With profound grief, we sadly inform that Major HPS Ahluwalia (Retd) left for his heavenly abode on January 14, 2021. An avid mountaineer and a keen adventure enthusiast, Maj Ahluwalia left an indelible mark in many fields including adventure, sports, environment, disability and social work. He was awarded Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri & Arjuna Award for his contributions. After scaling Mt Everest in May 1971, he became a quadriplegic due to a Spinal Cord Injury sustained during the Indo-Pak war in September 1971. After his rehabilitation abroad, he decided to set up a world class Centre for rehabilitation of persons with spinal cord injury; Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC) came into being under his superb guidance. In him, The Spinal Foundation (TSF) has lost a worthy Patron and the First President of the Governing Board.
A legend who epitomised what can be achieved by the “Power of the mind”, he has left behind a rich harvest of memories to cherish, honour and emulate. He will continue to guide and inspire, not only the ISIC family and the TSF family, but also the innumerable whose lives he touched.
May God rest his soul in peace and give strength to all of us to not only bear the loss but also to strive for the cause for which he devoted his life – “To make lives of persons with spinal cord injury happy, meaningful and worth living”.