Raikot trader dedicates house purchased from Dharmendra’s father to actor’s memory

A local trader has announced that he will dedicate his old house to the memory of actor Dharmendra, after the actor breathed his last in Mumbai on Monday following a prolonged illness.

Dharmendra, his father Kewal Krishan Chaudhary, and his grandfather Narain Dass had spent significant spans of their lives at this house situated near Kutba Gate. The building was bought by the trader’s family from the actor’s father in 1959.

Kewal Kumar Aggarwal, the current owner, is so enthusiastic on preserving the Deol’s family connection with the premises that he has retained the original power connection subscribership in the name of Kewal Kishan. He has also built a new house for his personal use.

A senior functionary of Lions Club Raikot, Amit Passi, said that social activists, led by the former sarpanch of Dangon village (native village of Dharmendra) have consented to associate with the Aggarwal family in maintaining the premises as a monument in memory of Dharmendra Deol.

Aggarwal confirmed that the building had been purchased by his father for Rs 5,000 from Kewal Kishan through a registered deed scripted in Urdu on a stamp paper worth Rs 150. A latest bill issued by PSPCL suggested that the electricity connection was still in the name of Dharmendra’ father.

According to information received by Aggarwal and Amritpal Singh, Narain Dass worked as a revenue official (patwari) in Raikot before and after Independence. Kewal Krishan started his teaching career from the Government Girls School, Raikot (now Ajitsar Government Kanya Smart Senior Secondary School), situated near the building. In earlier times, Narain Dass also attended revenue court proceedings held within the school premises.

A few years ago, after learning about the Deol family’s association with the house, Dharmendra had called Aggarwal to express gratitude for retaining its originality.

Dharmendra had visited Raikot a decade ago for transferring rights of his native property in Dangon village to his nephews, but he could not visit this building due to his preoccupied schedule.