Obituary of Inderjit Bhagria

Inderjit Bhagria was born on October 1, 1935 to Polo Ram and Durga Devi Bhagria in Chakkar, Punjab, India. He grew up primarily in Jagraon. He was the youngest of 6 siblings: Nauria Ram, Amritsarya Ram, Barkat Ram, Madan Laal and Ishra Devi. 

Inderjit was spoiled endlessly by his siblings, and grew to be a mischievous, fun-loving and adventurous person. He completed his studies up to the tenth grade in Jagraon. He then attended college for one year, before deciding that he wanted to pursue an adventure, one he hoped would take him out of India. Thus, he joined the family wholesale business. He worked as the buyer, and his duties allowed him to travel all over India. He journeyed from Varanasi to Aurangabad, charming sellers and feeding his love for travel along the way. 

In 1958, Sudesh Chopra was attending a wedding when she glimpsed a confident young man walking around with a tall danda. This young man was Inderjit. In the fall of 1959, Inderjit and Sudesh were married. They went on to have two children: their daughter, Renu and their son, Ashwani. 

Soon after Ashwani was born, Inderjit made up his mind to pursue his dream: he was going to leave India and find his way to North America so his family could have a better life. In 1968, he journeyed to London, where he worked for 3 years in a chemical engineering firm. He made friends and travelled whenever possible: his adventures ranged from watching the Beatles live in Hyde Park to seeing the Great Pyramids in Egypt. 

In 1972, Inderjit successfully immigrated with his family to Toronto, Canada. He sponsored numerous family and friends to immigrate. 

In Canada, Inderjit’s work ethic never faltered. He spent over 30 years working at General Mills. He was never late or missed a day of work. Inderjit did not settle: he strove for the best and was always determined to achieve his dreams. To this end, he moved his family over 10 times until he found their beloved home in Richmond Hill. 

Inderjit was a community builder — he helped shape Hindu Sabha into the Mandir it is today. He served as the President of the temple, where he and Sudesh were active, beloved members of its vibrant community. He found great solace in prayer and had memorized dozens of bhajans and held monthly pujas for many years. 

Inderjit always dressed up in a tailored suit, kept an up-to-date diary, and walked 10,000 steps a day before it was cool. His prized possession was a white Cadillac Fleetwood, which he kept in near-mint condition. He enjoyed watching old Bollywood action movies and beating his family members at card games and chess. He was fond of telling Punjabi jokes to a room full of his closest family and friends. 

Inderjit passed away peacefully on the morning of December 25, 2025, surrounded by the love of family and friends near and far. Inderjit will be deeply missed, and the legacy he built will be remembered for generations to come.