A life too short: Pradyuman’s parents hold on to fleeting memories

A drawing given to Pradyuman's parents after his death

After the murder of their five-year-old son, the parents of Pradyuman Thakur reveal how they still hold on to memories of him.

On the morning of 8 September, Pradyuman Thakur and his sister were getting late for school. While cooking breakfast, their mother asked Pradyuman’s sister if she was ready for her exam. Pradyuman insisted that she was lying about being prepared.

They quickly finished the food and their father dropped them at around 7.55 at the school gate. Barun, the father, remembers his son waving goodbye. He next heard about his son from the Artemis hospital.

Pradyuman loved playing the keyboard. Often after school, his mother would find him attempting to play some tunes.

As Jyoti, Pradyuman’s mother, took out her son’s cards and all his drawings, she told ThePrint about his natural urge to participate in multiple things. Not once did he hesitate to try new things. Jyoti was also proud of the fact that unlike other children who were addicted to mobile phones, Pradyuman preferred playing and sketching.

Every evening when Barun would come home from work, Pradyuman would insist he play with him. On days when he was late after a long day in office, Pradyuman would still convince his father to throw around a ball while he was sitting on the couch and watching television. “Aap baithe raho, bas ball phekte rehna papa. (You keep sitting, but keep throwing the ball, dad.)“

His drawing teacher told his parents that he must pursue sketching, as his active imagination would reflect in his art. But Pradyuman had other plans – every day his dream profession would change.

Jyoti smiled when she found Pradyuman’s letters and cards that he had made for the family.

Because his father would be working most days, Pradyuman decided to write a letter to him. “Dad, you work a lot. You don’t get holidays, but I promise you that on Sunday, you will have a holiday.”

Every day after school, when Pradyuman and his sister would reach home, he would race to the gate of the house and claim victory – behind him, his sister would struggle to carry his bag and water bottle.