Bathinda, August 13, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)
It is with deep sorrow that we report the passing of Sardar Sukhdev Singh Dhillon, a distinguished former Punjab Minister and three-time Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), who passed away on Tuesday after a prolonged illness at the age of 92.
His cremation and final rites will be held on August 14 at 11 AM in Rampura Phul town.
Born in 1932 in Kararwala village, Sardar Dhillon dedicated his life to public service and the betterment of Punjab’s residents.
He served as an MLA on three occasions—first representing the Rampura Phul constituency in 1985, and earlier from Talwandi Sabo in 1972 and 1977.
He also held the position of Health Minister in the government of late Surjit Singh Barnala during the late 1980s.
In addition to his political achievements, Sardar Dhillon was a strong advocate for education and rural development. As a patron of the Rampura Phul Educational Society, he played a crucial role in establishing educational institutions across the region and in expanding the neighbourhood campuses of Punjabi University, Patiala, in rural Malwa.
His leadership as chairman of the Zila Parishads for Bathinda, Mansa, and Faridkot districts further demonstrated his commitment to community progress.
Sardar Dhillon was also renowned for his contributions to agriculture, earning the title of Malwa’s “Potato King” for pioneering potato farming in the area. An enthusiast of stud farming and sports, his humility and dedication to improving lives earned him widespread respect and admiration.
In 2002, following an invitation from Captain Amarinder Singh, Sardar Dhillon and his family joined the Congress Party in a ceremony attended by then All India Congress Committee President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi. Prior to this, he had been closely associated with the late Akali leader Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra and other prominent Akali figures.
He is survived by his wife, son Sardar Amardeep Singh Dhillon—also a renowned progressive farmer—and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a close relative of the late Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Lachhman Singh Gill.
Sardar Sukhdev Singh Dhillon’s legacy of service, compassion, and dedication will be remembered with great fondness. His passing is a profound loss to his family, friends, and all those who were touched by his remarkable career.
