Alma mater mourns the loss of illustrious alumnus Keki Daruwalla

The alumni association of SCD Government College in Ludhiana mourns the loss of Padma Shri Keki N Daruwalla, a celebrated poet, writer, and former IPS officer who passed away on Friday at a Delhi hospital. He was 87 years old.

Daruwalla’s alma mater remembers him as a brilliant and illustrious alumnus who spent six years at the college, obtaining his Master’s degree in English Literature in the 1950s. He later taught English literature briefly before being selected as an IPS officer. His passion for literature and poetry was evident even during his college days, as he published numerous articles in the college magazine, ‘The Sutlej’.

Daruwalla’s impressive career spanned multiple fields. He wrote 12 books, and his poetry became part of the school curriculum. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1984 for his poetry collection, “The Keeper of the Dead”. As an IPS officer, he was known for his integrity and contributed to various newspapers on national issues.

The alumni association, including notable figures such as Prof Ashok Kapoor, Surinder Singh Bhogal, and Principal Manjit Singh Sandhu, paid their respects to Daruwalla. Brij Bhushan Goyal, the organising secretary, recalled Daruwalla’s last visit to the college in 2019, where he shared memories of the 1950s era and encouraged students to memorise poetry they loved.

Daruwalla’s daughter, Rookvain Sorabji, sent 12 books authored by him to the college alumni association in May this year. The association acknowledged the immense void left by his demise, describing him as a down-to-earth person who embodied elegance as a literary figure and police officer.