LINK Columnist Paarull Bakshi Pens Beautiful Poem To Remember Her Father Who Passed Away Recently!
VANCOUVER – A well know figure in shipping both locally and internationally, Jagdeep Bakshi, passed away suddenly on December 6th at the age of 58.
He was born on June 15, 1957 in Allahabad, India and was raised in New Delhi. He was trained as a Marine Engineer in Kolkatta, India and later left India at the age of 17 to work overseas as an Engineer aboard ships, rising to the rank of Chief Engineer.
He served in the Maritime Industry for the last 41 years of his life after joining Teekay Shipping in April 1992 and worked on various tankers as Chief Engineer.
Jagdeep had sailed as a Chief Engineer with Teekay Shipping since 1992 before he was identified for his talent and invited ashore to work in the company’s Tokyo office assuming the role of project technical lead on Teekay’s first FSO (Floating Storage and Off-take Vessel) Dampier Spirit conversion at Keppel Shipyard in Singapore in 1997/98. Dampier Spirit is still in service in the Stag Field off NW Australia.
During the restructuring of Teekay which began in the late 90’s, Jagdeep was an integral part of the Teekay Marine Services technical team in the Vancouver office. Always recognizable by his distinctive white turban, in addition to his engineering skills he was a prolific networker and had a very easy way with people.
During his further career with Teekay, Jagdeep took on prominent roles in many complex engineering projects, including two more FSO conversions with his customary unassuming confidence.
Jagdeep’s knowledge and his experience made him stand above the rest. He earned great success in the Maritime field by completing various successful projects under his guidance, and his reputation in the industry is very commendable.
He became known as the man with the ‘White Turban’ who had no hesitation about walking into any room and talking to anyone. His confidence and charisma made him who he was. His fun- loving, generous, and witty nature made him a very impressionable person and he will be remembered by thousands around the world.
Jagdeep’s funeral, attended by more than 400 people, was held on December 12 and included prayers at the Gurudwara Nanak Niwas, the Indian Cultural Centre and Temple in Richmond.
Among the mourners was Bjorn Moller, former CEO of Teekay, among many others from the company and the Vancouver marine community.
In addition to those of his family, eulogies were read by his friend Rashim Berry (a classmate from DMET – his training college in India) and by David Glendinning, until recently President, Teekay Gas Services.
Jagdeep was well known throughout the world and messages of condolence were received from Europe, Australia, India, Japan and Singapore, as well as North America.
Jagdeep leaves behind his wife Vinny, two daughters – Paarull and Urvashi and a son Varun. In a fitting tribute to his memory, Jagdeep’s family are working with Teekay to establish a Marine Engineering Scholarship here in Vancouver.
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THE MAN IN THE WHITE TURBAN
By Paarull JS Bakshi
(A Daughter’s Ode to her Beloved Dad: Mr. Jagdeep Singh Bakshi)
The man in the white turban who I called my Dad,
He made me smile and laugh if ever I was sad,
He came to a new country, not knowing what his future held,
But his confidence in himself is what made his life, a life well led,
Wearing his white turban, he travelled the world, saw every place even the ones whose name I’ve never heard,
He always told me, be proud of yourself and wearing his white turban, my hand he held,
His white turban is what made him who he was,
His knowledge and experience will be passed on as it does,
He knew so many people and they’ve gathered here today,
They’ve come here to Honor him and to show the respect they must pay,
As in his white turban, he is laid to rest,
With his smiling face, he is now kissing me goodbye but to be honest, my mind is not at its best,
Thinking that he won’t walk me down the aisle, makes my heart cry,
But the reality of life is that one day, we all must die,
I will always remember him and love him for the man that he was,
The man in the white turban who I proudly call my Dad
