Surrinder Mohan Sarin (1938–2025) was a descendant of one of Shahdara’s distinguished pre-Partition Hindu-Khatri families — custodians of the historic Pari Mahal, a mansion once known for its 103 rooms, orchards, and the vibrant life that surrounded it. His family’s legacy stretched across nearly two thousand acres of fertile land, forming a significant chapter in the social and cultural history of old Lahore.
Years later, when I documented the forgotten remains of Pari Mahal, my work unexpectedly reached his family. Through that article, Surrinder Mohan Sarin revisited the home his family left behind in 1947 — the courtyards, the memories, and the stories etched into every brick. His words of gratitude reflected not just nostalgia, but the emotional weight carried by those who were uprooted by the tides of history. It was deeply humbling to know that a simple piece of writing could reconnect a man to the place where his earliest memories were formed.
He passed away on 8 December 2025, at the age of 86. True to a life lived with dignity and integrity, his mortal remains were donated for medical education and research — a final act of generosity that mirrors the grace with which he carried his heritage.
Today, as his family remembers him, his legacy lives not only in the stories of Pari Mahal, but in the quiet, noble way he honoured both his past and humanity itself.
May his soul rest in peace, and may his memories continue to light the path of those who cherish him.
Very well portrayed. Excellently written.
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