Shastriji’s lasting contribution to the overseas Hindus is the Hindu Institute of Learning, which he started in Toranto. Countless people learn Bharatiya values there through Sanskrit, Hindi, Indian music and the Ramayana
Manu Shah
Jagdish Chandra Sharda or Shastri ji, as he was popularly known, passed away on December 25, 2017 at the age of 97. While he always shied away from the limelight and would wave off any kind of praise, every one of the thousands whose lives he touched remembers him as a towering personality who worked for Hindu unity selflessly, tirelessly and taught by example and compassion.
Shastriji’s last rites took place according to Hindu traditions in Markham, Toronto. Despite severe winter conditions, his funeral was attended by more than 350 people. Family members from the US, UK and Bharat gathered to bid farewell to the beloved head of the Sharda family. Family, friends, karyakartas and Pracharaks shared their memories of him at a condolence meeting held on December 30, 2017 in Toronto, where he had settled after his retirement as a Prof of Hindi in Nairobi. He would not have approved of the word ‘retired’ and perhaps it is an incorrect word to use for a dedicated Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) karyakarta, who until his last breath worked for spreading Indian culture and values. He was often overheard stating “resting is rusting.”
Ratan Sharda, his nephew from India, recalled how he had to persuade Shastriji to write his memoirs as he wanted to remain a selfless anonymous worker at the field level. He also stated that Shastriji’s life needs to be celebrated as he did the work of two lifetimes in one lifetime.
Even well into his 80s and 90s and troubled by advanced arthritis, Shastriji’s zest for life or his commitment to the Sangh did not diminish. His son Kamalesh recalled how it was customary to see him walk home with total strangers and offer them food and shelter. Citing yet another example of Shastriji’s love for humanity, Kamalesh narrated how Shastriji would carry hundreds of sandwiches made by his mother for the refugees escaping Belgian Congo every day in Kenya.
His commitment to the Sangh ideology, inculcating a sense of oneness in Hindu society, ingraining a strong sense of pride in Indian culture, which led to an assertive Hindu society are some of his immeasurable contributions. Despite these contributions, he always considered himself a humble karyakarta.
Acquaintances also reminiscenced about his unflagging energy and enthusiasm, and above all his deep love for Bharat. His student, David Hansburger spoke in Hindi and described Shastriji’s passion for sharing his knowledge generously and his systematic way of teaching. Shastriji’s five children and 13 grandchildren had their own special memories. A granddaughter fondly recollected his penchant for narrating jokes and his firm belief that laughter is the best medicine.
The journey of this great soul began in the small village of Charik in Punjab, Bharat. His parents and paternal grandmother were his role models – embodiments of sewa or selfless service. His father was a renowned priest, astrologer and a highly respected Ayurvedic physician. Shastriji excelled academically and despite the untimely death of his father and financial impediments completed his Honors in Sanskrit with flying colours.
While studying at a school in Amritsar, 17 year old Jagdish saw a group of youth playing Indian games, practicing yoga and speaking to each other very respectfully. This piqued his interest and he joined the group or the Shakha as it was called. It proved to be a turning point in his life and Shastriji learned the virtues of self-discipline, time management and the spirit of service. Impassioned discussions about social issues like the evils of the caste system or inequality, uniting the community, especially the Hindu community deepened his interest in the organisation and thus began his lifelong journey with the RSS.
In 1942, he took up a teaching position to support himself and his growing family. Four years later, this experience helped him secure a teaching job at the Arya Samaj Girls’ School in Nairobi, Kenya. A huge jump in salary sealed the deal and Shastriji left for Kenya. What followed on the deck of the ship SS Vasna has been recounted time and again by inspired karyakartas.
In September 1946, Shastriji sailed from Mumbai and began the two week journey to Kenya. As fate would have it, he met a swayamsevak from Gujarat, Manek Lal Rughani. Every evening Manek Lal, a few young men and Shastriji used to meet on the deck, play some games and conclude by singing the Sangh Prarthana (prayer). By the time they disembarked at Mombassa, the group had 17 people. Some were already swayamsevaks, while others had become swayamsevaks on the deck. This was the beginning of the Sangh work abroad.
Shastriji was only 24 at that time. He was a brilliant organiser and even as he was settling down in Nairobi, he began contacting like-minded people to join him in starting a Sangh Shakha. It is interesting that taking of the Sangh message abroad, now a force in 40 countries, took place on January 14, 1947 with 21 swayamsevaks. The organisation running these shakhas in Kenya was later named Bharatiya Swayamsevak Sangh (BSS).
From 1947 to 1977 Shastriji utilised his energies into Sangh work. It is from this shakha that the Sangh spread to Seychelles, Madagascar and East African countries like Tanzania and Uganda. It later strengthened in England, Canada and Australia through Kenyan swayamsevaks who migrated to those countries.
When he retired from teaching in Kenya, Shastriji moved to UK for a short while and then to Canada in 1980 where he once again lost no time in jumping into Sangh work. He was given the responsibility of Kendriya Karyalaya (central office) and the co-ordination of Sangh work and for the next fifteen years, till the age of 75, he put his heart and soul in spreading the sangh work. His critical and lasting
contribution to the Hindu as well as Canadian community is the Hindu Institute of Learning (HIL) in Toronto, which he
initiated. Thousands of people learnt Sanskrit, Hindi, Indian music and the Ramayana at this Institute.
Tributes poured in from HSS leaders around the world. Vice president of HSS USA Shri Ramesh Bhutada, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardee Shri Ramesh Shah, Head of Sangh in UK Shri Diraj Shah and many others paid tribute to the departed soul.
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