Gandhian thinker David Hopkins, who made Kumaon his home, dies at 78

Bageshwar: England-born Gandhian thinker and social worker David Hopkins, who devoted much of his life to the Himalayan region and had been living in Kumaon since the 1980s, was cremated with Hindu rites at the Saryu-Gomti Sangam in Bageshwar on Tuesday.The 78-year-old, associated with Lakshmi Ashram in Kausani, passed away at the ashram on Monday morning. Sisters and students of the ashram, along with residents, gathered in large numbers for the last rites. His daughter, Dhara Deepika, performed the final rituals and lit the funeral pyre.Among members of the ashram and local residents, Hopkins was fondly known as ‘David bhai' and ‘Babu ji'. Paying tribute, Neema Vaishnav Behn of Lakshmi Ashram said he had been a strong pillar of the institution. "David Bhai's simplicity and Gandhian ideals were a source of inspiration for all of us. His demise is an irreparable loss," she said.Hopkins completed his education in England and worked for some time before travelling to India in the 1970s. Drawn by his love for nature and the mountains, he undertook a long overland journey through Turkey and Afghanistan, crossing the Khyber Pass before reaching the country.During his stay in Kausani, he came in contact with the work of Gandhian activist Sarala Behn, founder of Lakshmi Ashram. Deeply influenced by her ideas and the institution's work for rural women's education, Hopkins spent time at the ashram before briefly returning to England. The ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and the Himalayan way of life, however, drew him back, and he later settled permanently in Kausani.He married Hansi Sah, a member of the ashram, and became closely involved in its activities. Those associated with the ashram recalled that Hopkins led a life of remarkable simplicity and discipline. Apart from assisting with administrative work, he regularly taught students, participated in daily prayers and translated Sarala Behn's biography into English, helping introduce her work to a wider audience.Trained in geography, he was also a keen observer of the local environment. For several years, Hopkins meticulously recorded rainfall, snowfall and temperature data in the region, and his notes on Himalayan ecology and weather patterns are considered valuable for understanding environmental changes in the area.Ramesh Kumar Mumukshu, a member of Lakshmi Ashram, said, "Hopkins had dedicated his life to the Himalayas despite being born in England. His contribution to the region and its people will always be remembered."