Satish Kaushik during the election campaign.
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Actor-director Satish Kaushik said goodbye to the world at the age of 66. Always making everyone laugh, Kaushik has a deep connection with Delhi. Living in Vikaspuri and Karol Bagh, he graduated from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi. After this he enrolled in the National School of Drama. Later he moved to Mumbai in search of work. Even after going there, he never forgot Delhi. Be it Chandni Chowk’s Chaat or Mandi House’s tea, whenever he came to Delhi, he used to try to visit Mandi House or Chandni Chowk. His close Ajay Sharma told that on Wednesday it was found that brother had suffered a heart attack. Shortly after, when I got the news of his passing away, I was deeply shocked. Brother will always be missed.
Mayur Vihar resident Ajay Sharma told that Bhai Saheb was born in village Dhanoda, Tehsil Kanina, located in Mahendragarh, Haryana. I was also born in this village. Being an elder, I used to call Satish as brother. Brother’s early studies were done in the village itself, later he came to Gurugram with his father. Stayed in Vikaspuri for some time from Gurugram to get higher education. Later he shifted to Karol Bagh. From Kirori Mal College, he often used to go to Chandni Chowk with friends to eat chaat. After enrolling in the National School of Drama after graduation, they used to meet at the tea-samosa shop at Mandi House. Bhai Sahib moved to Mumbai in search of work in 1978, but his heart remained here. Whenever he used to come to Delhi, he used to call me and call me to Mandi House. He used to drink tea while sitting in the car, and later did not allow anyone to pay for the tea.
Used to write letters to the administration for the development of the village
Despite being so busy, Satish used to find time for the village. He used to write letters to the administration for the development of the village. To promote sports in the village, he had also built a stadium in his village with the help of the administration. Ajay told that often Satish used to take an active part in getting poor girls married. Bhai Sahib also had great attachment to Thakurji’s temple in the village. On going to the village, he used to go to the temple for darshan.
Friendship strengthened by three handicapped drama
‘When Satish Kaushik, of small height, came to study in Kirori Mal College, he wanted to do a play with us. He used to say include me in the play too, but we used to laugh. Seeing him, no one could believe that he would touch the heights of the film industry. This is to say of former MLA Surendra Pal Ratawal, a college friend of Satish Kaushik.
Remembering Kaushik at his Karol Bagh home on Thursday after his death, Ratawal said that Satish had come to the college when he was studying in the final year of college in 1972-73. He wanted to do drama from the first year itself. When we refused, he challenged.
Kaushik participated in the drama competition held at the college level and staged three handicapped plays which stood second. That drama of his deepened our friendship and he joined us. This friendship became so deep that after the completion of college, he became a part of our drama company. Kaushik was always a forward looking boy, always laughing and making others laugh. He was always attached to the family. Even when he was moving forward in the film world, the friendship did not diminish. Always used to come home. He used to introduce friends associated with the film. I still remember When I got married in 1977, Kaushik stayed with me from day one. They were companions of happiness and sorrow. When I moved ahead in politics by joining BJP, he supported me.
Former MLA resident of Kaushik’s friend Karol Bagh shared memories
Ratawal told that Kaushik also campaigned in one of my election meetings. During this, BJP leader Vijay Dutt Sharma was also present. After becoming MLA from Karol Bagh in 1995, his visits increased. He has a flat in Bengali Market. He always used to come there and we used to chat for hours. They also wanted to make a film with me. In this he gave me the role of MLA. However, the film could not be made due to some reasons. He often used to call me to Mumbai and show me the shooting.