Obituary of Mr. Balwant Paradkar

Balwant was born on October 11, 1930. Four days after his birth his biological mother passed away. His mother’s last words to the nurse who delivered him were that she wanted the delivery nurse, Antoinette Meuttman, to adopt him.  This way he would not return back to his village. He was born to Hindu parents and would have been an orphan if it were not for God’s will to bring him as a gift to his adoptive mother. Ms. Meuttman was a Christian missionary from Ohio. She formed his devout dedication to Christianity and divinity.   

She raised him as her own son and blended an American education in North Carolina but wanted him to maintain his Indian heritage. He studied at Universities in Pune and Mumbai where he obtained a Master of Divinity degree.

He met his beloved wife Shanta by chance when her younger sister brought him home for dinner, Balwant wanted to meet the mysterious woman who had cooked the delicious meal for him, and this was Shanta. He was smitten and asked to meet her at college for tea. As this was frowned upon in Indian society, Shanta’s mother said that he could not see her unless he had a marriage proposal. He rushed home and asked his mother if he could marry Shanta and days later he came back and proposed to her.

They had two children, Deepak and Jyoti. By chance while lecturing about Christianity and Ghandi  in Sweden he was seen by Dr. J.B. Reynolds, a United Church minister who was so impressed by his oratory skills and lectures that he sponsored the family to come to Canada. So again by God’s hand the family immigrated to Canada. The move was intended to be temporary as they left without selling the family home, but it became permanent.

After the typical immigrant struggle adapting to Canadian life, Balwant attained his Doctor in Theology and became an ordained Minister in the Presbyterian Church. Balwant and Shanta made many sacrifices in leaving a comfortable life in India and faced a challenging life raising two children as immigrants in Canada.

Jyoti became an airline pilot with Air Canada and was only one of a few female pilots, and the only female Indian pilot. Deepak became a criminal barrister and married Mandy, a Chartered Accountant. He was always very proud of his children and his 2 grandchildren, Madeline and Paige.  Each in their own way have his excellent debating skills, analytical skills, philosophical curiosity and are grounded in their Christian beliefs. Balwant was very proud of their accomplishments in swimming, school, awards, and recent acceptances into law school. They will carry on his debating and orating legacy.

Balwant was a man of many well-rounded talents and enjoyed art, carpentry, and writing. He was also an accomplished boxer in his younger years. He was quite a humble man who did not believe in materiality but centered his life around philosophy and spirituality. He could converse on any topic and engaged his family and friends with reasoned, theoretical debates on metaphysical topics. He led by example and led a very pious simple life.  If one opened his closet they would see several identical grey suits, like Einstein.  He preferred the simplicity so that he would not have to worry about what to wear daily.

In addition to being a professor of world and comparative religions, he also taught logic and was the winner of the impressive Jaykar Trophy for the best debater in India. His favourite poem was “The Charge of the Light Brigade” by Lord Tennyson when he won an award for reading the poem at school, and he often said it at family events. His oratory skills were like no other. When Balwant spoke we were all compelled to listen to his calm, comforting voice.

Balwant was a student of many disciplines including philosophy, world religion, natural history, science, art and history. His published book “The Theology of Nehemiah Goreh” written in 1969 was dedicated to his mother Antoinette, and written while at the Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society.  It is an important book in “The Series on Confessing the Faith in India.” His writing skills, pursuit of higher learning and questioning inter-religious controversies has been engrained on his children and grandchildren who also pursue similar interests.

Balwant leaves behind a large extended family through Shanta and many friends who knew him from his life in India.  He often returned to India when he was able to, and reconnected with many of them.  Many people from around the world across many continents have described Balwant with the following words:

• Loving son, husband, father and grandfather
• Intellect
• Philosopher
• Minister
• Author
• Theologian
• Debater
• Boxer
• Carpenter and artist
• Leader and inspirational spiritual guide
• Kind and generous soul

He leaves this world for a better place and left this world as a better place with his humility, integrity, generosity, faith, hope and love.