So it's been one of those tragic weeks, sepia-toned with many 'greats' passing on — actually, I may exclude VS Naipaul from that list. He was an amazing writer, Booker Prize winner and all, but apparently 'hated' India, so his death wasn't mourned with so much feeling. More an intellectual grief than anything else.

But Ajit Wadekar, oh boy, that's one for the ages, followed by Aretha Franklin, and finally Atal Bihari Vajpayee… made it a significantly sombre last seven days.