MEERUT, Aug. 6 -- A wave of grief swept through Hisawda village after the news of Satyapal Malik's passing reached here. The village, where Malik was born and raised, still houses his 300-year-old ancestral haveli- a structure that has witnessed his journey from a shy village boy to a prominent national leader. Locals fondly recalled him as a "grounded and humble leader" and how he spent hours chatting on the haveli's stairs during his childhood and teenage years. Though his immediate family no longer resides in the village, several members of his extended family stay here. According to relatives, Malik had last visited the village in 2023, after his retirement from gubernatorial duties. During that emotional trip, he reconnected with childhood friends, acquaintances and local residents. Walking down the familiar bylanes, he had reportedly said with deep emotion, "Yeh mitti meri taqat hai" (this soil is my strength). Elderly villager Virender Singh Malik, recalling his bond with the late leader, said: "He was about six years younger than me, but always showed immense respect. Whenever there was any event in the village, he would ensure I was invited and honoured." Reflecting on Malik's early years, he added: "He was quite shy as a child. If someone said something to him, he would come to me with complaints. He also loved playing volleyball." A senior family member, Satypal's uncle Bijendra Singh Malik, shared: "He was extremely soft-spoken and had deep respect for his family members. His demise is an irreparable loss to our family." According to his nephew Amit Malik, Satyapal received his early education at the local primary school in the village. He cycled several kilometres daily to attend MGM Inter College in Dhikouli and eventually graduated from Meerut College. Family member Manish Malik recalled that Satyapal Malik was the only child of his parents and had a deeply emotional and family-oriented nature. "No matter how high a position he held, he never turned away a villager who came to meet him," he said. Satyapal Malik's cousin Gyanendra Malik shared memories of his last visit to the village in February 2023. The village held a special 'chaupal' in his honour, where Malik addressed the villagers, saying: "I have always spoken up for farmers, and will continue to do so."HTC...