![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-77326900,imgsize-192731,width-400,resizemode-4\/77326900.jpg\" "\\"Amar")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\nAmar Singh (File Photo)<\/span><\/p>\n KOLKATA: His family owned a thriving lock business in Burrabazar, yet he decided to carve a niche in unlocking the world of politics.
He often got scolded by his parents for watching too many movies, but little did they know that their son would go on to count some of the biggest film stars as his friends including Jaya Prada, Sanjay Dutt and Amitabh Bachchan, who often addressed him as \u201cchhote bhai\u201d.
The news of Amar Singh\u2019s demise in Singapore on Saturday turned the mood in 202 Chittaranjan Avenue, a Burrabazar borough, sombre. It was here that he had spent his childhood and a few years of his adult life before his meteoric rise to national politics where he earned monikers like \u201ctrouble shooter\u201d.
Singh had spent his childhood in a 500sqft apartment on the third floor of 202 CR Avenue in Jorasanko where he lived with his father Harishchandra, mother Shail Kumari and brother Arvind. He studied in Khatri Vidyalaya in Mechhua and cut his teeth in politics as a student leader.
\u201cWe are saddened by Amar bhaiya\u2019s death. He had spent his formative years in Kolkata and the foundation of his successful political carrier was laid in Burrabazar,\u201d said Vijay Upadhyay, a school friend of Amar Singh who is now a TMC leader.
Family and friends said he owed his meteoric rise from Kolkata\u2019s ward politics to the highest echelon of power in the country to a former Congress leader, who is now a senior minister in TMC government.
\u201cIn the 1970s and 1980s Congress was at its peak in central politics but leaders from West Bengal did not know very good Hindi. A senior Congress leader who is now a minister in the TMC government inducted Amar bhaiya into his inner circle because he knew both Hindi and Bengali and helped the leader interact with seniors. Amar bhaiya used this opportunity to build bridges with several senior Congress leaders and industrialists, a relationship that lasted till he breathed his last,\u201d said Upadhayay.
Cousin Vinod Singh, who still owns Vinod Stores on the ground floor of 202 CR Avenue, said Amar would win any debate he participated in.
Family members also recalled his fondness for Kolkata puri sabzi and phuchkas. \u201cHe would relish them whenever he visited Kolkata even till a few years ago. He was also a big movie buff,\u201d said a cousin.
The buzz in Burrabazar is that he was often scolded by his father for ignoring the family business. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n