By Ramesh K Dhiman
Glowing tributes were paid to Yashwinder Sharma ‘Jassi’, a former programme officer, North Zone Culture Centre (NZCC), at a prayer meeting held at his office residence at Kalagram (Manimajra) on Sunday, Jan18. He passed away on Jan 6, following a brief illness.The meeting was attended by, besides members of his family, people from all walks of life, including artists, journalists, authors, literary figures from the Tricity and elsewhere._
_In his tribute to his longtime friend Jassi, Vice-principle (retd) Satarjeet Sharma termed Jassi as an amazing human being, who extended a helping hand to those who turned to him for advice or help. He expressed his grief over the loss in the following heart-piercing lines “Bade shauk se sun raha tha jamana, tum hi so gaye dastan kehte kehte…” Sharma recounted his long association with Jassi, adding that he was wedded to art and culture, heart and soul, always dwelling on innovative ideas to carry forward the rich cultural legacy while sipping his steaming hot cuppa with those visiting him._
_In her heart-touching tribute, Neelam Trikha, a prominent face among the Tricity literary fraternity, said that Jassi ji’s presence could be felt while talking to every single wall and stone images dotting the sprawling Kalagram campus.She doled out her self-composed poem “He Ram unka pata bata dijiye, unko dhoonde toa dhoonde kahan…”_
_An accomplished poet and a longtime associate of Jassi, Lalit Sharma offered his tribute, saying “Jassi ji always received us with warmth whenever we dropped down even at an ungodly hour, uninformed at times.He read out his tribute with a lump in his throat, challenging the dictat of the God of Death. “Maute ni marjaniye maute, tenu maut na kidhre aayi, Kalakaran di chhat si joh saton Kho liya Jassi Bhai…”_
_Up next to offer his tributes was Shams Tabrezi, an eminent scholar of Urdu literature and a prominent face on key TV debates,who spoke about Jassiji’s sterling qualities of head and heart. He said that on December 18, I happened to be at Kalagram.I found Jassi in a pensive mood. On being asked, he told me in a whisper that he was unwell.In a matter of minutes an ambulance van arrives at the doorway, takes him to a private hospital for a medical check up. No words exchanged between us then on till his body came wrapped in a coffin. Jassi was a man of many part who knew how to deal with people coming from diverse backgrounds.While talking to a tot he would resort to childlike manners.His language would become more dignified and unpretentious, especially when he faced female visitors, more precise and persuasive while talking to a stranger.He had a subtle sense of humour that reflected during the lighter moments, concluding with ” Maut uski hai kare jiska zamana afsos, yon toa duniyan mein aaye hain marne ke liye sabhi…”_
_While paying her homage to Jassi ji, Meenakshi from the Punjab Kesari group of newspapers, recalled how she and her sister would drop down, more often than not, to meet him during NZCC events and on other occasions. She portrayed him as a multi-hyphenate persona, who was always there to extend a helping hand to anyone turning to him for advice.She read out a pulse-poundingpoetic composition with tear-filled eyes “Kisi din dekh lena tujhko aisi neend aaegi tu soya fir na jagega, tujhe duniya jagaegi…” She recited another verse that Jassiji would always love to hear “Deeve di lo bangu jindagi da khel ve, bujh jana deeva jadon muk jana tel ve…” She concluded, saying that Jassiji always treated them as members of his extended family.._
_Offering his tribute to the pious soul, celeb poet, author and philanthropist Ashok Nadar recited a poem in memory of his friend and a guide “Gaya Jassi hua viraan hai sansar hi tabh se, sukoon gayab hai chain bhi gayab hai tabh se…” This was followed by a soul-soothing lyrical poem, doled out by Surjit Singh, a classical singer”Jandeya jandeya rahiya sanu ikk gal samjhanda jaeen, mar jawan ya neer bahama, koi te raah bikhanda jayeen…” which left everyone teary-eyed_
_Jassi’s bosom buddy Neeraj Raizada offered his heartfelt tributes on the occasion, portraying him as a renaissance man who held artists, writers, and others in high esteem, adding that his passing has left a void in the realm of art ans culture, which is hard to fill for times to come.In his demise, countless upcoming artists, craftsmen and creative persons have been rendered orphan.The fraternity has suffered an irreparable loss in terms of patronage and protection. His connection with artist was deep and engaging and he new each one of them of them by name.Neeraj a poet, a writer, a theatre artiste and, top of it, a legal luminary, said that Jassi will always live in the hearts of every leaf, every concrete images at the Kalagram sculpture park, and his role in conceptulising it can never be forgotten.He ended up with a nostalgic note: “Pehli baar mila toa laga dil ke karib bahut… Hote nahin duniya mein ese yaaro habib bahut, dekh toa aakar Jassi yahan baithe hain yahan mureed bahut…”_
_Prominent Punjabi poetess and author Manjit Indra on the occasion said “I cannot even believe that Jassi, who was steadfast in his belief that life is what you make of it, was no more with us” She grew nostalgic as she recounted her immortal bond with Jassi. He always treated me like his own sister, adding that whenever I used to pass by, I would make it a point to see Jassi and relish steaming hot ginger tea.I vividly remember how hard he had tried to curate a play, based on my two books and persuading singers to sing my compositions. She said she would cherish the unforgettable memories with him wherever I go or stay.”._
_One of Jassi’s longtime friends, SD Sharma, an art critic and author, was heart-broken when the news about his passing travelled in through a social media post. He said “I met Jassi in 1990 when I was covering art cultural events for The Tribune newspaper.When I first saw Jassi, I was awestruck by his drop dead looks. A ramrod straight youngman with a glowing face conspicuous by his self-deprecating smile, Jassi looked every inch a filmi hero.A man of many parts – an accomplished theatre artiste, gifted with a stentorian voice, Jassi had essayed roles in a number of Punjabi films with lead actresses of the times opposite him, besides working in some of the iconic plays with noted thespians of the times._
_Offering a vote of thanks to the attendees, Jassi’s nephew, the hair apparent, Sonu, on the occasion said that he would try to live up to the lofty ideals and unfinished dreams of his uncle, “who was a ‘real’ father to me, after I lost my biological father at the age of barely five years. He said that he would move heaven and earth to perpetuate the memory of my uncle.I would feel lucky if I could pass on to my progeny one per cent of the steely qualities of head and heart that my uncle was gifted with, especially his Will power, which was his greatest virtue. Sonu also endorsed the views of close associates present on the occasion to set up a TRUST in the name of his uncle to perpetuate his precious memories with friends and countless of his ardent admirers across the Tricity and elsewhere in the country_
