O B I T U A R Y
Rupinder (RUPI) Chahal

RUPINDAR SINGH CHAHAL (22/7/1944 TO 30/8/2002)

     Rupi, as we fondly called him, is no more. Suffering from debilitating diabetes for some time he passed away at the Dayanand Hospital, Ludhiana in the early hours of 30th Aug. due to complications resulting from the amputation of his foot.

     Earliest memories of Rupi are from B.C.S. (Curzon 1951-61). An outstanding sportsman, he won his colours in all the major games including boxing and was one of the best hockey forwards BCS had. Not many remember, but Rupi was a member of all the Curzon House ‘A’ teams that remained unbeaten in all games 1961!

      I again met up with him in college at Chandigarh where he was my senior in Govt. College and we went on to do our Post Graduation from Punjab University. Never one for striving in the academic field, he however did pass the final exams. There is a funny story of his getting a prize for having attended the least number of lectures in the History Dept. There were many, including my wife, who were surprised to learn that he was even a student there. His passing the exam showed that he had a fine mind and ability to quickly grasp a new subject.

          Rupi on the other hand lived life with zest and enthusiasm, even when his health did not allow it. Generous to a fault, his was an open house and he insisted that each guest stay on for the meal of the day. His last birthday was on 22nd July and he sat amongst us enjoying every moment of the party without letting on the pain and discomfort he was in. There may be many who would opine that he   should have been more careful of his diet and exercised abstinence. But knowing Rupi, he would not be shackled in his lifestyle.

    He knew the gravity of his problem but never lost hope and was even in his last days setting up a new office at home. We salute you our old buddy and offer our condolences to his wife, Sant and daughter Praneet.

                                                                                                         B.M.Singh

Dear All,
 
I do not know how many of you remember Rupi but BM's account of him is accurate and factual. It comes from the heart.
 
Rupi was senior to us all but there was about him a hugely carefree manner. Nothing seemed to faze him. I recall him being helpful and the sympathetic kind. He will remain in my mind the tall, lanky, sardar who always manoeuvred his way around on and off the field. He weaved rings around the adversary on the hockey field and his fighting spirit seems not to have dulled in his adult years. Never gave up, always the determined boxer that he was.
 
I never met him after he left school but certain images remain. He was a good friend to Brandy Gill ( SS Gill II) and his older brother, more the former. He got along famously with Naaz Rovshen. I recall him once teasing Naaz, who always turned a deep red on such occasions, with his hilarious profanities none of which Naaz understood. Recall, Naaz was the bright spark whom Freddie Brown awarded the A's in English. English was not Rupi's forte and he turned to Naaz for guidance but Rupi's puckish sense of humour was not to be repressed and he turned that whole lesson a class for amusement. Pronunciations, grammar and all went down the tube. Naaz, the earnest soul, stared non-plussed and then gave up the lesson most promptly. These are photographic images in mind, very vivid. I can still see Rupi laughing and cracking jokes all the time. Never serious, the earthy fun living sardar who smiled all the time and found it hard to be serious is the way I remember him.
 
God bless him.
 
Our heartfelt and sincere condolences to his wife and daughter.
 
With warm regards
 
Very sincerely
 
Vatsala and Vijay Khurana
Guys,

 it is with deep regret that I learn of the sad demise of Rupi.I
 remember him very well as Hockey singh as he excelled in school in
 that sport. In fact I remember teasing him on this and saying that he
 would get a laddoo from a brahmin (me,bodi) if he reached the Indian
 hockey team and beat Pakistan. Although I never met him after he
 passed out from school, I have occasionally in my reminisces about
 school thought of him particularly his dribbling the ball on 2nd
 flat.

 While I never met his family I do convey my deepest condolences to
 them for their untimely loss as I'm sure each of us who knew him will
 do.

 Ramesh
Please convey my condolences to the familiy.

Regards

Rishi Rana


 Thanks for giving me the opportunity to write a few words about Rupi. To
 those of us who knew him well, he was a great friend and a gentleman.
 During his school days he was an excellent sportsman and helped our house
 (Curzon) win a few cups.

 In later life he became a farmer and a part time politician. He was
 perhaps the only political supporter of Simranjit Singh Mann!

 What I remember him most for was his sense of humour and his integrity.

 He was a great family man. His wife Sant and his young daughter will miss
 him. Our best wishes to them.

 Rupi was an ardent Cottonian attending all the functions and managing to
 narrate all the old school jokes which most of us had forgotten.

 Goodbye to a great friend.

 Brandy Gill (Gill II)