Reprinted with permission of the Albuquerque Journal
Thursday, May 27, 2004
Restaurateur Nitin Bhakta Always Helped Others
Journal Staff Report
A longtime Santa Fe businessman and restaurateur who died in an accident Monday in Panama was remembered by one of his restaurant managers Wednesday as a jolly person who was always eager to help other people.
Nitin Bhakta, who was perhaps best known as the founder of the India Palace restaurant on Don Gaspar Avenue near the Plaza, died Monday from injuries suffered in a fall while vacationing in Panama. He also founded the India House restaurant on Cerrillos Road and several local gas stations, as well as a pair of restaurants in California.
Banbir "Tony" Singh, manager of the India Palace, said Bhakta was an avid golfer and had gone to Panama to play golf. He said Bhakta was a great man and his death had left everyone at the restaurant upset.
"It will be very hard to maintain this without him," Singh said. "He was always very helpful to other people."
Singh said Bhakta was married and had two children.