Dr. Jaswant Singh (1932-2020): In Memoriam

Abstract

In India people donate money, material to temples, churches, etc. to ensure a place in heaven after this life. But a few enlightened and compassionate souls use their resources of mind, money to create a heaven on this earth for the hell-living poor and the downtrodden. One such person was Jaswant  Singh. In the 21st century Third World democracy there are two competing forcers: one trying to  capitalize on the ignorance and illiteracy of the marginalized and perpetually poor masses, the others are maneuvering to make them literate and aware citizens to effectively participate in a democratic  polity and alleviate their poverty. Dr. Jaswant Singh belonged to the latter elite lot. Jaswant Singh, an  NRI librarian and father of bookmobile in Punjab, passed away on May 16, 2020 at home in  Rockaway, New Jersey. Due to old age, they recently had moved to New Jersey to be with their daughter, Amardeep. He is survived by his librarian wife, Jasjit Kaur (both married in 1969) and a daughter, Amardeep Kaur Gill, her family, and host of mourning friemedicnds and beneficiaries of his  vision and personal kindnesses. He willed his mortal remains to be donated for al research as if  his charities and philanthropies while alive were not enough.