He is a friend of a friend, the sort of person who knows how to keep friendships alive for four or five decades,” said Sunit Tandon for Bhaichand Patel, who he dubs “the glue to Delhi’s social circle”. It is hard to disagree with him.Bhaichand, a former diplomat and author, has hosted some of Delhi’s most memorable Valentine’s Day parties, birthday celebrations and winter gatherings at his home in Sujan Singh Park. Politicians, diplomats, writers, artists and friends from all walks of life have been part of his expansive social circle. Over the years, he has brought people together, kept friendships alive and made sure there was always room for one more at the table.So, when he sent out invitations to his 90th birthday, suggesting that this might be his last hurrah, his friends turned up in full force. They had just one wish – this could not possibly be the last.‘I am happy I got my friends together for my 90th’When Bhaichand asked Pavan Varma to say a few words before the cake-cutting ceremony, the author began by saying, “The first thing I want to say, and I want all of you to clap, is that this is not his last birthday,” he added, “For 10 years, he has been threatening that it is his last hurrah. We will celebrate his centenary as well. Yeh pattharon ka shehar hai, but he will always be your friend; he is extremely hospitable. I think he got his knees fixed not because he has any other problem, but because he couldn’t dance on Valentine’s Day.”Bhaichand, in turn, thanked his friends for coming to celebrate his birthday. After his friends sang For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow, he spoke about the uncertainty surrounding the celebrations this year. “I was in the hospital a few days ago and asked if I could go home. I was discharged on Monday… I don’t know if I will be able to celebrate my 91st. I’m happy I got my friends together. I wanted to make sure I was around my 90th.”‘He has been one of the big social glues, a social magnet of Delhi’Shovana Narayan, who met Bhaichand in the late 1980s, described him as a wonderful human being. “He has his small parties, big parties. He is a giver,” she said.Sunit Tandon, a regular at Bhaichand’s parties, called him one of Delhi’s great social magnets.“He has been one of the big social glues, a social magnet of Delhi. He brings people together all the time, and I think everyone drops everything when Bhaichand says there’s a party. He is a fabulous person who has taught us how to live life, enjoy life and be there for all your friends,” he said.Bhaichand has also made it a point to host Manjari Chaturvedi’s birthday celebrations at his residence. Manjari, who has known him since she came to Delhi in 1999, spoke about the friendship and the lessons she has learnt from him.“He has been a friend throughout. He has stood by me, and what I love about him, and what I have learnt from him, is his spirit. I am at the ICC library every day, and he comes there every day too. When I am leaving, he usually goes to have a drink. It is his zest for life. People give up, but he goes alone, has a drink and comes back. I have learnt this from him, as well as how much he loves his friends. Come to think of it, who throws a birthday party for a friend? He doesn’t need to do that for me, but he does. That is something you don’t find these days.”For Pratibha Prahlad, the friendship goes back more than three decades.“I have known him for more than 30 years. We used to be close friends and met pretty often. One of us would host a small gathering, even when there was no occasion. He is very kind and affectionate, and he tells me I am part of his family. Friends are our extended family. In times of need, through the highs and lows of life, you need someone to talk to. He is a pillar of support to his friends and an extremely good friend. I hope he lives for another 10 years so that we can celebrate his centenary.“
