AMRITSAR: Frther Indian cricket team captain and legendary spinner Bishan Singh Bedi, who passed away at the age of 77 on Monday, was born in Amritsar and started playing cricket in the walled city.Expressing sorrow on Bedis demise, which followed a prolonged illness, Surinder Chaudhary, a family friend of Bedi, said the cricketers family lived in Putlighar area of Amritsar. "Bishan Singh Bedi not only brought immense pride to his city and country through his cricketing achievements, but his father was also a renowned philanthropist and political figure," he said.Bedi was born in Amritsar on September 25, 1946, where he started playing cricket at the age of 15, but later moved to Delhi in the late 1960s.He recounted moments spent in the company of Bishan Singh Bedis father, Gian Singh Bedi. Chaudhary shared that he along with his father Chaudhary Tara Chand used to frequent Gian Singh Bedis home. "There, they engaged in extensive discussions and meetings, primarily focused on Congress activities and social work in the area," he said.He said the family had established Bedi School in Gali Number 2, Putlighar. Later, the school was taken over by the state government. Today, the school is known as Government Girls Higher Secondary School. He informed that Bedi had two sisters too. "Gian Singh Bedis house still stands here. Bishan used to visit it occasionally. One of his sisters resided here for a while, but she too moved after her two daughters settled in the US," said Surinder Chaudhary.Sahiljit Singh Sandhu, who learnt cricket in Bishan Singh Bedis cricket academy, said his father, late Shavinder Singh Sandhu, was a friend of the international cricketer. "Bishan uncles support to budding talents at his cricket academy truly defined his character," said Sahiljit, adding that he would always remember Bishan Singh Bedis kindness, wisdom, and special moments shared with him as well as with his family.

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