Manish Tewari Commemorates His Father's Legacy and Convictions
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New Delhi, April 3 (NationPress) On Friday, Congress MP Manish Tewari honored his late father, V.N. Tewari, who tragically lost his life at the hands of terrorists at their home in Chandigarh on April 3, 1984. He emphasized that only a select few truly live and die for their beliefs, achieving a form of eternal legacy.
At the time of his death, Tewari's father was just 48 years old.
In a heartfelt message on social media platform X, Tewari stated, “On this day, 42 years ago, in our residence in Chandigarh, terrorists took the life of my father, Dr. (Professor) VN Tewari. He was only 48 years old.”
Reflecting on his father’s influence, Tewari described him as a scholar, writer, poet, and parliamentarian who passionately supported the cause of Punjab.
“A scholar, author, poet, and a Parliamentarian, he championed the cause of Punjab, Punjabi culture, and the shared ethos of Hindus and Sikhs coexisting harmoniously. Only a few manage to live and die for their convictions, thus achieving a form of immortality,” he remarked.
In 2019, Tewari, who ran for the Lok Sabha from the Anandpur Sahib constituency, lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India and Punjab Police regarding a viral video on social media. The video baselessly accused his father of involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, claiming that petrol from his supposed filling station fueled the violence.
In response to these allegations, Tewari clarified that his father was assassinated six months prior to the riots and had never owned a petrol station. He called for a thorough investigation into the video’s circulation and urged authorities to take strict legal action against those spreading false information.
V. N. Tewari, born in 1936, was a notable academic and served as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha. He was a professor of Punjabi and Modern Indian Literature at Panjab University, Chandigarh, and was highly esteemed for his contributions to literature and education.
He was married to Amrit Tewari, a professor and former Dean at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh. The impact of his life and work remains significant in both academia and public service.