Spiritual leader Dada J P Vaswani, head of the Sadhu Vaswani Mission, passed away on Thursday, 12 July, due to old age-related ailments, a mission member said. He was 99.
He had been admitted to a private hospital in the city for the past a few days and was discharged last night.Mission Member
Vaswami died in the mission premises early on 12 July, she said. The mission was planning a big celebration on his 100th birthday in August, she added.
Born on 2 August 1918 in Pakistan's Hyderabad city in a Sindhi family, Dada Vaswani, as he was popularly known, was the head of the Pune-based Sadhu Vaswani Mission, a non-profit organisation involved in social work and charity.
The organisation runs educational institutions and hospitals in the city.
PM Modi Sought Vaswani’s Blessings
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed the spiritual leader's 99th birthday celebrations last year through a video link. Modi had then said Vaswani's blessings will help in accomplishing goals for a new India.
In May this year, President Ram Nath Kovind had a visit to the mission to inaugurate the Sadhu Vaswani International School.
Senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani is a frequent visitor to the mission.
Known For Humanitarian Work
Acclaimed as a humanitarian, philosopher, educator, orator and non-sectarian spiritual leader, Dada Vaswani had captivated the hearts of millions of people worldwide. He also promoted vegetarianism.
His regular discourses at the mission premises attracted people from different walks of life.
Vaswani was a brilliant student, but he later gave up a career in academics to follow in the footsteps of his illustrious uncle and guru, Sadhu T L Vaswani, who had set up the charity organisation.
His mortal remains have been kept at the mission to enable people to pay their last respects.
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