Ashwani Kumar Bansal

Dear Family, On 29 Apr 2026 on 5th Death Anniversary of my Brother Ashwani, My dear Brother Ashwani in Heaven, it has been five years since you left this world where we could see you, talk with you, hug you, argue with you, travel with you & enjoy the moments being in your company. Brother, Your death does not erase the life you lived and the memories you created with your family, students, colleagues and with your like minded people. In my opinion what all of us have once enjoyed deeply, it becomes a part of us. No one can ever lose it. It seems those we love never truly leave us. They live by our side in our hearts. I now believe memories are such a thing that even death can't touch. My brother in Heaven, I keep in touch with so many of your students & colleagues. Ashwani, you didn't have children but your students were like your children. When I correspond with them it feels as if I am talking with you & your family. Tum jatey jatey apni nalayak behan ko apna parivar de gai. Your Mentor, Padma Shri Dr Upendra Baxi, treats me like a younger sister. Ashwani, his Alvida Note at Delhi Univ Condolence gathering told me and Anu that nobody knew you better than him. He knew your soul. Present VC Dr Ramesh Chandra named a park at Bhartpur Univ in your name. Dr Baxi was really happy with Dr Chandra's action. He wrote to me, "Ramesh has taken this great step forward. Ash deserves many memorials. We miss him a lot". Brother, your brilliant sister, Anupam, has successfully established a Gold Medal in Delhi Univ Law faculty. 1st Gold Medal was given on 28 Feb 2026 to Monika Merthia. Folks, even after 5 years following heart wrenching tribute written by Mr. Parshant Singh (Deputy Registrar MSBU) for his mentor VC Ashwani Kumar Bansal is never gone from my mind. Sharing with you. मुझे आज भी याद है कि आपने यूनिवर्सिटी से अपना टेन्योर खत्म होने से लगभग महीने भर पहले कहा था "यार मुझे तो कोई काम देखना पड़ेगा. वैसे तो मैं कम से कम 78 की उम्र कम्प्लीट करूँगा लेकिन यहाँ से जाने के बाद 2-3 महीने में अगर कोई काम नहीं पकड़ा तो फिर मैं एक साल से ज्यादा नहीं चल पाऊंगा".....और आप एक बार फिर सही निकले सर. इतना सटीक होना भी अच्छा नहीं होता सर. यूं नहीं जाना था आपको. बहुत हिम्मत कर आज आपके लिए कुछ लिख पाने का साहस जुटा पाया हूँ. बहुत चाह कर भी कल्पना मैडम से आज तक बात नहीं कर पाया. आप जो थे और बहुत लोगों के जीवन में आपकी क्या छाप थी उसे शब्दों में नहीं समेटा जा सकता. आपके जैसा लगनशील और मेहनती व्यक्ति अकादमिक जगत में दूजा नहीं देखा. हमारा सौभाग्य रहा कि नौकरी के आरम्भ में आपसे ट्रेनिंग पायी. आपका महत्त्व आपके जाने के बाद बहुत महसूस हो रहा है. After reading the above tribute I looked up Prashant at MSBU Bhartpur site. Now here and there he sends me little anecdotes from Ashwani's life. One day I sent him a para from Greek Philosopher on friendship with a comment, "you came in my mind as you have that quality to see who your well wisher is. You walk in Greek Philosopher's thoughts. "Know how to listen, and you will profit from those who talk badly". Plutarch, a philosopher from nearly two thousand years ago, distinguished true friendship from mere agreement. He argued that genuine friends challenge us, fostering growth by offering honest disagreement and independent thought. This ancient wisdom remains relevant today, urging us to seek connections that push us to confront our blind spots rather than simply echo our views. “Know how to listen, and you will profit even from those who talk badly.” Now read a little anecdote from Parshant that may bring smiles even on this sad day of Ashwani's death anniversary: "Prof. Ashwani Bansal deserved more life. He was a workaholic and could not rest at home. Perhaps his inability to work during Covid restrictions made him vulnerable. I felt that he had a personal bond with me as he visited my home 3-4 times without prior notice or informing me. Once I was sleeping and my maa tapped my head saying "प्रशान्त, देख तू सो रहा है! देख तेरे सर आए हैं घर, उठ जल्दी।" And I pinged from my bed as if I had seen a bhoot in dreams. जबतक वो तू कह कर बोलते थे मैं निश्चिंत रहता था। जब भी उन्होंने 'आप या देखिये' कहा, मुझे लग जाता था कि सर आज चीर फाड़ के मूड़ में हैं! 😅 I can try to estimate how much love and affection you have gathered inside your heart for your brother as you would not have skipped a single day without thinking of the departed soul. My family, friends & like minded people of Ashwani, there is an Irish proverb that is befitting for me - Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal". It seems my brother walked ahead of me, making a place for me until we meet again. Dear Addressees, I love you and appreciate you for giving me the shoulder to cry on as I miss my loving brother, Ashwani. Some of you have been like my Guardian Angels, giving me your valuable time, protecting me, comforting me in difficult days & letting me express myself with openness. I just don't know how to stop missing him. "Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow." Sanju