AMRITSAR: Former Indian cricket team captain and legendary spinner, Bishan Singh Bedi, who was a native of Amritsar, passed away at the age of 77 on October 23 after battling a prolonged illness.Expressing deep sorrow over on Bedis demise, Surinder Chaudhary, a family friend of Bedi said his family lived in the Putlighar area of Amritsar.Bishan Singh Bedi not only brought immense pride to both his city and country through his cricketing achievements but his father was also a renowned philanthropist and political figure, he said.Bishan Singh Bedis house in AmritsarReportedly, Bishan Singh Bedi was born on September 25, 1946, in Amritsar where he started playing cricket at the age of 15 but later moved to Delhi in the late sixties.He nostalgically recounted moments spent in the company of Bishan Singh Bedis father, Gian Singh Bedi. Chaudhary told that he, along with his father, Chaudhary Tara Chand, used to frequently visit Gian Singh Bedis home. There, they engaged in extensive discussions and meetings, primarily focused on Congress party activities and the social work in the area, he said.He further said that the family had established the Bedi School in Gali Number 2, Putlighar. Subsequently, the school was taken over by the state government and continues to exist today as the Government Girls Higher Secondary School. He informed that Bishan had two sisters who later migrated from the area.Surinder Chaudhary told, "Gian Singh Bedis house still stands here, where Bishan Singh used to visit occasionally. One of his sisters resided here for a while, but she too moved away after her two daughters settled in the US."Going down memory lane, Sahiljit Singh Sandhu who had learned the nitty gritty of cricket in Bishan Singh Bedis cricket academy said his father late Shavinder Singh Sandhu was a friend of Bishan Singh.Bishan uncles support to the budding talents, like me, at his cricket academy truly defined his character, said Sahiljit, adding that he would always remember Bishan Singhs kindness, wisdom, and special moments shared with with him as well as with his family.Expressing shock at the passing of Bishan Singh Bedi, veteran Congress leader Darbari Lal said that Bishans father, who resided in Putlighar, was not only a prominent Congress leader but also a respected social worker and successful businessman. Watch Former India spin legend Bishan Singh Bedi passes away

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