Punjab: The Punjabi entertainment industry and academic community are stunned by the sudden demise of veteran comedian and educator Dr Jaswinder Bhalla. Dr Jaswinder Bhalla passed away at the age of 65 at Fortis Hospital in Mohali this morning. Known for his iconic comic roles and sharp satire, Bhalla was also a respected professor at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, where he served as the head of the extension education department until his retirement in 2020. The city that cherished Jaswinder Bhalla’s roots and witnessed his rise from a humble lecturer to a cultural icon is mourning the demise of its beloved son on Friday. The streets that once echoed with his jokes and parodies now carry a quiet burden of memories. The sound of laughter – his distinctive gift to Punjab – has fallen silent, leaving behind an emptiness that is deeply personal to every home that once laughed at his satire. Bal Mukand Sharma, Chairman, Punjab State Food Commission and his longtime comedy partner, said with a heavy heart: “He has created a void that can never be filled. I have lost my dear friend, my stage partner and the soul of our satire.”
The Punjabi Sahitya Academy paid rich tributes to Dr Jaswinder Bhalla and remembered him as a beloved son of the Punjabi language and a master of satire whose demise has silenced the voice of laughter forever. Academy President Dr Sarabjit Singh expressed grief and called Bhalla “a beloved torchbearer of Punjabi humour” who has deprived us of his vibrant humour. General Secretary Dr Gulzar Singh Pandher, recalling the days spent with him at PAU, said it was an honour to be a contemporary of stalwarts like Dr Jaswinder Bhalla and Dr Surjit Patar. Professor Gurbhajan Singh Gill, who first met Bhalla in 1976 and treated him like a son, expressed his grief: “He left before I could even meet him – even before the sun rose today.” PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr SS Gosal remembered Bhalla as “a world-renowned actor and a pioneer in education and co-curricular activities. His contribution to Punjabi literature and culture was incomparable. PAU is proud to have nurtured such a versatile personality.” Bhalla had once expressed regret that he retired during the pandemic without bidding a proper farewell to his students – a moment he said would remain painful for him all his life. Today, those students were mourning the loss of a mentor who taught them not just agriculture, but also life through laughter and wisdom. Gurpreet Singh, a former student, said: “He was the only professor who could make you laugh in the corridor and make you think deeply in the classroom. His lectures were refined, his humour never interrupted his teaching. We learnt from him not just lessons but life as well.” Punjab has lost an eminent educationist, an inspiring social reformer and one of its greatest artists. His legacy will live on in the classrooms of PAU, in the memories of the farmers he directed and in the timeless performances that will bring smiles to generations, says Prof Tejinder Singh Riar, Additional Director Communications, PAU. Floral tributes were also paid to Dr Bhalla at PAU today. Dr Bhalla’s demise is the end of an era, but his legacy will continue to resonate in classrooms, on screens and in the hearts of those who learnt from him, laughed with him and loved him.
A Personal Glimpse
Years ago, in an informal chat, this correspondent had asked Dr Bhalla if his class turned into a comedy show as soon as he entered the classroom. He replied with a smile: “No, when I am in class, I am serious. I teach in a very sophisticated manner.” Later, he told a story that could make anyone laugh. One of his students had proudly pointed to his grandmother on the television and said, “That’s my professor!” The grandmother, unimpressed by his comical antics, replied: “It is better to sit at home than study from a teacher who only knows how to make people laugh.” Bhalla laughed while telling this, not bitterly, but like someone who knew that laughter is also a form of intelligence. Swarnjit Savi recalled the days of 1988 when he designed an illustration for the release of his first satirical audio cassette ‘Chhankta 88’, which became very popular. Professor PK Sharma said, “A shining star of humor and humour, which is rarely seen in today’s world full of chaos, fear and stress, his comic art will always be remembered.”
