The Impressive TimesGurugram, March 1,2025: Renowned Gandhian and Sarvodaya leader Chaudhary Rammehar Numberdar passed away on February 22 at his ancestral village, Khubdu (Sonipat district), Haryana. He was 81 years old and had been unwell for some time. His demise is considered a significant loss to the intellectual and social leadership of the state.
His terahvi (ritual ceremony) will be held on March 3 at 10 AM in Khubdu. Rammehar is survived by his wife Vimla, two sons, Aniket and Rahul, and four daughters, Jyotsna, Meenakshi, Divya, and Mudita, along with a large extended family. In his memory, the Haryana government has announced plans to establish a library, a meditation hall, and a yoga center in his ancestral village, Khoobdu. Additionally, the road he had constructed during his school years will be named after him.
Notably, Rammehar Numberdar completed his MSc in Physics from DAV College, Jalandhar and had the opportunity to work with India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, as well as other notable figures like Sant Vinoba Bhave, J. Krishnamurti (Jiddu), Osho Rajneesh, Lala Achintram, and Dr. R.P. Kaushik, the founder of Swadhyay Ashram. His followers were not just in India but spread across the world. His daughter, Jyotsna Dhankhar Gulia, continues to follow in his footsteps and is a well-known social-political activist in Haryana.
According to Jyotsna, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru introduced Rammehar Numberdar to Vinoba Bhave. From that moment on, the duo dedicated their lives to the Gramdan and Bhoodan movements. Rammehar was a devoted disciple of Vinoba Bhave and worked closely with him until his last days. His contributions were instrumental in promoting the Gramdan Bhoodan movement in Haryana, and he was often referred to as ‘Junior Vinoba Bhave’. Lala Achintram, the father of former Vice President of India Krishna Kant, was also his longtime companion in the Bhoodan movement. Rammehar actively participated in every major social movement in India.
His daughter, Jyotsna, revealed that Rammehar played a crucial role in establishing Khadi Gramodyog in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. His tireless efforts gained recognition not only in India but also abroad. As a result, many foreigners visited Khubdu to meet him. Over the years, people from more than 57 countries have traveled to Khoobdu to interact with him.
From childhood, Rammehar Numberdar was highly intelligent and academically outstanding, securing top ranks from first grade to his MSc. Alongside his studies, he was also actively engaged in social service. While still in the 10th grade, he contributed to building a road in his village through voluntary labor. This act of service marked the beginning of his lifelong commitment to social work, guided by the philosophy of ‘Nar Seva, Narayan Seva’ (Service to humanity is service to God). Until his last breath, he dedicated himself to uplifting the underprivileged and remained a lifelong practitioner of Swadhyaya (self-study and self-reflection). His passing has triggered a wave of grief across the state.
His last rites were attended by prominent personalities from Haryana and across the country. These included Haryana’s Chief Principal Secretary Rajesh Khullar, MLA Devender Kadyan, former MP Ramesh Kaushik, MP Sanjay Bhatia and his wife Anju Bhatia, social activist Shilpi Arora and many other dignitaries. Even after his funeral, eminent personalities continue to visit his residence to offer condolences. Various social organizations and leaders have expressed that his demise is a major loss to the Sarvodaya movement in Haryana.
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