Last Saturday, I lost not only a friend but also a mentor and guide. Prof. M.I. Bagsiraj, former principal of Anjuman Arts, Science and Commerce College, Bhatkal, passed away after battling an illness with the determination and resilience that had characterised his academic career and life. 

I still vividly remember the orientation lecture he delivered to first-year pre-university students when I joined Anjuman College as a science student. He was Principal then and taught commerce students, but his lecture left a deep impression on me. He came across as a highly erudite and scholarly man. Over the years, despite our considerable age difference, that first impression grew into a close and enduring friendship. 

Our friendship deepened during the Bhatkal Times Challenge Cup, a district-level cricket tournament held at Bhatkal in 1992. Given his enthusiasm for sports, we appointed him the chairman of the organising committee. The tournament was such a resounding success that people still talk about it. He led the committee efficiently, and the experience brought us closer. We subsequently formed the Bhatkal Cricket Association to promote sporting talent among young boys. 

When I launched  Bhatkal Times in 1990 , he was the first columnist I invited to write regularly for the tabloid. His column,  Socio-Meter , was well-received by readers. We often discussed current affairs, sports and a range of other subjects. He had one of the sharpest minds I knew, possessing an exceptional understanding of economics, politics, sports and international relations. A prolific writer, he covered subjects ranging from domestic politics and economics, particularly Islamic finance, to international relations, contemporary developments and history. 

Another bond we shared was our love for good food. I fondly remember the  murgh musallam  he served me when I visited him in 1997 in Bengaluru, where he was then Principal of Al-Ameen Arts, Science and Commerce College. His gourmet knowledge was remarkable; as he served the dish, he narrated how  murgh musallam  had evolved. Our conversations over food were as memorable as our discussions on current affairs. 

We were both in Bengaluru during the latter part of the twentieth century and met frequently. However when I moved to Muscat in early 2001, our interactions became less regular. During the more than 12 years that I spent in Oman, we occasionally exchanged phone calls, especially around Eid. He had moved to Belagavi, his native place, making it difficult for us to meet during my annual visits to India. 

However, he continued to visit Bhatkal regularly, as his sister, herself an eminent teacher, was married to the late Usman Hassan Jubapu Saheb of Bhatkal's Nawayath community, a renowned educationist who had served as headmaster of IAUHS. My close childhood friendship with Salman Ahmed, who was the son of the late Usman Jubapu Saheb as well as a nephew of Prof. Bagsiraj’s, was another connection that brought Bagsiraj Saheb and me closer. After returning to India in 2014, I renewed contact with him, and we remained in regular touch until his death. He visited me in Mangaluru several times, and we spent long hours reminiscing about the past. 

One regret I will always carry is that I never visited him in Belagavi, despite his repeated invitations. Almost every time we met or spoke, he would urge me to visit, promising to serve  murgh musallam . 

This is not an attempt at presenting a profile of Prof. Bagsiraj; his achievements are far too numerous to be listed here. This is a personal tribute to the man I knew and cherished as one of my closest friends. 

Despite our age difference, we connected effortlessly through our shared interests, intellectual exchanges and mutual respect. I have lost a dear friend, mentor and guide whose wisdom and friendship enriched my life. 

I pray that Allah grants him Maghfirah, showers His mercy upon him and bestows upon him an honoured place in Jannah. May Allah grant his family strength and patience to bear this irreparable loss. 

Farewell, dear Sir. Thank you for your friendship, your wisdom and the memories we shared. You will always remain in my thoughts and prayers. 

 ( The author, Aftab Hussain Kola, is a senior journalist from Bhatkal.)