From Diplomacy to Devotion

The Life and Legacy of Sardar Bhagwant Singh Dilawri (1930–2026)

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Sardar Bhagwant Singh Dilawri (also spelt Dalawari), a former Indian Foreign Service officer who renounced a life of privilege to serve humanity, passed away peacefully on 4 January 2026 at the age of 95. In accordance with his lifelong convictions, he donated his entire body for medical education and research to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI), Chandigarhhis final act of service.

To the thousands inspired by his life, he was simply "Papa ji."

By conventional measures, Papa ji's early life was marked by distinction and success. As a member of the Indian Foreign Service, he moved through global capitals and diplomatic circles. Yet beneath outward achievement lay a deep restlessness. In the late 1960s, he entered a period of profound inner turmoil, questioning the meaning and purpose of his life. The turning point came on 10 October 1970, when he heard Gurbani at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. What followed was not fleeting comfort, but a lasting spiritual awakening. He later reflected that the Guru's Word revealed a simple truth: fulfilment lies not in position or recognition, but in loving and serving those most deprived of dignity, affection, and respect.