Gurcharan Singh Tohra
Gurcharan Singh Tohra
Gurcharan Singh Tohra (24 september 1924 - 1 April 2004), president of SGPC (Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee), a Sikh body in charge of controlling Gurdwara (Sikh places of worship), died of a heart attack in New Delhi on 1 April, 2004 at the age of 79. He remained head of SGPC for a record 27 years, and was one of the most influential and controversial Sikh leaders of the 20th century.
Senior Akali Dal and SGPC chief Gurucharan Singh Tohra died in a private hospital in [[New Delhi, India early on Thursday, 1 April 2004 aged 79. Mr Tohra who was a respected leader for many years of the SGPC died at 12:41 am after he suffered a heart attack at 12:30 am at the Escorts Heart Institute, announced administrator Mathur Verma. Tohra, who was in a serious condition after suffering a massive heart attack some days ago, was flown here this evening from Amritsar for advanced treatment.
Tohra had suffered from a massive heart attack on March 25, 2004 and he was put on life support system after his condition deteriorated on March 28 following a sudden fall in blood pressure and heartbeat. Tohra's health problems were a constant worry because he had suffered a heart attack in the past. Tohra had also undergone a bypass surgery in Delhi. His wife, widow Joginder Kaur was a constant supporter of this leader.
Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee have condoled the death of Gurcharan Singh Tohra, head of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC). President Kalam described the Sikh leader as a "prominent political and social leader who was well known for his work during his many years in public life".
