The world’s most revered and foremost astrologer, Bejan Daruwalla, passed away at 5:13pm, on May 29th, 2020, at the age of 88, at Ahmedabad’s Apollo Hospital. He was admitted to the hospital and put on a ventilator after he complained of breathing difficulty last week. His funeral and last rites were held at Dudheswar Crematorium in Ahmedabad. He is survived by his wife, Gooli, a renowned tarot card reader, and his sons Nastur, a prominent astrologer and Chirag Ladsaria (adopted).

After the news of his passing emerged, several media reports suggested that he had died due to the novel coronavirus, but his son, Nastur, quashed these reports, clarifying that his father had been suffering from pneumonia and lung infection, and the oxygen levels in his body had dipped.

Bejan Daruwalla was acknowledged as one of the 100 great astrologers of the last 1000 years. In addition to being the world’s most famous astrologer, Bejan Daruwalla held a Ph.D in English and also served as a professor of English. Despite his Parsi heritage, he was known to be an ardent follower of Lord Ganesha.

Loving and kind-hearted, Bejan Daruwalla has won numerous accolades and widespread recognition for his unerring predictions. He was closely associated with a number of newspapers, magazines, television channels and publishing houses all over the world. He was actively involved in learning and practising astrology and changed the lives of many. His astrological predictions have been keenly followed by thousands of people the world over. His website, Ganeshaspeaks.com, has been one of the most-accessed sites in the astrological arena, commanding a huge global following.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani took to Twitter, expressing his condolences thus, “Saddened by the demise of renowned Astrologer Shri Bejan Daruwalla. I pray for the departed soul. My condolences. Om Shanti…”.

 

His consultations were sought after from people all across the world including USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Scotland, Dubai, New Zealand, Singapore, UAE, etc. Daruwalla earned trust across the globe through his detailed analysis of planetary positions and predicting its effects on the world. His astrological techniques combined Vedic Astrology, Western Astrology, I-Ching, Tarot reading, Numerology, the Kabbalah and Palmistry. The right combination of these principles enabled him to make accurate and relevant predictions. He was naturally gifted with intuitive prowess, listening to and relying on his inner voice, and seeking Lord Ganesha’s blessings to foresee and predict.

Sharing his general approach and technique of making predictions, he explained, “First of all, if the person is there, I look at him and get vibrations. Secondly, the time the person comes is important. Thirdly, what type of day is it? Good, bad or indifferent? Fourth, lines on the palm. Fifth, the Indian horoscope and lastly, the western horoscope. So, all this goes into a computer called the brain. And after that, I look at Ganesha and make a prediction.” He firmly believed in the fives ‘I’s – Intuition, Imagination, Inspiration, Investigation and Identification.

Daruwalla had predictions of some of the high profile politicians including former prime ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Morarji Desai and current PM Narendra Modi. He also predicted the assassinations of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, as also the accident of Sanjay Gandhi. He had also prophesised the Gujarat earthquake and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He had huge patronship from innumerable Bollywood celebrities, and personalities like Prince Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar of City Palace, Udaipur and former Maharashtra CM Sushilkumar Shinde, also sought advice from him.

According to his website, Daruwalla followed three principles in his life – “Keeping an open mind; Observing keenly; and Researching completely”. At the age of 87, he concluded that Tolerance was the most important aspect, saying, “…we all have a right to our own opinion and ideas. We may differ but we must do so with decorum and dignity and consider the other person’s point of view also.” He would even advise all astrology students to be patient as tolerance was the key to success.

In his understanding, the marriage of technology and humanity was the way forward as that would lead to evolution and happiness, and nurture his guiding principles of trust, accuracy and reliability. One of his happiest moments was when the Dalai Lama asked Bejan to put his own hand on Dalai Lama’s head at the India International Centre, Delhi. It overwhelmed him beyond everything else!

Always a favourite of the print and television media, Daruwalla was associated with numerous television channels and publishing houses across the world. He has appeared on NBC and ABC TV channels in Columbus, New York, Ohio and was featured on the BBC, in Hard Talk India. His vision and accurate predictions have earned him a place in the coveted group of best-selling Indian authors. His articles/ predictions have been regularly published in leading newspapers including The Sunday Times of India (Bombay, Kolkota, Delhi, Chennai), Telegraph (Kolkota), Navhind Times (Goa), Dainik Bhaskar, Times of India, Hans India, Speaking Tree, Divya Bhaskar, Dell Annual Horoscope (New York), News India (New York), Berkley Communications (London), amongst many others.

In the book, ‘Change Your life’, he was referred to as one of those who could motivate, inspire others to give their very best. He truly believed that goodness, compassion and equal rights for everybody was the real tripod of life itself.

During the very little spare time that he would get to himself, he enjoyed listening to singers Bhimsen Joshi and Pandit Jasraj who he considered legends of Indian Classical music. He enjoyed film starring Amitabh Bachchan, Karishma Kapoor and Salman Khan. His motto in life was to leave the world a better place to stay in for all.

Bejan Daruwalla was awarded the highest degree of Vedic Astrology – the ‘Jyotishi Mahahopadhaya’ Award by the Federation of Indian Astrologers. Bharat Nirman awarded him the title of ‘The Astrologer of the Millennium’ (August, 2000). The Russian Society of Astrologers of St. Petersburg conferred upon him the ‘Best Astrologer of 2009’ award. However, he always considered the highest and the most precious reward and award to be the love and affection that his followers showered upon him, and Lord Ganesha’s blessings.

The world has truly lost a great astrologer in Bejan Daruwalla. May his soul attain Garothman Behest. The community stands by his family during these sad times.