Jagdish Prasad Sharma

In Memory of Jagdish Prasad Sharma January 15, 1941 – November 8, 2025

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Jagdish Prasad Sharma on November 8, 2025, at the age of 84. He passed peacefully at home after a long and courageous journey with illness.

Born in Vungele, Tavua District, Fiji Islands, Jagdish was the son of Jawala Prasad Maharaj and grandson of Sita Ram Mishra. The son of an indentured labourer from Uttar Pradesh, India, his life was marked by duty and quiet endurance. As a teenager, he worked underground in the Vatukoula Gold Mine, helping to support his mother, siblings and relatives after the death of his father and showing early courage and resolve.

Born near the middle of the twentieth century, Jagdish witnessed a world in transformation — from the colonial Pacific to post-war migration, from village life to the expanding global diaspora. Among the few South Asians in Toronto in the early 1970s, he was a pioneer, navigating unfamiliar customs with little more than dreams and the will to make things work.

Jagdish showed this steady resolve when he left the warmth of the South Pacific for the cold Canadian winters, becoming one of the first of his generation to begin anew in Toronto. The challenges he faced as a newcomer — the loneliness, the hardships, the uncertainty — were immense, but his legacy proves that each sacrifice was worth it. His decision to move to Canada changed the course of his family’s history, inspired others to follow from Fiji, and laid a transformative foundation for generations to come.

Jagdish took pride in his two daughters and their accomplishments, whose independence and choices reflected a spirit he respected, even if unspoken. He never stood in their way, allowing them to chart their own paths in a world far different from the one he had known. Together with Bimla, his wife of over 50 years, whose steadiness carried the family through many turns, he built a family defined by resilience and fortitude. He leaves behind two daughters, Ranuka (Rann) and Veena; two sons-in-law, Cosmin and Ravindra; and three grandsons, Julian, Jaishan and Akash, who continue to build upon and carry forward his legacy of endurance and resolve. He also leaves behind many relatives across the world who will be honouring his life.

Though life was not easy, Jagdish lived it on his terms. He found comfort in the simple things — an old Bollywood film or song, a plate of fish and chips, and the closeness of family gathered around him. He asked for little, gave what he could, and left behind far more than he ever claimed.

Without his quiet sacrifices — his decision to cross oceans and make Toronto home — his family would not be here today. He was the foundation and the roots of their legacy, the reason they can see farther and stand taller. His story remains woven into theirs, and his presence endures in all who follow.

The family wishes to thank Care Partners, Bayshore, and Ontario Health at Home for their homecare and support. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Toronto Newcomer Supports at the Canadian Mental Health Association Toronto. https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/support-newcomer-mental-health/

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Om

Live stream link for viewing https://stjohnsdixie.com/cemetery/live-memorial/