– Arun Kumar
(Samaj Weekly)- With great sadness and heavy heart, it is informed that Mr. Hukam Chand Mahami, President, Ambedkar Mission Society, Bedford passed away on Thursday, 16 November, 2023. His funeral will take place on Friday, 24 November 2023. Funeral cortege will be arriving at the residence, 28 The Embankment, Bedford MK40 3PE at 1PM and leaving the residence at 1.45pm sharp to be at Bedford Crematorium, Norse Road, Bedford MK41 0RL for 2.30pm.
Hukam Chand was born in 1938 in a small village, Varna in the state of Punjab. After his initial education at a nearby village, he went to Ramgarhia College in Phagwara. He left his studies and joined the Punjab Police. But soon after he left the police force and came to UK with his father in 1960 and settled in Bedford.
Hukam Chand found a work in the foundry and later in the brick yard. His father was a business minded person. He bought a big three story house and started giving the rooms on rent. Whenever somebody came from India, he was given free accommodation and food until he found the work and helped many Indians for their settlement. Hukam Chand picked up his father’s instinct of business. He realised that there was no shop catering the needs of Asian people. He bought a van and started supplying household goods to their households. In 1969, he opened a grocery shop. It was one of the first Asian shops opened in Bedford. Due to ill health of his wife and young children, he had to leave the shop and fond work as a bus driver. He took early retirement and got involved in the property business.
In India, his father was involved in the activities of Republican Party of India (RPI). Prominent leaders were used to come to his house. Hukam Chand himself took active part in the election campaign of RPI. When he came to UK, there was no Ambedkar movement in Bedford. Hukam Chand was the one of the founding members of Ambedkar Mission in Bedford. As a President of Ambedkar Mission Society, he guided and inspired others to get involved in the Ambedkar movement. He hosted a number of Dalit activists at his house. He was also one of the founder members of the Punjab Buddhist Society, UK and helped to build Takshilla Buddha Vihara, Ludhiana. He donated and installed the life size statue of Dr Ambedkar at Takshilla Buddha Vihara, Punjab, India.
He was also instrumental in setting up Sri Guru Ravidass Charitable Hospital, Phagwara and was one of the founding Trustees. The main aims and objectives of the charitable organisation were to build a chain of multi-speciality hospitals to provide health services to the needy and poor at affordable cost. Guru Ravidass Mission Hospital was built at Plahi Road, Phagwara, Kapurthalla and is running successfully.
He served as an executive member of the Federation of Ambedkarite and Buddhist Organisations UK (FABO UK). He not only fully supported but also helped in funding all projects initiated by FABO UK. He was a great supporter of anti-caste movement in the UK and participated in the protest marches against caste discrimination and violation of human rights.
His passing away is a loss not only to his family but also to the Ambedkarite fraternity. He will be greatly missed but not forgotten.
