OBITUARY – of Balwant Singh Bhurji

Well known doctorPargat Singh Bhurji’s belovedfather S. BalwantSingh Bhurji took his lastbreath at his home on Saturday,November 16th atapproximately 8:30 pm.The funeral service forBhurji famil’s beloved manwill take place on Saturday,November 23 at 10:00 amat the Five Rivers FuneralHome in Delta. Bhog willfollow at Dukh NivaranSahib Gurudwara on 152nd and68 Avenue.Life History of Balwant SinghBhurji:Balwant Singh Bhurji wasborn June 17, 1934 in the villageof Vella-Teja in the district ofGurdaspur. As a youth, he wasa sprinter for his school trackand field team, running so fastthat it appeared that he flew.This earned his the nickname‘Panchi’. He studied at BabaBudha Ji High School until the10th grade. At this tender age of15, he left his village for Mumbaito help his older brothers atwork. Together, they set-up aconstruction company in 1950called Bhurji Brothers Inc. Thecorporation secured an exclusivecontract for Central Railways,building railway tracks, bridges,tunnels, and performing excavationwork. In 1955, he travelledback to Punjab to find his futurewife. At age 21, he was marriedto Charanjit Kaur Ranu from Jalandhar.They returned to Mumbaiand started a family in thecity.Together they had four children,three daughters and oneson. All children were affordedthe highest education possiblewith no discrimination betweenhis son and daughters. His childrendescribed him as a playfuldad who was more a friend thana parent, often taking them tothe cinemas to watch films.He was a true gentleman,both dressing and acting thepart. With respect to his appearance,he is best known foralways wearing a multicolouredcherewali dastar. He was a manof character with a will powerof steel. He was also a very kindheartedindividual. He treatedthe children of company labourersas his own, bestowing themwith financial support when theybegan a new life in marriage. Healso applied his skills in constructionto finance and buildGurudwaras in Mumbai andGujurat.When he first arrived toCanada, the Western lifestyleand diet caused Balwant Singh tostruggle with being overweight.Through a combination of exerciseand a diet of simple, cleanPunjabi food he lost 70 lbs. Hecontinued to be an active personuntil he became ill in 2012.In January of 2012, BalwantSingh was diagnosed with a braintumor known as a glioblastomamultiforme. He underwent surgeryand concurrent radiotherapyin February of that year. InOctober of 2012, he travelled toIndia to meet all his family andfriends for the last time. Duringthis trip, he fulfilled his desire tovisit all five Takhts. Over the lastsix months, his condition continuedto deteriorate. He took hislast breath at home on Saturday,November 16th 2013 at approximately8:30 pm.The Bhurji family would liketo extend their sincerest thanksto the community for all theirsupport during this difficulttime.