“Zindagi ko Jeene Wala Ek Saacha Dost” Mukesh Mehtaji
Published On: May 6, 2025
A Tribute to Mukesh Mehta ji
It is still difficult to accept that Mukesh Mehta ji, my dear neighbor and friend, is no longer among us. A man so full of warmth, always smiling, always grounded—he made every interaction feel personal and memorable. We lived in the same B Block of Centroid Building—he on the 1st floor and I on the 7th. We often crossed paths, and his trademark greeting, “Kya doctor saheb, kaise hai?” still rings in my ears. Calm, cheerful, and ever-approachable, he brought a quiet joy to everyday life.
On the evening of 3rd May 2025, I met him and requested him to subscribe to my newly launched health awareness YouTube channel on tuberculosis, respiratory diseases, and de-addiction. Without hesitation, he said, “Doctor saheb, yeh to bahut hi achha kaam hai. Main apne sab doston ko bolunga subscribe karne ke liye.” That was Mukesh bhai—always supportive, always ready to uplift others doing good work.
Earlier, on 2nd May2025, I had seen him outside Popular Hotel in Ghatkopar East with his 1973 batch school friends. When I asked what keeps them so bonded after all these years, he smiled and said, “Mazak, masti, thoda Lonavala, bas zindagi chalti rahe.” He truly lived in the moment. Whether chatting with neighbors or casually sitting with the security guards, he had time for everyone. His gentle, inclusive nature reminded me of Rajesh Khanna’s iconic role in Anand: “Zindagi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahi.”
Sadly, on 5th May 2025, he left us suddenly. I couldn’t attend his funeral, as I was at the hospital initiating treatment for two critical patients suffering from MDR and Pre-XDR tuberculosis—conditions with cure rates below 30%. Though I was physically absent, my heart was with him and all who gathered to bid him farewell.
As I sit with the memories, I’m reminded of a song from our younger days:
“Diye jalte hain, phool khilte hain, badi mushkil se magar, duniya mein dost milte hain…”
Mukesh bhai, you were one of those rare friends. Your friendship was a gift. Your loss, a silence that lingers.
Anand marte nahi… aur ache dost kabhi door nahi jaate. Dr Rajendra Nanavare Pulmonologist, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
“Diye jalte hain, phool khilte hain, badi mushkil se magar, duniya mein dost milte hain…”
Mukesh bhai, you were one of those rare friends. Your friendship was a gift. Your loss, a silence that lingers.
Anand marte nahi… aur ache dost kabhi door nahi jaate. Dr Rajendra Nanavare Pulmonologist, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
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