Some of the Condolence Messages that we received after the demise of Atul

Dear Dhrubeshji and SUKARMA team
We are sending our heartfelt condolence to SUKARMA band on untimely demise of Atulji, we pray for the rest of eternal soul in peace.  

Dear Dhrubesh,

I am so sad to hear that wonderful Atul has so suddenly passed. It must be quite a shock for all of you his friends and family. In a way the only consolation is that he lived the life he wanted intensely and did not suffer. But he is much too young to pass away and leaves a young wife with small children. Nicole writes that you had a concert on saturday all together... Life is so unpredictable.
I will keep the best of memories of Atul as a fantastic tabla player and as a very nice man.

May Deawat, Brussels, Belgium

Dear friends,
This news shocked me so much!!! I can't believe it! How could it happen? Atul was a very nice man and a great musician, please give all my best regards to his family and tell them that he was loved very much here in Italy. Hope he can play tabla again somewhere up in the sky! I can image your feelings and please, believe me; I am very near to you and hope to see you soon.

My daughter Alice and Rita also very sad and express their condolence to all of you and Atul's family I was starting to work on a summer tour for Sukarma as we told last summer and I already had some ideas about places to promote. Now I understand your feelings, so my friends feel free to take every time and any decision you might think best. We can stop for the next summer and think to do something later on. Ciao Atul, you are in our heart and we'll never forget you!

Dear Drubesh and Shyam bhai,

I was just sort of sleep walking from my numb daze of Robin’s death that occurred during the Tsunami and yet another sad news of Atul bhai’s demise. I just came to know about this shocking news from yesterday’s paper and I felt so unfortunate to have missed his soul moving funeral that Nichole described to me.  If I had known I would have been there.  But when the dead are gone it means they do not need us as much as we want them.  Now what do I have in front me but two beautiful faces, in some ways both very similar and yet different haunting every cell of mine and teaching me the principle of life, living and dying.  Robin, the director of Care, Nepal was a very special human being. He exuded compassion with ease and there is Atul bhai whose beautiful, soulful eyes stirred my depth even when he was alive. I was so touched to see his picture playing the tabala wearing the clothes I had designed. Of course I just cried.  Our loss is immense, yours immeasurable and his wife and family’s beyond human comprehension. I loved the trio who offered us music with peace and uplifted our spirits to the heavens.  How do we ever quantify and bemoan this loss of a giving person? I simply have no words to describe.

Nichole gave me your phone nos. and I want to call you. I am nervous as how to comfort your deep loss, but we must share whatever pain we feel with each other. This is the only liberation granted to mankind. So I will call you.  I worry about his wife and his children and I remember how you all brought the children and the family to the boutique like it was your second home.

It is understandable that you feel confused in the void created by this sudden demise of Atul bhai. Since we have nothing to speak but pain let God do the talking. As much as we can’t grasp all, he is the divine creator of both happiness and sadness. What we have is not choice of circumstances but attitude. Our loss is deep and as we reconcile to reality let us remind ourselves the joy that the dead did not forget to share with us. Our attitude must express that good memories can continue if we share the same values with others that they so much cherished with us. This is what they left us to loan others, as the Nepalese famously refer to as, Naso”.

Please accept my deep apologies and condolence for losing a beloved friend and colleague as I mourn his loss too. You must go on playing to his spirit because that is what he loved most besides his family and friends. If there is any thing I can do to support and ease your painful journey please do not hesitate to keep in touch. I offer my prayers to this beautiful soul who is your friend, Bandanaji’s husband, Sulakshyana and little Aayan’s father.

In deep reflection Sincerely

Shakun Sherchan-  Managing Director, Wheels Boutiqueand, Keith (Country Director, Save the Children, USA)

Dear Dhrubesh,
I write to express my deep sympathy at Atul's sudden and unexpected death.  Such a tragic loss is surely indescribably difficult for his family anad friends, as well as for the entire Kathmandu music community.  And I know this is a great loss to you personally, of a gifted friend and fellow musician, almost a brother.  I feel fortunate to have met him, to have heard him play, and to have witnessed some small part of the animating life and gift that was given wing in Atul's tabla playing. May the years you shared and the music you created together continue to bring you joy as you face Atul's absence and as you work to honor his memory.

Kindly convey my most sincere condolences at Atul's loss,

 Dear Dhrubesh jee,

Please accept my sincere condolences and those of all at the Shedra.  We are deeply saddened by the news of Atul's passing and extend our deepest sympathies to all his family and friends.  He played so beautifully for us on a number of occasions and lifted many human hearts.  We shall always remember him with great gratitude and affection.

Greg Whiteside, Water Expert from United Kingdom working in Nepal 

dhrubesh

my friend,  i was saddened to hear the loss of our friend.  We recently had a death in a friend's family here in the USA.  It is never a pleasant thing.  I send my prayers to you and Atul's family hoping that by some magic, these tragic events will turn around for the better. Please let me know if i can be of assistance.

Bryan Mahanes, 1234 Secessionville Rd. Charleston, SC  29412, 843-442-4430

 Dear Dhrubesh ji,

This is such terrible news. I remember seeing Atul ji at Shibesh ji's place and at the peace concert. It seems so unfair and tragic. I would like to offer my sincere condolences to Atul ji's family and Sukarma and pray for peace for the departed soul.

Dear Dhrubesh ji,

I am safely back in New York, and Chelsea is back in New Jersey.  It was a long but uneventful flight.  I want to say thank you to you, Sandhya and all of the family for taking such good care of us while we stayed in your home.  I felt so comfortable there and it was good to be with you and your family.  I hope we were not too much trouble. Here is a message of sympathy and support from a fellow Columbia student who is home in Kathmandu right now.  I am sure you're aware of how widely known and loved Atul was, but it is always nice to hear again.  This is the message from Himali Dixit. 

"Anna, what a tragedy. I wish I had been paying more attention before, but now that he is gone I  really feel the loss of such an amazing figure. A man of his training who was so sensitive to what
Nepali society needs. What a dream, what a gem of a person. What a loss to all of us. I'm really, really sorry about the passing of your friend, Anna. Dhrubesh Regmi, I think, and some of Atul Gautam's other friends have been invited to give a shraddhanjali in his honour at Baggikhana, near where I live. If they do end up doing it, I will be there tomorrow at 3:00."

Best, Himali

Namaste Dhrubesh,

i don't know what to say, i'm shocked. i feel so sad and my thoughts are with Atuls family. Just on Christmas Atul was sending me a mail and now he is no more, i can't belive it.

Viktor Leimburg, Munich, Germany

 Dear Dhrubesh ji and other friends of Sukarma,

I would like to express my deep condolence on the demise of Atul ji, who I feel was a wonderful person. I was in Nepalgunj when I heard about him being hospitalised. My wife was telling me that we had to go to hospital to see him. I landed in Kathmandu and on my way to home, heard the news on FM about Atul ji’s death. I know it is difficult time for Sukarma, but fulfilment of dreams always comes through very hard time. Therefore, to fulfil Atul ji’s dream and to continue contributing the development of classical music in this country, accept our sincere support in this difficult time to Sukarma. 

Anil Pant,  ActionAid Nepal

Dear Dhrubesh and Shyam- Sukarma,

Your message brought me the sad news of the demise of Atul Gautam. Please accept my sincere expressions of condolences to you all, his family and friends. The loss is great to his family and to your music world, but I trust that you all have the strength to continue, to achieve the dreams
which you have for your graceful art. Wishing to convey to you my best support in spirit and thinking of you in my prayers,

Sonja Servomaa, Helsinki, Finland    

What dreadfully sad news. Please give my feelings of support to his family at this time. It must be a very sad time for you and all his friends. I shall always remember his smile, great playing,  and deep warmth in friendship. If there is anything I can do, please let me know.

Dear Dhrubesh

I was informed of this very very sad news from Bernadette Vasseux. I feel so sorry for him but also for his wife and chldren. I rember him as an exceptional musician and I can feel what a huge loss it must be for you all.

I am now in Japan for an international conference, but as soon as I will come back to Paris, I will watch again the video film I have on the concert you made at my request in the french residence in the summer of 1996. I still can remember how inhabited Atul was by his music. Please forward my deep condolences to his relatives and close friends.

Olivier NICOLAS, Former 1st secretary in the French Embassy, Kathmandu

Dear Friends of Sukarma,
So very sad to learn of Atul's untimely death. He was a wonderful artist, and I'm sure Sukarma must be reeling with his loss.  Although his vitality can never be replicated, the continuance of Sukarma's contribution would I am sure be his everlasting wish.

Helen Wedgwood, Rural Livelihoods Adviser, DFID Nepal.

Dear Drubesh,

Here is Agnes didi, I heard about Atul first trough Nicole didi...I was under a shock and I'm still under the shock, those are the things I can not understand how it can happen...I have no words up to today to comfort you, as I don't see the comfort where it is...the loss of such a friend is not bearable, and I can not even imagine how is his wife after such a trauma....I can just think of him, I can just recollect beautiful memories when we were all together, when we visited Brussels, with Marc, when we had diner at Marie France, when we laugh at May's place, the long evening there...the concert, we still have the roses we picked up in the garden of the castle to put around the statue of Ganesh for the concert...I have told the drama to everyone who knew him, and they are all so so so sad...May, Nicole, Marc, Marie France Taddeus, Alain, Francoise and Jean Francois, Sophie from the small theater the Pre Vert where we did our concert in Brussels...Roland who recorded that concert...

I don't know Drubesh what to tell you, I just think it's important that you keep playing with Shyam, that's  a certitude...but take your time to heal, you'll play for him, he can listen wherever he is... Please accept all my love, and the love of all your friends here in Belgium, give this love also to Shyam, to Atul's wife and
 children....We always remember him...

Agnes Didi, President Parwati Foundation, Belgium

Dear Dhrubesh ji,
I really don't know how to express my feelings, I am in pain with you all and pray for his soul to rest in peace. Take care.

Chandni Joshi, Regional Director, UNIFEM Delhi

Dear Dhrubesh, Namaste,

Thank you for informing me about this tragedy. I can understand that for Atul Gautam's family and also your group and all the music lovers and others who knew him, it must have been a terrible shock. It is difficult to understand why such a young man and family father should be taken away from us. Only God knows that and he is the one dictates. Please accept my sincere condolences and also convey my condolences to his family.  I wish his family and all his friends and colleagues a lot of strength to overcome this difficult time of void. It will take time to heal and to overcome. May his soul rest in peace and may God give all of you strength and compassion during this difficult time.

Walter Jutzi, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Hanoi, Vietnam

Wish the Magnanimous Krishna to welcome the big soul of our Big Friend Atul close to him. This event come like a mountain that fall, we are full of sadness. The tears shine of sweet memories of a big man of a big friend. Nobody can wait something like that and we are very distress. Wish all the Gods give peace to him, wish all the Gods take his Soul to Nirvana. We will try to transform our big pain in music like Atul teach us, we try to transform every happy memory in a note and we are sure that the music can arrive to him in the bigness of the Universe. Wish Pasupatinath never forget him and always remember to his sons the bigness of their father. Wish all Nepali like every European that has knows him remember one of biggest musician of Nepal. Atul you are forever in our heart.

Tristano, Mariagrazia, Gianluca, Giulietta, Betta, Bruna, Mariaclara, Roberta, Mimmo, Annarosa (Tristano parents), Livia, Gianluca's parents, Ornella, Daniela, Luca, Patrizia, Anila, Merlino,  Fabio, Francesca, Tati and all the Ashram Bhole baba staff from Italy

Dear friends...., Dear Shyam..., Dear Dhrubesh.....

I really don't know what to say....... today Tristano called me to tell me about Atul..... I really can't believe it! And I wonder why.... I'm so sad and sorry..... and I would really want to be there with You ... I always dream about Nepal and every time I don't want to wake up ....this is instead a real nightmare and I really want someone to wake me up to tell me that is not
true........ You are always in my heart and I hope You are okay..... ....everyone here is sorry and incredulous: my father, my mother, my granma and Monica; We all love You and We hope You will hug Atul's family for us, even if they don't know us... ........I will try to call You to Sukarma telephone number....e-mailing is so cold...... I hug you all....... .....hear you soon.

Gianluca, Follignio, Italy

dear dhrubesh ji,

my heartfelt condolences to atul ji's family, and to you and sukarma. it is indeed a tragedy. i was out of the office hence was not able to send my wishes earlier. However, i was following the news in the newspapers with great sadness.

Shizu Upadhyaya, ActionAid Nepal

i don't have worlds, i don't understand what happened to our friend Atul, but understand that he is dead, and this is impossible for me, i have again a video with his smile, with your music. 'm sad, i can't think that a person like Atul go away. i prefer think that I can see in italy walking in the small street with the big smile. Think to him, think to you my friends. see him fly

Giulietta, Italy

 I looked at the Sukarma website, and Atul's death truly is a loss to the group and the whole of Nepali music preservation.  I tried to send a message on the website, but the website isn't working for this.  Can you please forward my message below:

I'm so sorry to hear of Mr. Gautam.  My heart goes out to you during this very difficult time.  My friend, Santosh Raj Gurung, sent me your email this morning.  While I'm grateful to learn of your work, I'm also saddened by your loss.  I agree with what you wrote about fulfilling Atul's dreams - but please consider it an honor, rather than a responsibility.  His music and spirit can live on through your expression.  You have my full support and prayers, and I hope you can feel the positive energy of caring people from all over the world who are all sending their deepest regrets and respects.

Dear Dhurbesh jee,
It is so sad to hear about Atul jee.Still cant beleive.It is a big loss for sukurama and the country. so far about the sukarma's web stuff, Sunil jee was suppose to hand over you coz I had to leave for Australia. If he has not I will let him know. I understand the situation. I apologies for not being able to update your site in time.

Sudeep Karki, Australia

What shocking sad news! I just got back from KL with my family and feels so sad to read about this, first in the papers and now your e-mail.  I would like to offer my support to your group whatever you plan to do so Atul's dream gets fulfilled even after he is physically no more with us.  His spirit will always be with us.  I remember last meeting him at Zen Thamel or was that you?  I'm confused now. I'm sorry to miss his last rites. 
 

Armila, meghmil1984@yahoo.com

Dear Dhrubesh,
Santosh just forwarded your message of Atul Gautam's very untimely passing.  I am so sorry for everyone for the loss of such a good person.  I know you can find another tabla player but it will not be possible to replace Atul.  I hardly knew him but both Besty and I thought he was a dear man.  I am sorry too that you have lost a good friend.  We will be coming to Nepal again in April, the last two weeks and hope to see you then.  You are in our thoughts.  Let us know if there is anything we can do or that you would like from the states. 

Dr. Tom Roberts, Dental Surgeon, Seattle, USA

Dhrubesh Mero Dai,

I am very sorry to hear of the loss of Mr. Atul Gautam. I had the pleasure of meeting Atul Dai in your home, when I was in Nepal. My sympathies go to you and Mr. Shyam, as you've lost both a friend and musical colleague. Please pass my regrets to Atul Dai's family and friends, and if I can do anything for you please let me know.

Dear Drubesh Dai,

I know I should have wrote this letter a long time ago but I have been trying to deny to myself that our Atul Dai is gone.  I got the message that Atul dai was in the hospital through Santos when I was having my birthday party at my freind's house in San Francisco.  The first time I heard it just seemed like some rumour.  I tried to tell myself that it was going to be fine.  The next day when I read the news on the internet and realized he was really gone, it seemed so unfare that someone like him has to leave us.  It just seems so unfare!!  Well, it still seems unreal to me, and I probably won't truely realize until I'm in Nepal.  I know it must be really really hard for his family--just to think about it gives me a chill in my back.  And I know it must be really really hard for you too.  I just wanted to tell you Drubesh Dai if there is anything I can do I will be glad to.  Atul Dai has always been truely our friend and brother and always will be.  From my side, I realize I have not yet courage to get in touch with his family but let me know anything I can do to help.  I'm planning to be in Nepal pretty soon.

Manose Singh, (Fluetist, Founder member of Sukarma)

I herd the news from my mamu when i had called her in Nepal..........I have been seeing Atul DaI ( i used to call him that) since my childhood coz my mama Dhrubesh Chandra Regmi and him and Manoj dai were in same band "Sukarma" playing music...now Manoj dai is in USA so another sarangi player Shyam dai have joined their group.....I just don't know but from the time i herd that news his face constantly is coming in front of me with his wife n beautiful cute little daughter....bhauju was so friendly ........I wish god to give bhauju enough strength to overcome the gr8 sorrow........and may his soul rest in peace
........I m just remembering how he n my mama used to share glance while playing in the concerts........n how he used to come n peep in the kitchen to ask my maiju 'bhauju chiya khau na"
.........n 2years ago when I was coming to states...the words he said to me is still in my mind ..........He had said , Nani, aba bidesh ma gayera hamilai nabirsinu......ramrrari padhnu.............Oh god I don't know why i m feeling so terrible.........ya i know Sarita didi ko ghar is just few ghar maathi from Atul dai ko ghar.............Its a gr8 sorrow for everyone of us......I just pray god to give all of us to overcome this grief........

Meenakshi Vaskota, USA

Ke sunnu parne yasto pani. Rest in peace.

Though I did not have an o-pportunity to hear him play tabala, somewhere I heard he was an all-india topper from certain university. A prodigy resting in peace at 33. May lord provide enough strength to his family members.

Haray ram.

May Atul's soul rest in peace...

I had the privilege of knowing him and his brother Ajit since childhood. I used to go to Janaki Jivan Kunja with my father when I was back home in Nepal. It was amazing experience of listening GEETA'S SLOKS with his brother playing Harmonium and him playing Tabala. I just can't believe he is gone now.....  My sincere condolences to his family!

Nirvana RAM RAM......