On April 17, 2006, the Sant Nirankari Mission lost a distinguished devotee, the global society a pioneer of pollution-free ecology and the media a PR friend – Harish N Dass.  He was Vice-Chairman of the Working Committee of the Sant Nirankari Mandal; Secretary General, National Forum on Tourism and Environment, Member of the Public Relations Society of India and a Visiting Professor of Indian Institute of Mass Communication. 

Born on November 27, 1934 in Karachi in a Sindhi family of Shri Nihchal Dass and Smt. Savitri, Shri Harish N Dass had his earlier education in Karachi and then at the Ramjas School, No. 2 in Anand Parbat, Delhi.  Later, he graduated in 1958 from Delhi University as a student of Hansraj College, New Delhi.  In 1960, he took his Diploma in Journalism from Panjab University.

As a journalist Shri Harish N Dass worked with leading newspapers of Delhi - the Indian Express and the Times of India.  Subsequently, even though he turned towards hotel management, he never lost his interest and link with the media profession.  He was a life member of Press Club of India.  He contributed articles on a wide range of subjects covering current national and international affairs, tourism and environment.  He was an active Member of the All India Federation of Small and Medium Newspapers.  As a well-known political analyst, he broadcast his talks over All India Radio from time to time. 

As a visiting professor, he was invited by the Indian Institute of Mass Communication to speak on various aspects of media profession, current affairs, tourism and environment.

Shri Harish N Dass was a known PR consultant.  Besides being a Member of Public Relations Society of India, he organized a number of conferences of national and international level.

Besides, Shri Harish N Dass had a special interest in tourism and environment activities.  He was Secretary General of National Forum on Tourism and Environment, India.  Floated by himself, this forum has particular interests in the expansion of tourism and protecting the environment.  Under the aegis of this forum, Shri Harish N Dass conducted and delivered various projects successfully.  He organized several conferences nationally and globally.  Following is a brief mention of the projects and the places where these projects were conducted:

i.            Monuments and Environments, New Delhi, India.

ii.            Air Pollution, Mumbai, India.

iii.            Beach Pollution, Goa, India.

iv.            River Pollution (the Ganges), Varanasi, India.

v.            Waste Management Project, New Delhi, India.

vi.            UN projects on the Island of Maldives.

vii.            Several eco-tourism projects with the United Nations.

His interests in tourism and environment as also his PR experience took him to many countries across the globe.  The countries he visited (some of them frequently) included USA, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Kuwait, Russia (former USSR), Maldives and Switzerland.  He attended about 25 national and international conferences on various subjects including UN activities.

On the hotel management side, Shri Harish N Dass started his career as Manager of Tourist Hotel in Delhi.  Later, he had a short stint as Hotel Manager in Hongkong.   In early seventies he opened a hotel in East Patel Nagar, New Delhi by the name SUSAKI, known for the Chinese and Japanese food it served.  In addition, he used to undertake catering jobs of high quality.

In early sixties, impressed by Sant Nirankari Mission, Shri Harish N. Dass became its active member.  He distinguished himself in the congregations as also the organizational activities of the Sant Nirankari Mandal.  He carried out whatever he was called upon to do by the True Master.  He had a long association with the Sant Nirankari Public School, Pahar Ganj and Avtar Enclave as Chairman of their respective Managing Committees.

Shri Harish N Dass was actively associated with the Press and Publicity Department.  He was a Member of the Advisory Committee attached to the department since 1997.

During Annual Nirankari Sant Samagams in Delhi, Shri Harish N Dass used to be associated actively.  He was made a Member of the Samagam Committee in 1988 and he continued to be nominated in this capacity every year thereafter.  Here also he was associated with different Committees like Reception Committee, Press and Publicity Committee, Social Welfare Committee, Canteen Committee and Purchase Committee, etc. 

Shri Harish N Dass became a Member of the Working Committee of Sant Nirankari Mandal in March 2001 and was nominated its Vice-Chairman on March 30, 2002.  He carried out this responsibility till he breathed his last.

Shri Harish N Dass is survived by his esteemed wife Kamlesh Dass and three daughters -  Anuradha, Rashmi Gupta wife of Kunal Gupta settled in USA and Anupam Bhatia wife of Dhiren Bhatia.  All the members of the family are God-realized and distinguished devotees of the Sant Nirankari Mission.   They take keen interest in the Mission’s activities and attend congregations regularly.

No wonder, a large number of devotees of the Mission and distinguished executives of the Sant Nirankari Mandal were present at the last rites on April 19, 2006 and today on April 22, 2006, His Holiness Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj is blessing the special congregation in the memory of Shri Harish N Dass.

Shri Harish N Dass was a sweet natured person.  He was known for his punctuality.  Once he committed a thing, he carried it out with utmost sense of responsibility and sincerity.  There are many friends who will tell the stories of his charity.  By nature, he was quite helpful and he had his own meticulous design to accomplish the things he determined to achieve. 

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