Dehradun, June 12 -- The sudden passing away of Jaspal Rana is a great loss to me on a personal level and a greater loss to our nation and the world of sports.

He was responsible for promoting and popularasing the shooting sport in India.

His father Narayan Singh Rana is a gem of a person and great friend for many years now.

I started my publication Garhwal Post as a weekly in 1996 and I was privileged to have attended Jaspal's first wedding in the same year at his native Village Chilamu, Nainbagh in District Uttarkashi, near Mussoorie.

Later, the big wedding reception was held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi which was attended by all stalwarts of the BJP, including Atal Behari Vajpayee, Lal Krishan Advani.

Garhwal Post was the only pub...