LARKANA: While the demise of Justice Rana Bhagwandas was widely mourned across the country, the news of his death on Monday plunged his hometown into gloom with his friends, family, neighbours and former classmates recalling his principled life and the time they had spent with him.

Radha Krishan, his next-door neighbour in Naseerabad town (now in Qambar Shahdadkot district), said that Justice Bhagwandas had devoted all his life to dispensing justice and holding aloft the flag of principles. He led his life with simplicity, as he remained committed to his principles through ups and downs, he said, adding that no one could question his honesty.

Also read: Justice (r) Rana Bhagwandas passes away in Karachi

“Though Justice Bhagwandas rose to the position of acting chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, whenever he visited my house he laid emphasis on education, simple living and high thinking,” said Mr Krishan.

Ashok Kumar, the brother of Justice Bhagwandas who runs an auto shop in the town, was already in Karachi visiting the ailing judge when he died.

Residing in Hindu Mohalla, Naseerabad, his cousin Jai Kumar said: “Justice Bhagwandas was not only a nice man but also an honest judge who always delivered justice.” Nothing throughout his life influenced his stand and principles, he said, while calling it a gap that seemed difficult to be filled.

His classmate Mohammed Saleh Soomro said Justice Bhagwandas was a man of letters. Once he and Justice Bhagwandas had read out their poetry at a grand Mushaira, which was held to commemorate Bahadur Shah Zafar’s birth anniversary in Naseerabad where renowned poets such as Behzad Lakhnavi and Qamar Jalalvi enchanted the audience, Mr Soomro recalled. He said it was his interest in literary activities that led to the establishment of Idara-i-Adbiyat-i-Urdu in the town. He was then serving as head master of the Urdu Primary School, Naseerabad, Mr Soormro added.

About his other interests and personality traits, Mr Soomro said Justice Bhagwandas was open-minded, tolerant and accommodating with a high degree of patience for those who had a difference of opinion with him. The classmate, who had also accompanied Justice Bhagwandas to Hala when he was given the first posting as a civil judge, said that he never found any trace of hatred in him for anyone.

“I have spent 60 years practising law but never came across such a bold and honest judge,” stated the late Abdul Ghafoor Bhugri in his book ‘Recalling the bygone days’ about Justice Bhagwandas. He did his two-year internship assisting Mr Bhurgri in Larkana after completing his law education in 1965. In the preface to the book, Justice Baghwandas stated it was a blessing in disguise that he reached the apex court and became its acting chief justice. “Had I not followed the advice of my senior Mr Bhurgri, I would not have reached the top in the judiciary,” he stated.

While visiting the residence of Mr Bhurgri, Justice Bhagwandas was once asked if he was not scared of the consequences when the military government had tried to approach him for extending his leave in India in the wake of the constitutional crisis in Pakistan. He plainly replied: “How could one dare to dictate me to pen the decision of his choice!”

After his retirement, he has told this reporter that he would like to meet and work with Abdul Sattar Edhi to serve humanity for the rest of his life.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2015

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