Faqir Chand Khanna (November 23, 1935 – August 16, 2024)
On August 16, 2024 Faqir Khanna joined the many great physicists who researched and perished before him. Likely his colleagues of many years will be sad to know that he is no longer available to discuss thermodynamic equations of the Kerr Black Hole or to debate the Casimir effect for dark photons. We are sad that he will no longer be around to be the patriarch of our family. The one who brought everyone together and taught us the importance of Family.
Faqir came to Florida State University in 1958 after completing his Masters degree in Physics in India, as one of the top scholars in the country, to do his Ph.D. He did post-docs at Iowa and Rice Universities where he also made many friends inside and outside the lab, who he kept in touch with throughout his life. He took a position as a research scientist at Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories in 1966 and prior to joining he made a quick trip back to India, where he was introduced to his wife, Swaraj. After their marriage, he made his way to Ontario where she joined him a short time later. They loved life in Deep River, where they lived and were the centre of the small Indian community that was there. They hosted dinner parties and kept some of the traditions of India alive with these close knit friends. Whilst there, they had two boys, Shrawan (1967) and Varun (1970). Faqir taught them the value of education, kindness to all, and family. He would take them virtually every long weekend on either a 7 hour trip to see their Uncle in Toronto or an 11 hour trip to see their cousins in Detroit. Because it was important and these family connections were so few in North America. At the same time, via his research, Faqir would explore the world collaborating with other physicists and lecturing at universities and labs. Sometimes Swaraj would go with him, sometimes the whole family would go. He loved to explore, to learn, to meet people, to eat, to drink and to discover.
In 1984, knowing cuts were coming at AECL, Faqir accepted a role as full professor of Physics at the University of Alberta/TRIUMF in Edmonton and moved the whole family there. He was an integral part of the Theoretical Physics Institute and the Physics Faculty. His work was deeply respected and his sense of fairness and collaboration even more so. He began a programme of research with some young researchers from Brazil and this was the beginning of a beautiful friendship and professional association. Together they published many papers and in February 2024 released their second textbook together. Swaraj and Faqir visited Brazil on a number of occasions and loved the country and its people.
Eventually, the two of them made a retirement move to Victoria to be closer to their son, Shrawan, their daughter-in-law, Tammy and their grandchildren Jyotish (1996) and Shalini (1999). Their influence and love in their lives was immeasurable.
Whilst mobility and a touch of dementia were a part of Faqir’s later life, he never let them deter from his zest for life, food, drink, people, and of course FAMILY. Even in the long term care home where he spent his last couple of months, his wit, laughter and kindness were noted by all.
The emptiness will be biggest for his wife of 58 years, Swaraj, but she is consoled by the amazing life they shared together in that time. Similarly, Shrawan, Tammy, Jyotish, and Shalini along with so many nieces, nephews, and cousins will miss his charm, his love, and his unbridled enthusiasm for life. He was the pioneer for the family in coming to North America and as with many pioneers, he cleared the way for so many to be able to live their lives here. He was the best example setter and leader a family could hope for.
The staff at Rose House at the Summit were endearing and so kind to Faqir and we are indebted to them for all they did in his last few months of life. A celebration of Faqir’s life will take place on Thursday September 26, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. in Victoria, BC. Please contact shravk67@gmail.com if you would like to attend via Zoom or in person and for further information.