Press Club recalls Om Saraf’s legendry work and simplest lifestyle

Floral tributes to legend Om Prakash Saraf

Jammu, November 27: Tribute cum prayer’s meet to 1922 born Om Prakash Saraf—a legend in journalism and an Institution was full of stories of his honesty, dedication and simplicity. During prayer’s meet at Jammu Press Club’s Meeting Hall on Monday morning as Om ji left for heavenly abode on November 25, 2017, the speakers who had known Saraf Sahib to the core narrated incidents that how he remained humble throughout his life although he was a celebrated journalist and an excellent politician of his time and a straightforward man.

In short, he was really a tall figure, opined everyone present in the prayers’ meet.

In his tributes paying address, Pushap Saraf, a renowned journalist and Om Ji’s son narrated many incidents that how they were taught to follow the line and path of honesty, truthfulness and generosity. Quoting some incidents like—as a kid while playing in a Srinagar park, one of the politicians handed over him and his sister Rs ten note each, Pushap told, Saraf Sahib returned this money, which otherwise that politician has given them out of affection.

“Pita ji always taught us to be truthful because according to him the path of truthfulness only takes a man towards ultimate success,” said Pushp Saraf, adding that “he wanted everyone to attain good education not for the sake of merely monetary benefits but for a ‘human’ to be a ‘human being’.”

“Staunch follower of Mahatma Gandhi, my father used to get angry only when someone lied to him. Otherwise he was of the opinion that no one is perfect. Everyone commits mistakes inadvertently and that can be rectified,” said Pushap.

With his teary eyes, in the last of his speech, Pushap revealed, “how Saraf decided to donate his body to the Government Medical College Jammu for research purposes.” Initially I was not convinced to Pitaji’s this idea of body donation but after one year of his persuasion I accepted and signed the legal papers,” Pushap said, adding “Soon after Saraf Sahib breathed his last we handed over his body to GMC Jammu with Rs 31 thousand as per his will.”

“This was the first instance in the history of medical in J&K that anyone has donated his body for research purposes,” Pushap Saraf said, though he belonged to an old era, Pita ji never believed in superstition.

Earlier, Ashwani Kumar, President, Press Club of Jammu, in his address defined Saraf Sahib’s simplicity. “Each time I went to meet him in his house, Om Saraf ji was busy in reading or listening radio.”

“Om ji, always well versed and every time a true guide, Ashwani recalled, “How Saraf Sahib used to make a telephone call to me on seeing me on Television News Channel.”

“On the day of his death, the lonely and clam lane and his belongings lying in same way in his room. But Saraf Sahib had left for his heavenly abode,” Ashwani described the scene, with little tears in his eyes, that shocked him a while as he came to know that Saraf Sahib has left once for all and has donated his body.

Anuradha Bhasin , Executive Editor , Kashmir Times revealed “How Om Saraf ji sent her a cheque of Rs 150 as a token of appreciation when she wrote her first article on 1947 partition. She also narrated the incidents which depicted the simplicity and honesty which makes Om ji a tall figure indeed.

PDP leader Nizamudin Bhat from Kashmir termed Om ji a model of a true man with all qualities that a human being should have to build a peaceful society. “A man who united all the regions and religions, Om ji was not only a journalist or a politician but a personality that takes birth after centuries together.

Retired IAS officer K B Jandial also shared his experiences and association with Om Saraf ji. Jandial explained some instances which described the humility in Saraf Sahib.

At last Zorawar Singh, Secretary General, Press Club of Jammu , in his vote of thanks address suggested everyone to follow the path of Om Saraf ji, who always guided everyone to be successful in their respective fields.

Besides the members of Press Club of Jammu , members of Saraf family, STATE TIMES Editor in Chief Raj Daluja, Executive Editor Sidharth Daluja, Bureau Chief Vivek Sharma, former DGP M M Khajuria, retired Addl DGP S S Wazir, Dogri Sabha President Lalit Magotra were present at the prayers meet.

Besides paying floral tributes, two minutes silence was also observed to pray to the Almighty to accord peace to the departed soul. Dinesh Manotra, Finance Secretary and Dinesh Mahajan, Member anchored the prorgamme. Other Managing Committee Member's , who were present in the function are Vishal Bharti, Ajay Bachloo, Deepak Khajuria.