The untimely and sudden demise of Col HS Dhot on 10 Feb 2017 came as a body blow to us. He was the life and soul of the Chandigarh Tricity EME Officers’ association, and we have still not been able to come to terms with this ghastly event.
Dhot was very appropriately named ‘Harmeet’ (it means, a friend of every one) by his father, the late, Major Pritam Singh who was also an EME officer. He was born on 17 Aug 1953 and was commissioned through the NDA in Dec 1974. At 191 cm (over 6 feet 3 inches) he was easily the tallest person in any gathering. Brilliant in academics, he was good at several games. He was a good cricketer. The bat looked like a tiny bagatelle in his hands, and he was a terror for the bowlers.
He did very well on the courses of instruction, both in India and abroad. Extremely popular with his peers as well as juniors, he was approved for promotion to the one-star rank. But just before picking up his rank, he suffered a medical set-back, and that put an end to his military career. However, he did not let that come in his way. He picked up a very creative job in the electronics industry, and he worked tirelessly until the very end of his life. Not once did anyone ever hear him complain or criticise the promotion system of the army
Harmeet contributed selflessly towards social causes with great enthusiasm. The EME Gurdwara in Secunderabad owes a lot to him. And here in Chandigarh, he voluntarily took up the job of coordinating our monthly ‘Eagles meets’. The functions in Kasauli will remain in our memory for ever.
The ‘antim ardas’ held in his memory was very well attended. Two of his course mates travelled long distances to join the prayer meet. Lt Gen AV Subramanian came all the way from Secunderabad, while Col Akhilesh Das drove down from NOIDA.
Angad, the worthy son of Col Dhot has sent us a few pictures, which depict his eventful life and illustrious career. I am placing them below. If someone sends suitable captions, we will add them, to enrich this post. His other child, a daughter, is married to an EME officer, who is the son of yet another EME officer, Brig Bhupendra Dadwal.
Your tribute to this noble soul may be entered as ‘comments’ below.
It makes me very sad to hear about his Demise. I served with him for three years in WEE Wksp Delhi Cantt when he Officer Commanding of WEE Wksp. He was very cooperative for any of my requests. Last my talk with him on 01 Jan 2017. May his family be bestowed with strength to face the loss. I pray Almighty to give him peace.
The news of Col Dhot’s desmise has been a shock. I know him since he was a Second Lieutenant undergoing Degree Engineering Course ( DE 41), there is a group photograph of this course taken in the ECO’s quarters MCEME , with Lt Dhot standing and towering over others, I wish it could be uploaded by someone from DE 41. ( For his age and youthful appearance, he was known as baby of the course ). Subsequently in FEL , he was the TA with Col David Banerji as the CCO and I was the OIC TSG ( for about a year) , Col Dhot ( then Major) would stay in the office till late afternoon and at about 2:30 pm proceed towards the Gurdwara and oversee its construction. he used to order some snacks from Lal Bazar and that was his lunch, he used to be on a charpoy , ( his Gurdwara office ) and was back again the TA’s offifce in the afternoon. For the name for Gurdwara cascade, he asked almost everyone around and ultimately settled for “Aqua Fontana”. With one Nissan one Tonner and a dedicated staff of five or six, he would run the TA office like a well oiled machine. I do not recall a single instant when he has refused any thing to anybody. Despite his extremely busy schedule as TA, he used to take regular classes in CE Department with Col ( later Brigadier) MS Virk as the Head CE Department. He was an M Tech in VLIC Design and I have seen him brushing up his lecture in the office, surrounded by bevy of staff and students of all ranks, each with his own peculiar problem. His office was next to mine and he would at times drop by for a chat. Our paths crossed again, when I was in TG and he was with the Wireless Experimental Unit Workshop ( functioning under the CLE), later he was in FEL as Head CE and I was in FIET, I would at times go to his office and reminisce; he used to call me Probol and not Prabal , considering me being a Bong. At home, he and Mrs Dhot were the perfect host. Polite and respectful and never failing to come out to help, especially for juniors, he was in essence one of the most outstanding Regimental Officer of the Corp.
It makes me very sad to hear about his Demise. I was in Degree wing when he served in FEL. He was very cooperative for any of my requests. May his family be bestowed with strength to face the loss. I pray Almighty to give him peace.
Dear General,
Sad to learn about untimely demise of an Army friend.
May Almighty bless dear Harmeet Dhot’s soul to rest in peace.
Vashisht
RIP YOU WILL BE MISSED
My condolences on the loss of your friend.
Sir
Col Dhot taught us in ORE. A very simple soul.
May he rest in peace.
My condolences to his family and friends.
What an impressive personality!
Shocked to hear that he left us at such a young age.
I am sure we all will miss him but my prayers are with the family who needs all the support in this time of bereavement.
A good heart has stopped beating and a good soul has ascended to heaven. WE part with good memories of having served the great institution, The Indian Army.
With personal regards to the family,
Dave Sood
God bless the departed soul.
It is very saddening to here about HS Dhot. I was closer to him. He was one of the best souls I have come across in my life. He was open-hearted, broad-minded, ever smiling or always willing to help. As an extremely humble person, he carried all of his friends on his broad shoulders. When I was posted to Delhi and could not find a place to home, he left his entire house fully open to us as he was travelling abroad on a training. He is a big loss to the society and the humanity. We need such people in our communities as we struggle to preserve goodness & righteousness. God bless his soul and give his family peace and solace.
RIP & the soul on its way to MEET HAR…the ultimate.
Thanks An excellent story
May his soul rest in peace and may his relatives, friends have patience to bear this irreparable loss.
Dear Surjit,
I am indeed very sad to hear about Harmeet’s demise! He used to be quite close to me & my family at Secunderabad, and thanks to you, I have come to know of his untimely demise! Normally someone from Chandigarh informs me, soon after the demise of an EME Officer. It is usually Bawa Bhalla!
Please convey my sincere condolences to Mrs Dhot & other family members. I have entered my comments on your blog. May his soul RIP!
In grief,
Raj.
Dear General,
This was an untimely death, indeed.
Harmeet was a very active member of the veterans here.
Nice to hear from you. And you are active on the Internet. I am sure it keeps you happily busy.
America has become your second home, it seems. I am sanguine that you like the place. The loss of Mrs Rajgopal is a great void…but there is only one way to live life alone; and that is to remain busy!
Regards, and best wishes,
Surjit
Dear General
Sorry to learn about the sad demise of Col Dhot.We pray for the departed soul.
Rgds
Harikumar
May his soul rest in peace.
God Bless his soul
This is very sad indeed. Harmeet Dhot was a friend who was always there for you anytime and everytime. The ‘gentle giant’ is indeed an apt description. We got close to Harmeet and his family when we were commanding workshops together in a field formation. My condolences to the family. RIP my friend..
Physically tall and humane, professionally tall but humble I always associated with Col Harmeet Singh Dhot as a role model friend, philosopher and guide!! Our association became abs thick in Udhampur where he voluntarily contributed immensely in innovative technology endeavours. Endowed with a Selfless but Deep sense of commitment he shall always be missed by all his colleagues!! A true soldier craftsman with a positive -go- getter but relaxed demeanour, he would unravel technical mysteries with a midas touch! RIP buddy will miss you life long!!
Sad to learn about the untimely demise of Harmeet. My deep condolence to the family and may his soul rest in Peace.
Nikka jeda Dhot.. he was called by some. I was very happy to have him as Head CE Deptt in FEL but I retired soon after that in Sep 2000. He briefed me on how to settle down in Mohali since he too was then living in Phase 7 at that time.
It was a delight to have him organize EME parties..which became more enjoyable when he was Secretary.
We all miss him. May God give peace to his noble soul.
Brig Surinder Singh
Harmeet was a great soul. At MCEME he worked tirelessly to propel the College and the Corps to new heights. Professionally, very competent with a great deal of original
work done in the field of electronics. Some of the innovations made by him were shown to the Army Commanders at the behest of the Chief who had earlier seen them at the MCEME. He was also the brain behind the first prototype UAV that the College attempted at the behest of ARTRAC.
Harmeet contributed immensely to the growth of the MCEME Gurudwara and the Vohra Institute. We all remember very fondly the functions he organised at the Institute.
We played a lot of golf together but one could discern that while physically he was at the golf course, mentally he was in the FEL planning ATB Projects.
RIP my dear Harmeeet,” the Gentle Giant”.
Can never forget Harmeet Dhot.
We served together in FEL, he was the Tech Adjt and I was CCO.
Later during his second tenure as Head CE Dept, he was of tremendous help to me during my daughter’s marriage in 2003. He made the Vohra Inst available for the reception and extended maximum assistance. In fact, when the guests started arriving for the reception after the church ceremony Dhot was seen making last minute arrangements in his PT dress. I can never forget the personal interest he took to help me. RIP
I had the opportunity to briefly meet this gentle giant at the wedding of his daughter to one of my friend’s son at Noida. I am shocked to learn about his untimely passing away. I pray to the almighty to rest his soul in peace and grant enough strength to the bereaved family to bear this great loss with fortitude.
We were posted at FEL at the same time during 1980′s and have known him since then. A thorough gentleman he was always ready to take on any task to help colleagues. May his soul rest in peace.
It is sad to know that such a noble person who distinguished himself in the Army is no more.
May his soul rest in peace.
I had not known Harmeet personally but having read about him in this post , I would want to join all of you in paying my tribute to this noble and good soul. May God grant eternal peace to Harmeet. RIP .
May his Soul rest in ever lasting peace. An ex ASC Officer retired in 1973.
Very untimely departure from amongst us. A thorough gentleman, were together in MCEME and my successor in Tropo Wksp, will miss him. May the departed soul rest in peace!!
I knew Harmeet when he was posted in MCEME and I had already settled down in Secunderabad after my retirement, in 1988. I had close interaction with officers posted in MCEME and Harmeet was quite close to me & my family members and I found him to be an extremely fine officer professionally and otherwise. I happen to know his father, who was also an EME Officer.
Harmeet was a brilliant officer, who was in my opinion a ‘DGEME’ material! But for his medical set back, which he had as a Col, he would have certainly become a DGEME. I am extremely sad to know that he was snatched from our midst at the young age of 63! I thank Surjit for informing me!
My sincere condolences to Mrs Dhot and his family.
It is very saddening to here about HS Dhot. I was closer to him. He was one of the best souls I have come across in my life. He was open-hearted, broad-minded, ever smiling or always willing to help. As an extremely humble person, he carried all of his friends on his broad shoulders. When I was posted to Delhi and could not find a place to home, he left his entire house fully open to us as he was travelling abroad on a training. He is a big loss to the society and the humanity. We need such people in our communities as we struggle to preserve goodness & righteousness. God bless his soul and give his family peace and solace.
Harmeet has always been a part of my MIS– soooo many common stations and common friends!
A man with never ending patience with others and super human tolerance.God perhaps created him for a purpose and called him back when HE needed him for the same purpose!
Rest in Peace Harmeet!
I met Col Dhot for the first time in 2002 in MCEME, though I had heard about him earlier. He was the technological nerve centre of MCEME. I remember him playing Basketball for MCEME Staff and a much younger Student team made to huff and puff.
Last I met him in Chandigarh in mid Dec 2016, his usual jovial self. Too shocked….
May god give strength to his family to bear this irreparable loss. RIP Col Dhot Sir.
Too shocked to say anything.. he was such a good person. Heartfelt condolences.. he was younger than me.. so even more shocking
Harmeet — I met him so many times. Extremely well-mannered and soft spoken. Very intelligent, very good in his job. When he was in the MCEME, Secunderabad, he was clearly a great asset to the FEL. Feel sad about his untimely demise.