Kishan Chand Kamboj's Obituary
Kishan C. Kamboj, affectionately known as "Baujee," passed away at the age of 95 in San Jose, California, on December 19, 2025.
Kishan was born on October 15, 1930, in the village of Samalsar, district Faridkot, Punjab, India. His family later moved to Bagha Purana, Punjab, where his father, Khushi Ram Kamboj, ran a successful Halwai (confectionery) business. His mother was Durga Devi.
Kishan was the fourth of six siblings: Balbir Chand, Prakash, Satpal Amar, Bibbo, and Madan Lal Kamboj. While his father expected him to join the family business, Kishan had a thirst for knowledge that led him down a different path.
With support from his eldest brother, he pursued his education, completing high school and earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from college in Moga. He then moved to Delhi and secured a position with the Post and Telegraph department.
In 1951, Kishan married Savitri Devi of Kartarpur, Punjab, whose family was well acquainted with his own. They settled in Motibagh, Delhi, and had four children: Arun, Renu, Anita, and Sunita. Their children affectionately called them Baujee and Bibijee.
The couple was deeply involved in the community. Neighborhood kids and some younger adults also addressed them as Baujee and Bibbijee. Baujee was a lifelong learner who read the newspaper every morning and discussed pertinent news with the neighbors.
He immersed himself in non-fiction, historical literature, and documentaries. He was particularly drawn to the works of Swami Vivekananda. He loved building things with his own hands and took great joy in making people laugh with his sense of humor.
He cherished his daily walks and time spent with friends He found peace listening to ghazals and challenging himself with word puzzles. He himself dived into writing poetry. He was fascinated by the history of various cultures.
His knowledge of the history of India and the world was tremendous. In 1977, the family immigrated to the United States, first in Los Angeles before relocating to San Jose, California, in 1979, where they made their permanent home.
Over the years, all four of their children married, and Kishan and Savitri were blessed with seven grandchildren: Ashish, Pooja, Priya, Shivani, Rishi, Anoop, and Avinash, and one great-granddaughter, Rupinder. He treasured the time spent with his grandchildren.
Unfortunately, he never met his great-granddaughter. In the USA, his quest for learning kept growing. A quick learner with diverse talents, he taught himself skills ranging from photography to woodworking.
He made several friends over the years and continued with his lifelong routine of walking with friends. Savitri passed away in February 2024, and Kishan a little less than two years later.
Together, they built a life marked with devotion to family, community, and the pursuit of knowledge that lives in the many lives they touched.
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