Kapil Dev to help fulfill immigrant's last wish
Pooran Singh, an Indian immigrant, died in Victoria in 1947 and wished that his ashes be scattered in the Ganges
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
Pooran Singh, an Indian immigrant, died in Victoria in 1947 and wished that his ashes be scattered in the Ganges. Sixty three years later, Kapil Dev is travelling to Warrnambool to make that wish come true. Sushi Das tells the story in the Age.
Then last month, SBS reporter Manpreet Singh (no relation) aired a story about the life of Pooran Singh and the fact his ashes were still awaiting collection. The story made it to India and reporters tracked down Pooran's family in the village of Uppal Bhupa, near Jalandhar in Punjab. The family confirmed a telegram had been received in 1947 informing it of Pooran's death and that the nephews had received their inheritance. But they were too poor to come to Australia.
Kapil Dev was so touched by the story that he offered to come to Australia to collect the ashes. ''[I would] just feel happy and proud if somebody's last wish can be fulfilled,'' Dev said on radio recently.
George Binoy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo