By Pradeep K Jaisingh, PGP 1989

Best friend: Anil Dua, PGP 1989

How did you two meet? What was your first impression?

We met in our dorm — D 18 and became friends on the first day, and have stayed friends for 38 years.

Pradeep Jaisingh and Anil Dua.

Tell us about some of your fondest memories with each other.

Our fondest memories are about our shared love for cryptic crosswords. Every day we used to spend quite a lot of time doing the Times of India cryptic crossword. We were decent at it, but not quite good enough to be able to complete it, so the daily struggle to crack the clues was amazing. At times, other dorm mates will come and join for a short while and then walk away after 10-15 minutes, saying you guys are crazy wasting so much time.

How do you keep in touch? What are your favourite activities to do together?

Presently, we are both based in NCR, so by design, we have a monthly dinner session where our spouses join as well. It’s less about the food but more about the conversation. 

We also talk about the Gita and spirituality now. Anil is a major Gita scholar, and I am deeply interested in Vedanta and a way of living based on the Gita. Our families are very close too and have been for over 30 years. We still do crosswords —now the Economic Times one and often exchange notes on different clues. But we are no longer competitive with each other, something that we used to be in our days at IIMA and many years after. 

Pradeep Jaisingh, Anil Kumar, and Anil Dua.

Thirty-eight years have passed since that first conversation in July 1987. The world has changed beyond recognition. We have changed too. But one thing has remained the same: our friendship. It is built on shared history, mutual respect, and the joy of having someone who understands you in ways that words can only partially capture. 

Some friendships are like seasons; they come, they stay for a while, and then they fade. But some friendships are forever. Anil is, for me, proof of that. And for that gift of laughter, puzzles, conversations, and companionship, I will always be grateful.