mind whatever else was going on: the dwindling job market, the state of the world, majoritarian politics in India, his own deteriorating health, or his diminishing mobility. 

Chau is survived by his wife Mangal. He was married twice before and had a daughter with his first wife. 

Rest in peace, Chau! You will be remembered!

Ludi Joseph

Washington, DC

Oct. 11, 2024

Credit: Photo from Indian Defense Alumni Directory provided by Col. Vinod Bhargava. 

Sid Chaudhuri - Chau