Prof Dockrill

Dinner with Prof Dockrill was a pleasant experience. It was a very private dinner at Bengal Club hosted by Mr Pradip Das and Dr Amita Das . I had helped Mr Das and Dr Das with their research project on the Tollyguge Club. They wanted to thank me hence I was their guest at the dinner along with Sujata and Sam .
The Das’s are both LSE alumni , learned , dignified very cultured people. As an elderly couple they look endearing .They are batch mates of Prof Dockrill and the professor was here on a private visit.Mike was staying with the Das’s at their house.He gave a lecture at Victoria Memorial on the 2nd Jan to a selected group of Oxbridge alumni and others.
Prof Dockrill had lost his wife recently and was in a state of extreme depression. He hardly ate anything , went out to smoke every five minutes and seemed to be in state of constant restlessness. Depression can lead people to dementia.
Prof Dockrill has no close relatives and is a lonely man. He is travelling and does not seem to be in very good health. I found him a very sweet old man. He kissed our hands like old knights which I found cute. You do not see Brits doing that anymore. At least the Brits I meet. Mr Das however felt that Mike was kind of mad fellow with all his idiosyncracies. I must read some of his works. His wife was also an academic and both of them have lot of published work.

The food at Bengal Club was excellent as usual. I am hardly a connoisseur but the Club still employs very good chefs and the food always tastes delicious .