kRiShEn JiT diEs..

dear jess,

in the surreality of things, even great men die. Its odd really, as i was talking about the purpose and legacy of lives. i read the news minutes ago, and i felt i could hardly breath. This just from finding out about a man i dont even know.

i "met" krishen last year. Actually i had to act in front of him. It was the most horrifying experience ever, i had to strut out in front of krishen, marion and jit murad and do my stuff! The wobbly knees and full bladder screaming, i had to act in front of pioneers of theatre, and the very place where my feet were, was owned by him. I was in front of a living legacy who has been practising theatre even before i could walk, and practically created the arts world to where it is today! He's written books, lectured, directed, and is perfectly synonym to the word theatre. And there he was sitting down to watch me act! In retrospect now, it brings sweat to my palms.

And what does one do in the presence of a legacy? Put your head down and shyly avoid eye contact. What can i say!

Im speechless, i would love to in all flair write about the arts, krishen, etc but i cant right now, im just lost for words. Ive never had to write a letter this way. I know for a fact that the arts community pauses in time as they reflect on the great loss. He was 65, and still actively directing and contributing to the arts. Perhaps what strikes me most of all about this man i knew not was that he made changes in what he was passionate about.

I guess some of us do make a mark in the world that leaves impressions for a long, long time. We've really lost a huge part of the arts, but his legend and contribution will live on. How many of us can say that about anything we do?

yours in memory of krishen,
jess