Hindu leader passes away
(Lautoka City, Fiji.) RENOWNED Hindu priest Pundit Anant Anand Sharma bid farewell to the world after a long illness at Lautoka Hospital in the early hours of Saturday 5 January, 2008.
He was 68.
Mr. Sharma was the son of a well known Hindu leader, Pundit Parshu Ram Sharma who hailed from the town of Sigatoka in the province of Nadroga.
He started preaching at an early age of fifteen and has been a resident of the Lautoka City after leaving Sigatoka over thirty years ago.
The late priest was also a serving national president of the Shree Sanatan Dharm Brahman Purohit Sabha of Fiji, a body incharge of all Hindu priests in the country and was elected to the top position for a sixteenth consecutive year in October last year.
He was also honoured as the Brahman Shiromani, a prestigious Hindu award for his dedication towards the Hindu religion and the society at large in July last year.
Apart from being a priest, Late Mr. Sharma was also an active social worker and a welfare officer dedicating most of his time to serve the underprivileged people of our society.
He is survived by his wife and three children.
Mr. Sharma was cremated at the Lovu Crematorium in Lautoka City on Wednesday 9 January 2008.
The national secretary of the Brahman Sabha, Pundit Umeshwar Ram Sharma was saddened with the demise of their leader.
"We have lost a great leader who has been preaching our beloved religion for the past 53
years," Pundit Umeshwar said.
He said Late Pundit Sharma was a great mentor to all Brahmans in Fiji.
"We pray for his soul to rest in peace and unite with the Almighty," Pundit Umeshwar said.