17.10.69
– 14.02.2017
“Have you met
Miller, the Miller of Dee?” asked Mrs Nariman Shadap with a smile. It was my day
of joining at the North Eastern Service (NES), AIR Shillong in December 2011.
Mrs Shadap, DDG(P) was Station Director there.
It wasn’t
difficult to see why Miller Einster Sawkmie, Programme Executive, NES was
compared with the jolly Miller of Dee, made famous by that eponymous poem
“There dwelt a miller, hale and bold,
Beside the river Dee;
He worked and sang from morn till night -
No lark more blithe than he…”
That is how I
remember Miller. Happy, bright, ready with a song.
But Miller’s “guitar
gently weeps” today. The first floor of NES office is eerily quiet. “He is too
young to leave this world,” Ferdinand Dkhar, Pex, AIR Shillong messaged me this
morning. Ferdy did not take my call. Maybe his voice was choked. Miller had
passed away last night. Suddenly.
Anyone who has
worked in NES will remember Ferdy and Miller singing “Yeh dosti hum nahin torenge…” lustily during the Hindi fortnight
celebrations.
“I am shocked at the news of Miller’s
demise,”says Mr C Lalrosanga, former DG, Doordarshan. “I have known him for
about 25 years while serving as Director, NES & ADG of AIR (NER) and have
been closely in touch with him till a week ago. He was a dynamic, positive,
helpful, resourceful person, a valued colleague
to work with and an asset for AIR. His contributions to AIR have been plenty
and invaluable. I miss him as a personal friend and colleague. NES will sorely
miss him.”
“How can he go?
It’s unbelievable,” rues Ashish Bhatnagar, DDG(E). Mr Bhatnagar was posted in
Shillong for three years. “Miller was so
close. We spent hours singing overnight in remote villages, with a guitar in
hand and wood fire in between. He was so natural and spontaneous.”
I see from his
biodata that he had a Master’s degree in Physics. “Miller was in teaching
before he joined AIR,” Mrs Shadap tells me. “And he was a very good teacher. I
personally enjoyed working with him. He rose to every challenge. I never heard
a no from him. It was always ‘yes, Kong’. Such an energetic, lovable young
programmer…such a great loss for NES and the AIR family…Miller of Dee.”(Kong in Khasi means sister and is a
respectful way of addressing women).
Scrolling
through Facebook this morning, I find many comments from friends, colleagues,
talkers… comments like “he encouraged me to go on air”…. “One of my most well behaved
and cheerful colleagues…” “ Will sorely miss his jokes and laughter”… “He was
such an inspiration to me, to never give up on my singing…”
Miller had
joined AIR Shillong as a production assistant (TREX) at OB unit, AIR Shillong
on 7 April 1992. He was the force behind the popular radio bridge programmes
connecting the entire North East. As well as the several memorable concerts
organised by NES. As recently as February 11, he had successfully organized the
grand finale of the NE Body Can Sing
Contest in Shillong.
Miller Sawkmie is
survived by his mother, his wife Rulbiona Synrem and three children.
As I am about to
wind up this piece, a message arrives from Krishna Dasgupta, English Announcer,
NES: “An enthusiastic and cheerful officer, he was always very polite with his
colleagues. Herespected everyone and in turn earned respect… He will be fondly
remembered by all at NES & AIR Shillong. May his soul rest inpeace.”
"Good friend," said Hall, and sighed the
while,
"Farewell, and happy be;
Such men as thou are England's boast,
O miller of the Dee!
To paraphrase the poem, “such men as Miller
are AIR’s boast...” Farewell, Miller and be happy wherever you are.
Basudha Banerji, PEX, DG:AIR, fondly remembers Miller Einster Sawkmie...
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