T R I B U T E

Journalism Guru Professor H.S. Dilgir Passes Away

WE have lost the father figure of journalism, author, journalist, playwright, theatre artist, film producer, and more importantly, a truly saintly Teacher, and a great human being.

Professor Dilgir, 85, was admitted in Sector 32 Hospital on March 30 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 Government Medical College, Sector 32 hospital, while the eyes were gifted immediately to the eye bank in the hospital.

All his life he cared about every little thing, and would go all the way to help anyone. Hundreds of students and artists fondly remember the good he has done to them. 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.

Prof Dilgir was born in Raiwind, Pakistan on August 18, 1924. An alumnus of the Department of Mass Communication, he passed out of the department in 1948. He completed his masters in journalism from Boston University, as also diploma in broadcasting from the Boston University. Prof Dilgir has 18 books to his credit and three of them won award from Sahitya Akademi Chandigarh and Bhasha Vibhag Punjab.  He was also a visiting professor to many universities and also the Founder Chairman of the Chandigarh Chapter of Public Relations Society of India (PRSI). Prof Dilgir’s decision to donate his body is commendable. Also his family has taken an appreciative step by fulfilling his wish. Normally families get satisfaction after performing last rites. But his wife has shown immense strength.

Like me who had the opportunity to know him right from the days in the department of journalism, there are countless memories that flood our minds. 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 lifetime.

We salute this great teacher.

[CJ Singh]

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