One of India's most celebrated marksmen, Padma Shri Jaspal Rana, will be given his final farewell on the banks of the Ganga today. The pride of Uttarakhand will be cremated at the Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh — and the choice of this particular spot traces back to a personal wish Rana had expressed during his lifetime.
His Own Wish Decided the Cremation Site
The family's decision was not a matter of ritual or coincidence; it was made to honour Jaspal Rana's personal desire. According to his uncle, Rajendra Rana, Jaspal had on more than one occasion expressed the wish that his last rites be performed at the Manikarnika Ghat. That is precisely why his relatives chose to hold the final ceremony in Varanasi rather than in Dehradun.
From Dehradun to Babatpur, Then Straight to the Ghat
His mortal remains are to be brought from Dehradun to Babatpur Airport, and from there carried by road to the Manikarnika Ghat. At the ghat he will first be accorded a guard of honour, after which he will be given mukhagni.
A Champion Gone at 49
Jaspal Rana, 49, breathed his last on Friday morning. He had been admitted to Delhi's Max Saket Hospital for the previous 11 days. His health had begun deteriorating while he was returning from Germany, when he fell seriously ill during the flight.
A Village in Mourning, a Father Overcome
A day before the cremation, on Friday evening at around 7:45 pm, his body reached Majhon village in the Ponda area of Dehradun from Delhi. A steady stream of athletes, political leaders and well-wishers kept arriving late into the night for a last glimpse of him.
The most heart-wrenching moment came when his father, Narayan Singh Rana, was unable to compose himself after seeing his son's face for the last time. Tears flowed continuously from his eyes, and as he sobbed he could barely stand on his own feet. Other family members, relatives, friends and fellow villagers also broke down in tears. The very village that had watched its son rise to become India's pride on the world stage now stood with every eye moist.
CM Dhami Among the Dignitaries Who Paid Tribute
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the family home, met the bereaved and offered his condolences. He described Jaspal Rana's death as an irreparable loss for the nation and for Uttarakhand, adding that Rana's achievements and his spirit would forever continue to inspire the youth.
Besides him, Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri, Cabinet Minister Khajan Das and MLA Sahdev Singh Pundir, along with several public representatives, administrative officials and prominent figures from the sporting world, arrived to pay their respects.
Manu Bhaker Came to Bid Her Coach Goodbye
Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker had reached Dehradun on Friday itself to bid a final farewell to her coach. On seeing his body, she could not hold herself back and broke down weeping as she embraced his father, Narayan Singh Rana.
