Write to the Editor

GULFWEEKLY lost one of its own at the weekend when Chief Sub-Editor Sanjay Santiago died on Saturday night following a long illness.

Sanjay, 42, who also worked for our sister newspaper, the Gulf Daily News, joined as part of a re-launch team and helped transform an ailing regional listings publication into the thriving local community newspaper it is today.

He died at a hospital in his hometown of Nagpur in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. He is survived by his mother and younger brother, who live in Nagpur.

Today we dedicate our letters page to the popular journalist. He will live forever in the memories of his former colleagues.

Stan Szecowka,

Editor, GulfWeekly.

It is with great sadness that I heard about Sanjay and it felt like I had lost a member of my family.

Sanjay was part of the team when I started working with the newspaper five years ago. I will always remember him as a gentle, soft-spoken colleague who was more of a friend with whom we could freely argue, crack jokes, gossip and gripe about everything under the sun.

Some of the best times we shared as a GulfWeekly family were the wonderful lunch times when we all ate together.

Always happy to help whenever he could, I remember Sanjay guiding my daughter on the tricks of designing a newspaper page during a school project. Today she is one of the design coordinators of her college magazine and I like to think that maybe Sanjay had some role in helping her realise her interests.

After catching a bad bout of jaundice during a holiday in India, about two years ago, Sanjay was never the same. Although he was always ready to party, he became physically weak and it was quite traumatic to see him suffer. It is even more distressing to think of his mother’s pain after losing her son.

Sanjay is very much alive in our memories and will always be remembered as GulfWeekly’s most eligible bachelor.

Anasuya Kesavan, former GulfWeekly reporter, shortly moving to Dubai.

It’s a sad day for many of us in the Bahrain publishing world after the sad death of a man who always had a happy smile no matter what the stress of the day. Rest in Peace, old friend. May you finally have found respite and peace. You will be missed ... your infectious smile will not soon be forgotten.

Marie-Claire Honeywill, former GulfWeekly columnist.

I knew Sanjay during the time that he spent with us as part of the GulfWeekly team. Quiet and reserved, he smiled and laughed more than he spoke.

Sanjay was travelling with me the day I was (for the first time in my driving experience) asked to pull over to the side of the road by a traffic policeman who noticed me using my mobile phone.

I still remember how he cringed and sunk into his seat in embarrassment as I promised the officer never to repeat this felony.

All the way back, until I dropped him home, he kept shaking his head, occasionally exclaiming in his soft voice: ‘women’ and ‘I told you so’.

It is very hard to believe he is no longer just away from work temporarily getting his health back on track.

Shilpa Chandran, former Shopping List columnist now living in India.

Sanjay was one of the friendliest people I’ve ever met. He always smiled, was welcoming and would make us all double-over in the office with laughter, especially during our lunches together.

I missed him when he left and will miss him even more now. Then again, we all will. He was a wonderful man who was hardworking, funny and had a big heart to boot.

Rest in peace, dear friend.

Mai Al Khatib,

GulfWeekly feature and sports writer.

Sanjay was one in a million, always smiling and joking around while somehow managing to get his job done and making it look easy.

I’ll remember his warmth, kindness and gentle nature that endeared him to everyone he met.

He was the first person to crack a joke and would never hesitate to laugh at himself when he was occasionally the butt of it.

Sanjay always did things at his own pace and that’s something I really admired about him. He took his time because, as he once told me, ‘life moves quickly enough’.

It’s hard to find the right words to do his character justice; he was simply a great guy who will be sorely missed.

Charlie Holding,

Journalist, GulfWeekly.

The passing away of Sanjay has been a great loss to me. We have been associated for more than 13 years, from the time I started working in Bahrain and we became closer while working at GulfWeekly.

He had a way with children and my sons used to bond with him whenever we went on outings on our off days. He always used to keep a supply of gum with him and whenever he got into my car my younger son would stretch out his hand for his share. If at all he would forget to replenish his supply, he would ask me to stop at the nearest cold store so that he could buy some gum to keep my son happy.

He was a very helpful person and had knowledge of most topics. He kept himself updated on current affairs which always led to a discussion in the office.

Sanjay had a passion for cooking and we tasted a variety of dishes prepared by him during our office lunches. The women also used to ask for recipes from him.

My heartfelt condolences to his brother and mother, who has suffered a lot since the time of his illness. RIP, my friend.

Gopal Nambiar, Chief Sub-Editor, GulfWeekly.

Sanjay was one of the mainstays of our office during the years I was there. Although he was a shy and reserved guy, he was an absolute professional and a talented page designer.

He was always there in his quiet, reassuring manner. He will be missed.

Asma Salman, former GulfWeekly reporter, now living in the UK.