A Tribute to Yash

Ilia Mehr Bakhsh ’23

Chief Editor

I remember one day walking into rehearsal for 13 Past Midnight, our Spring drama production, where I saw Yash Varma and his cast-mate Caleb Pereira ’23 rehearsing their roles for the show. They brought their creative twist to their dialogue with allusions to Star Wars, both being huge fans.

He was engaging, humourous, and filled with curiosity. He always questioned everything around him, thinking how he could make things better. How he could get a better shot on his camera. How he could design The Crusader News website to be more coherent. How he could support the Youth in Philanthropy in their work to support the community. How he could better master the Rubik’s cube. How he could better master the piano. How he could better write for The Crusader News…

Yash, without fail, managed to brighten the day of anyone who crossed his path. Knowing him for three years, he without fail, brought a smile, a chuckle, optimism and curiosity into my world. I simply became used to seeing him every day. I became used to the joy he brought to my world when he retold a funny story or presented his favourite films and music in the news- room.

I became used to my numerous interactions with him from the Human Rights Initiative to drama. I became used to his contagious positive energy that lit the room without a shadow in sight.

He could bring love and life to anyone. It seemed as though he could live forever.

When the unthinkable happened, I was no longer greeted with a smile upon entering the newsroom. I was no longer accompanied in our various club meetings, rehearsals, or friendly interactions. This I was not used to. This void I was not used to. I felt the greatest void within my heart, within my life, and within the greater community. His light was, simply put, no longer shone.

Dwelling on the memory of a most compassionate and inspiring young man never fails to encourage more curiosity, selflessness, and motivation to create change. Yash, as I thought, will live forever. His energy will always be an inspiration to bring love and life to the world around me, regardless of the hour.

Rest in peace Yash. Your memory will live on. Thank you for being the light in our days…

Ilia Mehr Bakhsh ’23

Image Credit: Luke Perrett

Unforgettable

While no series of words, regardless of how eloquent they may be, can ever capture Yash’s contributions to our community, and the bright light he brought into our lives, his peers remember him—Yash is truly unforgettable. The depicted word-spalshincludes words his peers found represented Yash best. Yash lived up to the virtue of being a true Man for Others. For his dedication to always look beyond himself and be benevolent, we will forever remember Yash. We will cherish his outgoing and exuberant personality, and his incredible wit and intelligence. And despite all of his greatness, we will always remember Yash’s humility, and how friendly, caring and approachable he was.From the “hello” we shared in the bustling school hallways, to our deep philosophical conversations, I will forever remember Yash for being himself – unforgettable.