Former Chandigarh MP passes away, last rites today

Aam Aadmi Party city convener Prem Garg said Dhawan’s one son is out of country and cremation will be done after he reaches Chandigarh.

A former Chandigarh MP, Dhawan was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1989 as Janta Party nominee. He went on to become the civil aviation minister in the Chandra Shekhar-led government.

A versatile politician who straddled fields as diverse as politics, hospitality and naturopathy. As the Member of Parliament from Chandigarh in 1989, he served as the Civil Aviation Minister in the Chandra Shekhar government and contributed to various political parties.

Born on July 14, 1940, in Fatehjung, District Caimbalpur, Dhawan migrated to Ambala after Partition where he did his Matriculation from BD High School, and Intermediate from SD College, Ambala Cantt.

A dedicated scholar, he completed his education at Panjab University, Chandigarh, specializing in Botany.

It was in 1960 that Dhawan joined the Department of Botany at Panjab University, Chandigarh, and did his BSc (Honours) in 1963 and MSc (Honours) in the year 1965. Dhawan was a Research Scholar from 1965 to 1970 and joined the PL 480 aided project, wherein he did research on “Cytological Studies of the Economic Plants of North West Himalayas”.

In the year 1970, Dhawan started a small scale unit and became president of Industries Association of Chandigarh.

He joined politics in 1977. Later, he entered the hospitality sector with the establishment of the “Mehfil” restaurant in 1979.

Dhawan, a dynamic politician, received the Best Young Entrepreneur Award in 1983.

His political journey included affiliations with parties like Janata Party, Samajwadi Party, BJP, Congress, and finally, the Aam Aadmi Party in 2019.

In 2019, Dhawan joined the Aam Aadmi Party and contested the last Lok Sabha polls on the AAP ticket but lost.

Dhawan’s contributions extended beyond politics and business. He founded Dhawan’s Nature Cure and dedicated eight years to research and trials, providing alternative treatments to diabetic patients.

His leadership was instrumental in the realization of GMCH, Chandigarh, a testament to his commitment to public service.

Several leaders, including former Congress MP Pawan Kumar Bansal and former BJP MP Satyapal Jain, expressed grief over Dhawan’s death.
Bansal while expressing grief said Dhawan’s demise said is a great loss to the city.

Senior BJP leader and Additional Solicitor General of India Satyapal Jain condoled Dhawan’s death and said that the former Union minister fought for the development and welfare of the people of Chandigarh, especially the downtrodden sections of the society.

“He was a very social, humble, well behaved and a thorough gentleman. He will be remembered by the people of Chandigarh for these qualities for decades and decades to come,” said Jain.

He left his mark, both as a minister and as an MP, he added.

Chandigarh Congress president H S Lucky in his condolence message said that Dhawan will always be remembered as a nice gentleman, who left a mark on every person he met.

“Today Chandigarh lost a man who was loved by one and all,” said Lucky.