“Happy birthday, Papa,” were the final words spoken by Bhishma Rajyaguru to his father, Ashish Rajyaguru.
This brief call lasted just 15 seconds and occurred over a distance of more than 11,000 kilometers. Ashish wishes he could have extended the call and reduced the miles separating them.
“We tried calling him in the morning, but he didn’t answer,” Ashish recalled.
“Why didn’t I speak to him longer? What was he doing? Where was he headed? I just wanted to know.”
Tragically, 22-year-old Bhishma passed away on July 18 after a collision with Saskatchewan Roughrider Jayden Dalke, who was driving the wrong way on a divided highway while under the influence of alcohol and cannabis, as reported by the RCMP.
Both Dalke and Bhishma were declared deceased at the accident scene.
“We were in disbelief. We lost everything,” Ashish stated. “We just grieved and wept. We were simply crying.”
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Family and friends mourn the loss of 22-year-old in tragic crash near Lumsden, Sask.
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Bhishma arrived in Canada as a student in April 2022 and had not returned home since. Ashish recalls the emotional farewell at the airport: waving through the glass, attempting to mask his concern with a reassuring smile, while hoping to reunite with Bhishma soon.
“I encouraged him to concentrate entirely on his studies and build a successful career there,” Ashish shared. “His aspirations were immense, and he was truly ambitious.”
Now, Ashish’s morning walks feel much lonelier. He yearns for Bhishma’s lively conversations. He remembers Bhishma expressing during one of their strolls his desire to become so famous that a personalized snippet would appear on Google when people searched for him.
“Bhishma’s name appears on Google now, but he is no longer here,” Ashish expressed in Gujarati.
Hir Rajyaguru, Bhishma’s sister, ties a celebratory thread to her brother’s wrist during the Indian festival of Rakshabandhan in 2021. (Submitted by Ashish Rajyaguru)
Bhishma passed away just a month before Rakshabandhan, an Indian festival honoring the bond between siblings. As part of this tradition, a sister ties a colorful thread around her brother’s wrist as a sign of mutual love and respect.
For the past four years, Bhishma’s sister, 19-year-old Hir Rajyaguru, had been pretending to tie the bracelet during video calls. Hir recalled that Bhishma had promised her during last year’s celebration that he would be there in person this year.
During this year’s festivities, Hir tied the bracelet around Bhishma’s lifeless wrist as he rested in his casket.
“This will be the hardest day for me every year,” she expressed.
“He always made me laugh and playfully teased me in an annoying way. But deep down, I cherished it, because he was my brother, and that was what I adored about him.”
Hir Rayjaguru shares her family’s sorrow over the loss of her brother, Bhishma Rajyaguru, after the accident involving Saskatchewan Roughrider Jayden Dalke.
When the RCMP contacted the family to inform them of Bhishma’s passing, Hir was the one who answered the call.
“I couldn’t comprehend what was happening. I told my father that I believed it was a hoax call, and he shouldn’t engage with them.”
It took over two weeks for Bhishma’s body to arrive in India following autopsies and examinations. During this time, the family could only connect with him through photographs and videos.
“[Even] after viewing the images of Bhishma’s body, we thought he might just be sleeping. He would wake up. He would wake up,” Hir said.
Bhishma Rajyaguru, 22, was killed after being struck by Saskatchewan Roughriders captain Jayden Dalke, who was driving against traffic on the highway. The 306 features testimonies from Rajyaguru’s friends and band members about his impact on their lives.
Friends of Bhishma remember him as a gifted musician and a dependable late-night confidant.
He played percussion in a Regina-based band, and his bandmates stated he was eagerly anticipating performing at Garba in the Park, an event celebrating folk music and dance. This event, originally scheduled for July 25, was postponed to honor Bhishma and his friends and family.
Although Bhishma’s instrument is now silent, Hir continues to hum the melodies her brother would create. She believes that Bhishma’s spirit will endure through the music he left behind and the joy he brought to others.
“He always wanted everyone to smile, even in tough situations. Everyone should keep smiling,” Hir stated.
“Whenever my parents grieve for him or shed tears, I remind them that if my brother were here, he would never want to see them cry so much.”