WE WILL CARRY ON WITH THE IMPORTANT WORK YOU UNDERTOOK ALL OF YOUR LIFE!
Harinder Mahil
It is with great sadness that I write about Daya whom I have known since 1975. I came to know Daya soon after IPANA was founded in June 1975. The Vancouver unit IPANA often discussed Daya’ articles and other writings.
I met Daya for the first time in 1976 at IPANA’s first convention n Vancouver. It soon became clear to me Daya was the ideological leader of IPANA.
Although those who met in Montreal at the founding convention of IPANA in June 1975 were supporters of Naxalbari movement in India, the focus of IPANA’s initial activities became opposition to the state of emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi government. It was under Daya’s leadership that IPANA strongly opposed imposition of emergency in India and gave a call to all democratic forces to unite against dictatorship.
IPANA faced internal problems just as many left organizations did in India. There were disagreements and organizational issues and it stopped acting as an organization in 1980’s.
Daya was one of the founding fathers of INSAF in 1999. Although INSAF did not last very long either, Daya was instrumental in making sure that INSAF bulletin continued to be published on a regular basis.
Daya was not only an intelligent and wise leader but also a kind human being who was generous to those who needed his help.
Daya: we will carry on with the important work you undertook all of your life!
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