A Gandhian environmentalist born in England David Hopskin breathed his last at the age of 80 at Kausani, Uttarakhand
SUNIL NEGI
Mahatma Gandhi influenced unaccounted number of people globally and one among hundreds of foreigners was David Hopkins, who though born in England served in Laxmi Ashram at Kausani with Sarla Ben and finally at the age of 80 left for the eternal journey sending shock waves in Kausani and entire Uttarakhand especially among his friends and social circle. A thorough gentleman who left his birthplace London completely to stay in the serene environment at Laxmi Ashram, Kausani dedicating his fifty protracted years wearing Khadi after being influenced by Gandhiji’s ideology and message of non violence David was extremely popular in Kumaon Uttarakhand who worked tirelessly among the people of Uttarakhand spreading the message of peace, preservation of our environment and planting as much trees as one can.
A seasoned social leader and an environmentalist David Hopskin was well read and a hard core Gandhi follower who was dedicatedly active in social service and environment protection while living and working in Laxmi Ashram , Kausani for fifty long years.
His contribution and participation in the movements for protecting our rivers, saving the jungles and social activism including in various movement to save our ecology is worth laudable.
He mobilised the youth of Uttarakhand and other areas during his long stay of five decades in Laxmi Ashram including those interested to save environment and social activism diverting them for the preservation of environment and bringing ethics in our daily lives by maintaining disciplined and healthy life style.
He breathed his last at Kausani this morning at the age of eighty years sending shock waves all around with people saying that his passing away is indeed an end of an era.
