ARDHENDU BOSE- THE BOMBAY DYEING “MARKSMAN”

Today saw Arnab’s cacophony on Times Now about destruction of files relating to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, in my opinion, the tallest mass leader of India’s freedom struggle, in 1972. Came across a handsome elderly man in the panel. A brainwave from the past made me realise  that he was Ardehndu Bose, son of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s younger brother. His father Sailesh Chandra Bose was Netaji’s younger brother.

I was suddenly transported to the exciting, youthful and golden days of my childhood. Ardehndu Bose, was one of the most dashing and handsome models of my childhood days. He was the face of Bombay Dyeing group for almost a decade. Whenever I used to see him in magazines or on my rickety old Black & White TV set, in the 1980s, I used to get thrilled and wonder, who this guy must be. What he be doing? I still remember those haunting light eyes and almost far-east-oriental features. Very athletic, Smart and handsome with hair that were light brown, slightly curly and very neatly cut.

Whenever I used to see him, I used to secretly complain to God that why he couldn't make me like him. The other person, looking at whom the same feelings were evoked, was Bollywood icon Vinod Khanna. For me, at that time, these two gentlemen were my heroes, I wanted to live their lives!!

Some data mining has revealed that Mr. Bose is a highly educated person and a leather technologist by profession. Apparently, modelling and acting were his hobbies.

One of the most enduring memories is the of Bombay Dyeing commercial, in which, Mr. Bose is seen in a character akin to James Bond, saving a beautiful damsel in distress. 

Mr. Bose has aged very gracefully and still comes across as a very articulate, intelligent, eloquent and erudite person. But for the fanboy in me, and countless who grew up in the 1980s, he’ll always be the quintessential, dashing, debonair style icon - The Marksman!!!