Obituary of Harish Chandra MIDHA

November 13, 1935 - Montgomery, India

January 22, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

Harish Chandra MIDHA, of Toronto, ON, passed away at the age of 85, early Friday morning on January 22, 2021, in Calgary, AB. Harish was born on November 13, 1935 in Montgomery, which was part of pre-partition India. He was a son of the late Sushila Devi Metha and Harbhagwan Das Midha, and the last surviving member of five siblings.

Harish graduated from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology in Roorkee in 1957 as a civil engineer. On February 28, 1962, Harish married his wife, Veena Khanna, in Muzaffargarh, India. He was employed with Indian Railroads as a Railway Officer from 1959 to 1972. His job relocated them across various rail stations in India and it was during this time they had their sons Rajiv Midha in Bhusawal in 1962 and Samir Midha in Gorakhpur in 1965. 

In 1972, Harish and Veena moved to Jacksonville, Florida to join Veena’s sister Sushma and her extended family. Harish completed his MBA from the University of North Florida at this time. In 1975, the family moved to Toronto where Harish accepted a job at Confederation Life working as an IT manager, where he continued to work for approximately twenty years until he retired. In his years of retirement he taught Organizational Behaviour at George Brown College in Toronto and returned to Roorkee, his alma mater, to teach in their MBA program.  He was a teacher and mentor to many.

Harish was a wise and spiritual being, a devout Hindu, and a prominent member of the local chapters of Chinmaya Mission and Arya Samaj. He was an authority on the Rig Veda as his research was focused on the importance of fire in Hindu tradition. His works were published and shared on his personal blog (https://www.boloji.com/writers/4426/harish - scroll to bottom of website for the links to 6 of his works).

Harish was calm, humble, selfless, patient with others and resolute. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, and friend who will be deeply missed by so many. 

Harish is survived by his wife Veena, son Rajiv and his wife Vandhana; and his grandchildren, Rishi and Nisha, and Nisha’s husband Vishal. The recent civil ceremony of Nisha and Vishal was blessed by Harish’s presence, and his beautiful speech was, as always, full of wisdom that will leave a lasting impact on the family.

There is great solace in knowing that Harish will be reunited with his late son Samir Midha, his mother and father, and siblings.

He will be forever in our hearts and prayers.

A Funeral Service will be held for 20 attendees, on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at start time 9:30 a.m. All others are invited to join Mr. Midha’s service streamed live at https://mhfh.com/tribute/details/32454/Harish-MIDHA/obituary.html#tribute-start on the day of the service. If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made directly to Chinmaya Mission Toronto to support purchasing new Gita books for the education of children. You may etransfer funds  (Accounting@chinmayatoronto.org), mail a cheque (8832 The Gore Road, Brampton, ON L6P 0B1), or donate online (https://chinmayatoronto.org/donate/) by clicking the general fund with a dedication to Harish Midha. Tax receipts will be provided.

In living memory of Harish Midha, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200