In a deeply emotional moment, the family of the late Professor Walter Houser and his wife Rosemary Houser arrived in Patna to fulfill their final wishes. Professor Walter Houser, a prominent academic who made significant contributions to the study of agricultural movements in India, passed away in June 2019. His family, including his daughter Sheila Houser, son Professor Michael Houser, daughter-in-law Professor Elizabeth Houser, and granddaughter Rosemary Houser Joss, brought his ashes to Patna to immerse them in the holy Ganges. This heartfelt gesture marked the completion of their long-standing wish to have their ashes immersed in the river as part of a final tribute to their profound connection with India.

A Deep Emotional Connection to India

Professor Walter Houser’s connection to India was not just academic but deeply emotional. Having first visited India in 1957 from the University of Chicago, Walter Houser’s academic journey led him to study Swami Sahajanand Saraswati’s peasant movements in Bihar. His research and the resulting PhD made him the first scholar to delve deeply into this area. Throughout his life, Houser maintained a strong bond with India, particularly with the state of Bihar, which he visited frequently over the years.

His family shared his profound love for the country, and in his final days, both he and his wife expressed their last wish: to have their ashes immersed in the sacred Ganges River after cremation. The family’s arrival in Patna and the subsequent immersion of their ashes in the Ganges was not only a fulfillment of their wishes but also a tribute to the land that had profoundly impacted their lives.

The Immersion Ceremony at Ganga

On the 26th of June, the Houser family gathered in Patna, where the ashes of Professor Walter Houser and his wife Rosemary were immersed in the holy river, Ganges. The ceremony was a poignant occasion, and the family was joined by Professor William Pinch, a former student of Walter Houser, along with Professor Wendy Singer and her son Aaron Lynn. This group of scholars had long been involved in the legacy of Walter Houser, continuing his research in Bihar and sharing his dedication to the region.

After the immersion ceremony, a public gathering was organized by Dr. Satyajit Kumar Singh, Secretary of Shri Sitaram Ashram in Raghavpur, Bihar. The event was attended by several prominent figures, including Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister, Samrat Chowdhury, and Minister Vijay Chowdhury. Members of the Bihar State Kisan Sabha and its leaders also participated, highlighting the importance of Professor Walter Houser’s work in agricultural research and his contribution to India’s peasant movements.

Walter Houser’s Legacy in India

Walter Houser’s academic journey in India began in 1957 when he first visited Bihar. Accompanied by his pregnant wife, Rosemary Houser, they embarked on what would become a lifelong connection with the region. In 1961, Houser completed his PhD on the Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha (1929-42), a landmark study that provided critical insights into the peasant movements in Bihar.

Although his PhD thesis was completed in 1961, the book based on his research was published much later in March 2019, months after his passing. The book was launched in Patna with great fanfare, a tribute to his scholarly contributions to understanding rural India. His deep involvement in researching Bihar and its agricultural history made him an authority on the subject, and his work continues to inspire generations of students.

Walter Houser’s Influence on Bihar’s Agricultural Research

Walter Houser’s contribution to Bihar’s agricultural and social history was immense. Not only did he research extensively on Swami Sahajanand Saraswati’s peasant movements, but he also motivated his students to explore Bihar through their research. Under his guidance, six students conducted research on Bihar, leading to the publication of several important books on the state’s agricultural history.

His dedication to the region led him to translate several of Swami Sahajanand Saraswati’s books into English, including works such as ‘Khet Mazdoor’ (Farm Workers) and ‘Jharkhand Ke Kisan’ (Farmers of Jharkhand). These translations helped spread the significance of Sahajanand Saraswati’s works to an international audience.

The 75th Death Anniversary of Swami Sahajanand Saraswati

In addition to honoring Professor Walter Houser’s wishes, the event also coincided with the 75th death anniversary of Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, the renowned freedom fighter and peasant leader. Swami Sahajanand, who passed away on 26th June 1950 at the age of 61, played a pivotal role in India’s freedom struggle and in shaping the peasant movements in Bihar. The Houser family’s tribute to him, alongside their father’s last rites, was symbolic of the deep connection between their work and the legacy of Swami Sahajanand.

Professor Walter Houser’s Continuing Connection with Bihar

Even after completing his PhD in the early 1960s, Professor Walter Houser’s bond with Bihar remained strong. Over the following five decades, he continued to visit the region, deepening his understanding of rural India. He was instrumental in the publication of books on Bihar’s agricultural landscape, and his research contributed immensely to the understanding of the region’s peasant movements and socio-economic issues.

His love for Swami Sahajanand and India was so profound that he made it clear in his final wish that after his death, his body should be cremated, and his ashes immersed in the Ganges River. This wish was not only fulfilled by his family but also marked the completion of a journey that began over five decades ago with his academic and personal connections to India.

Final Tribute and Immersion Ceremony

In honor of Walter Houser’s final wish, his family traveled to Patna, and on June 26, they immersed his ashes in the Ganges as a part of a sacred ritual. The immersion was an act of reverence, symbolizing his lifelong dedication to India, its people, and the profound bond he shared with Swami Sahajanand Saraswati.

The event was not just a personal family ceremony but also a reflection of Walter Houser’s lasting impact on India’s academic landscape. His legacy will continue to inspire those who study the agricultural history of Bihar and the broader implications of the peasant movements that he helped to document.

Professor Walter Houser and his wife’s final wishes were fulfilled in a way that honored their deep connection with India and their love for its people. Through their ashes being immersed in the Ganges, they have left a lasting spiritual legacy. Walter Houser’s scholarly contributions will continue to resonate, and his dedication to the peasant movements in Bihar remains a powerful testament to the importance of rural research.

His work, spanning over decades, has left an indelible mark on the academic world, and his final tribute to India is a reminder of the enduring bonds of love, respect, and scholarly pursuit that transcend time and borders.