Last Sunday, the 8th of May 2022, the rail enthusiast community lost a valuable member and a great friend in Sachin Buddhisagar. The news of his sudden passing was received with shock and an outpouring of grief in the entire community.
Sachin Buddhisagar was also a co-founder of RailPost.in. He is survived by his parents.
Apart from his keen interest in Indian Railways, Sachin was a certified scuba diver, an accomplished railway photographer and a tennis enthusiast and player. Such was his aptitude for photography that his images were also used by Indian Railways for their publications.
Most of us must be aware of his keen interest in electrification and his passion to see the whole of the Indian Railways electrified. Whenever electrification would be discussed, he became a kid in a carnival. He would jump into the thick of it and explain various facets. His biggest quality was his free nature and taking everything in a good spirit.
Always the gracious host, his ever-smiling face was a welcome sign to all his friends. He would go to great lengths to make his guests and friends happy, taking them on long drives, for railfanning sessions and to good restaurants in his hometown Nasik
Khalid Kagzi, Co-Founder, RailPost.in, Surat
Sachin was one of the major driving forces of RailPost.in – he was very regular in looking for stories and stuff in the inbox, and pushed them to the publishing desk as soon as he could. We at RailPost are shocked and saddened beyond belief that he is no longer with us. We pray to God to give his parents the strength to face the irreplaceable loss of their only son
Sridhar Joshi, Co-Founder, RailPost.in, Chennai
At RailPost, Sachin was one of the most active contributors, always the first with news from his wide network of connections across India. His last post was less than 24 hours before his passing.
RailPost and his friends will continue to cherish memories of the wonderful times we had with him over the decades.
In his personal life, he was devoted to his parents and looked after them till his last day on earth. He was similarly devoted to his large circle of friends. Here are messages from a few of them in tribute.
He was my brother from another mother. I fondly used to call him “लाले दी जान”, one of my photography gurus, besides Shanx and Vivek. Our love and passion for electrics was unparalleled.
Jatin Bhavsar, Pune
Lost my more than a friend, more than a brother. Railfanning gave me a fantastic brother who was always compassionate, caring, soft-spoken and fun-loving. Railfanning without him will never be that fun and exciting anymore. Miss my Sachya, miss my buddy to the core!
Rahul Sharma, Thane
Sachin Buddhisagar, a fellow rail enthusiast who introduced Thull Ghats to IRFCA in June 2005. Quickly became a good friend and a family member, my younger brother. Passionate photographer, avid fitness geek, someone who is always positive about life. Helpful, and dependable. My life was blessed through our friendship. I’ll treasure it and carry it with me to my grave. Miss you SSB!
Gowrisankar, Chennai
Vina Dainyena Jeevitham
Dr. Himagirish Rao, Bengaluru
Anayasena Maranam
Dehi me kripayaa Shambho
Tvayi bhaktim achanchalam
We all pray to God for a life free of penury and death without effort. Sachin was one of those very few who was blessed with both. I’ll always remember him for his enthusiasm and joie d’vivre. Wherever he went, his infectious, impish smile would light the whole place up.
I would always look forward to running into him. We did have a couple of trips together and he always said ‘aare doctor sahab, aap ko toh Thull ghat aana hi hai’. Now, it will be a pilgrimage. A homage to one of the happiest souls that I’ve met.
Dear Sachin, I wish you were here to see IR totally electric. You will be missed always bhai. Every time I see a E loco will keep you in mind and I am sure you will electrify heaven too. Keep rocking always.
Girish Gopal, Chennai
Sachin was one of my good friends. My non veg food partner amongst all vegetarians during trips. 😛 I remember our first ride together in Karmali Tejas Express hauled by twin diesels from Ratnagiri to Mumbai. Being an ardent electric fan I teased him for travelling in Diesel trains and sections for which he simply said wait and watch for next 5 years. Now, Konkan Railway is electrified but Sachin left us before riding behind an electric hauled train in KR. He will be missed on all of our trips. 🙁
Pratik Joshi, Mumbai
Never judge a book by its cover”, that could well be said about SSB or Sachya as he was known fondly to his friends and loved ones! Short, unassuming almost hidden behind his professorial type demeanour was a guy confident, competitive and convincingly persuasive, who could make friends and foes anywhere and yet be lovable to all of them! A lot of us today owe aur mutual friendships to him for he introduced us to one another and kept us together over the years. We will miss him to the end of our lives, no less….
Dr Venkat Adurty, Nagpur
My first interaction was during the WAM 4 shoot at BZA. The moment Sachin saw me, he almost shouted, “Sir, I saw you the other day while working Shirdi express!” Very few RFs have come to my house, Sachin included. Every time he informed me about his arrival to BZA. He invited me to his place as well. Maybe one day I may go to NK.
Pradeep Kumar, Chennai
But, no Sachin😒
I will always remember Sachin for his ever smiling demeanour and quick wit. Happy to have spent time with him at SC, Konkan and in the making of the BZA WAM4 documentary. Stay blessed Sachya!!
PVS Praveen, Hyderabad
If there was ever a total railfan, He was Sachin. His knowledge was deep , his enthusiasm unbounded, his smile omnipresent. A critical aspect was he carried the community along. Be it telling us what the latest updates in railways are or discovering new places to spot trains from, arranging facilities for rail fans on trips or organising mega conventions he put his heart and soul on it. The community is devastated with his untimely loss and trying to cope with it. Yes … he was a complete railfan who left a mark.
Krishnakumar Kannan, Chennai
Sachin, The One with whom I could always share, soar, click, laugh and be just myself! Sachin, The One who was naturally aesthetic and adventurous! Sachin, my forever immortal friend!
Poochi Venkat, Chennai
A Friend, A Brother and A Mentor who had a strong influence in my life. His strong memory and sharpness to details were something that left me amused always. Physically not with us, but mentally forever in our hearts. My Dearest Brother
Ramki Arun
My interactions with Sachin buddhisagar (bhai as I fondly call him) were always debates over Diesel and Electric and both of us were quite passionate about our own view points. This said Sachin Bhai always helped put things in perspective and always had a smile on his face during these debates. I miss him and the debates that we have had in the past and when ever I see a catenary I will always be reminded of him and the interactions that I have had with him. I hope he is now at a far better place than he ever was in the past and wish and pray that his Aatman reaches sadhgathi.
Shiva Sathiraju
Miss u sir.. How come this happened ??