Prof. H.S. Dilgir is no more

We have lost the father-figure of journalism, author, journalist, Public Relations professional, playright, theatre artist, film producer, and more importantly, a truly saintly Teacher, and a great human being. He was the founder president of the Chandigarh Chapter of Public Relations Society of India, and had attended several all India PR conferences. A visiting faculty to several journalism and public relations departments to various universities, he had authored several books on public relations, and journalism.
He was admitted in Sector 32 Hospital today morning as he complained about breathlessness, but on reaching there at 9:30am he had a heart attack and his blood pressure also dropped suddenly. Though the doctors struggled on and despite our best of prayers, he passed away at 3pm. He had willed to donate his body and with the concurrence of his wife and two daughters, the body was handed over to the Govt Medical College, Sector 32 hospital, while the eyes were gifted immediately to the eye bank in the hospital. He was a great man, who cared about every little thing, and would go all the way to help anyone. After his retirement he had taken sojourn in the Nadiali village where he built up his library and taught little children. He spearheaded the literacy movement in his small hamlet, a village of few families, where no one, especially the girls, had any schooling. But he relentlessly dedicated his life to ignite the power of learning amongst children, and helped many children graduate from the village.
Like me who had the opportunity to know him right from the days in the department of journalism, there are countless students around the globe who cherish some of the choicest moments that we spent with him. I had the good fortune of being with him till the last moment.
He lives amongst us. Physically, his eyes would light up someone's lives. His body would give the insight to the medical students, to learn and save many lives, in their professional life time. We salute him. And pray to God, to give peace to the departed soul...though we know that though he left in peace, living his life to the fullest, he would not rest...and would be preparing for his next plan of action.
CJ Singh