I pulled out this picture after much searching as soon as I read the news that eminent architect Charles Correa is no more. While we have all seen some of his great creations such as the Gandhi Memorial at Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad; we happened to stay at Fortune Resort Bay Island at Port Blair when we visited Andaman Islands. This hotel has been designed by Ar. Charles Correa.

There is a fond memory associated with this visit which is connected with Ar. Charles Correa which I must narrate. Our son Aalok who was 9 years then learn to swim in the little pool of this hotel. We kind of liked the place but Aalok had some suggestions to make. I told him that if he would write down his suggestions on a piece of paper, I would arrange to send them over to the architect who designed the hotel. Aalok did write down his suggestions with a pencil on a piece of paper he could lay his hands on.

Thanks to Ar. Arun Ogale, I could get the email id of Ar. Charles Correa and I sent the scanned copy of Aalok's suggestions to him. We were in for a surprise when Ar. Charles Correa replied after a couple of weeks (with an apology for the delay) and appreciated the suggestions made.

Again thanks to Ar. Arun Ogale, we managed to meet Ar. Charles Correa when he was in Pune for a lecture and he did remember the young boy who had sent him suggestions about the hotel he had designed. He was very humble and warm when he interacted in person with the little boy who had grown up a bit by then.

Feel sad that he is no more. We have lost a great mind and an eminent architect.