Bhishma Rajyaguru

Bhishma Rajyaguru was a 22-year-old international student and musician from Gujarat, India, who made a home in Regina, Saskatchewan. He arrived in Canada in April 2022 and built a life around study, friendship, cricket, and music. Friends remembered him as a devoted son who called his parents often, a loyal bandmate, and someone whose kindness left a lasting mark on Regina's Gujarati community.

Music was his passion more than a profession. After meeting Dakshesh Raval through a community cricket game, Rajyaguru helped form the Regina Music Group with four other musicians who shared a love of Gujarati folk traditions. Raval called him a fantastic percussionist who played the octapad, and said he performed not for money but for the joy of it. Rajyaguru had been looking forward to performing at Garba in the Park, a celebration organized by the Gujarati Samaj of Saskatchewan; that gathering was later postponed out of respect for him and his family.

On the night of July 18, 2026, Rajyaguru was driving back to Regina from Saskatoon on Highway 11 near Lumsden when his vehicle was struck in a head-on collision. He was 22. The other driver, Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker and team captain Jayden Dalke, also died. Both men were alone in their vehicles. RCMP later described the crash on the divided highway and said both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. At his family's request, police released Rajyaguru's name and photograph so that he would be remembered in his own right.

In the days that followed, friends including Raval and Viraj Mistry organized a GoFundMe campaign, Bringing Bhishma Home, to help return his remains to his parents in India and to support the family. The fundraiser quickly surpassed its goal, raising more than $77,000. Tonish Patel, another friend, said the funds would also help Rajyaguru's parents as they navigated the loss of their son. Bandmates described him as a beautiful soul and a beacon of light, and said they had not yet had time to grieve while focusing on bringing him home.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders issued a public remembrance after speaking with one of his loved ones, describing him as a caring friend, a devoted son, a supportive brother, and a gifted percussionist. The club honoured him before a home game against the Edmonton Elks at Mosaic Stadium. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and other public figures also offered condolences to his family and to Regina's Gujarati community. His father, Ashish Rajyaguru, and his sister later spoke about the depth of their loss. What remains clearest in the public record is how those who knew him best wanted him remembered: for music, friendship, and the life he was still building.