April 29, 2020, was an unfortunate day.
The whole nation mourned as the heartbreaking news of Irrfan Khan’s death surfaced. Many of us took to social media to express our grief and sorrow and pray for the strength for Irrfan’s family – his wife Sutapa Sikdar and two sons, Babil and Ayaan.
Recently, Sutapa released a heart-warming statement not only thanking Irrfan’s fans and doctors for their support but also about how she was blessed to have Irrfan in this lifetime.
In the emotional letter, she started:
“How can I write this as a family statement when the whole world is taking it as a personal loss? How can I begin to feel alone when millions are grieving with us at the moment? I want to assure everyone that this is not a loss, it is a gain. It’s a gain of the things he taught us, and now we shall finally begin to truly implement it and evolve. Yet I want to try to fill in the things that people don’t already know.”
Further adding she mentioned:
“It’s unbelievable for us but I would put it in Irrfan’s words, “it’s magical” whether he is there or not there, and that’s what he loved, he never loved one-dimensional reality. The only thing I have a grudge against him is; he has spoiled me for life. His strive for perfection doesn’t let me settle for ordinary in anything. There was a rhythm which he always saw in everything, even in cacophony and chaos, so I have learnt to sing and dance to the music of that rhythm, even with my tone-deaf voice and two left feet.”
Irrfan was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor in 2018. Talking about how he approached this rare disease, Sutapa wrote,
“Funnily, our life was a masterclass in acting, so when the dramatic entry of the “uninvited guests” happened, I had by then learnt, to see a harmony in the cacophony. The doctor’s reports were like scripts which I wanted to perfect, so I never miss any detail that he sought for in his performance.”
Further adding the details about the journey, Sutapa wrote,
“It’s difficult to explain what a wondrous, beautiful, overwhelming, painful and exciting journey this has been. I find this 2 and 1/2 years to have been an interlude, which had it’s own beginning, middle and culmination with Irrfan helming the role of the orchestra conductor, separate from the 35 years of our companionship, ours was not a marriage, it was a union.”
The statement further read,
“I see my little family, in a boat, with both my sons Babil and Ayaan, paddling it forward, with Irrfan guiding them “wahan nahi, yahan se modo” but since life is not cinema and there are no retakes, I sincerely wish my children sail this boat safely with their father’s guidance in mind and rockabye through the storm.”
Irrfan’s sons Babil and Ayaan also shared the one lesson that their father taught them.
“I asked my children, if possible, they could sum up a lesson taught by their father that has been important to them:
Babil: ‘Learn to surrender to the dance of uncertainty and trust your faith in the universe.’
Ayaan: ‘Learn to control your mind and to not let it control you.'”
Sutapa concluded saying,
“Tears will flow as we will plant a raat ki rani tree, his favourite, to the place where you have put him to rest after a victorious journey. It takes time but it will bloom and the fragrance will spread and touch all the souls whom I won’t call them fans but family for years to come.”
The statement was also posted on Irrfan’s official Twitter handle.
From Sutapa, Babil and Ayaan… pic.twitter.com/djfdp5KxTL
— Irrfan (@irrfank) May 1, 2020
Many netizens took to social media to revert on this heart-touching letter:
It is so moving… He always felt close to heart.
Wishing Babil and Ayaan lot of success and happiness in whatever they do.
Wishing Shutapa strength to deal with everything and success in whatever she does.
Take care all of you.
— Sumit Kashyap (@sumitkashyapjha) May 1, 2020
“Rooh ki maut nahi hoti. Aur Roohdaar kabhi marte nahin” ????????
— ruchi kokcha (@ruchikokcha) May 1, 2020
A fitting tribute to a wonderful man. May God grant more strength to the family. ????????
— Neha Joshi (@The_NehaJoshi) May 1, 2020
R.I.P Irrfan. You will always be missed.
