O P Sharma
A prominent social activists who was a rare amalgam of traditions and modernity of Jammu was Srinivas Magotra Shah. He was the first president of Dogri Sanstha, a premier organization of Dogri language and Duggar’s culture. He remained as president of Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Jammu President of Dogra Saddar Sabha and one of the leading founders of Maharani Mahila College, Jammu, first women college.
He was born during October, 1895 to Jagat Ram Magotra and Shoba Rani at Patoli Magotrain, now a residential colony, in Jammu. Being the only son, he had a providential escape in 1910 while his father was killed on rail track in Wazirabad, Pakistan but he saved by the nature. He got his education up to intermediate; while as a college student he won a race and was awarded a prize. Throughout his long life Srinivas Magotra’s was invariably ahead of his team-mates and achieved many laurels for making solid contribution to the Dogra community. He started as a forest lessee and other business. He got built a decent building complex opposite Central Basic School, Purani Mandi, Jammu. After the Royal household, this family was the first to own a car but led a simple, pious life.
Leading Light
This enlightened Dogra took to Khadi from April, 1919 on Gandhiji’s arrest after Jalliawala Bagh, Amritsar mass killing of freedom fighters. He became Director of Punjab Industrial and Commercial Bank, Jammu branch in 1922. He was instrumental along with some of his associates to establish Asiatic Export and Import company with branches at Amritsar and London but wound it up after seven years. He became president Dharam Sabha, Dogra Brahmin Pratinidhi Sabha and was also actively associated with the Dogri Sanstha. Significantly, he was founder president of Sanatan Dharm Natak Samaj.
Srinivas Shah had the distinction of being one of the first subscribers of Director of J&K Bank in the year 1938. It goes to his credit that he was founder member of Santhan Dharam High School, Jammu. In 1942, it is noteworthy that he was a strong votary of female education and was instrumental as vice-president of Maharani Mahila College, Jammu in 1947 and this institution was later taken over by State Government and is presently playing a pivotal role.
Apart from his social, business and other activities, Srinivas Shah had a stint at politics too and became president, National Conference Jammu city Committee in 1948. As head of Dogra Saddar Sabha deputation he met the Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru in 1953. He remained member of Dharmarth Council and played his part in up-keep of temples and spreading religious and moral messages among the society.
Simple living, high thinking
Talking to Excelsior, Shakuntla Khajuria, daughter of Srinivas Magotra threw light on various aspects of simple life and contributions in various spheres in the pre- and post-Independence periods of Jammu and Kashmir. A strict disciplinarian, he always wore Khadi as he was inspired deeply by Mahatma Gandhi’s ideology of simple living and high thinking. Magotraji was a strong votary of education equally for males and females. It is noteworthy that all his daughters were highly educated. He was a man who not only preached but practised Gandhian way of life. Not only he himself but his entire family followed Gandhian philosophy.
Recalling the role of her father in the establishment of first women college in the State, Shakuntla Khajuria said that when her sister was adamant to get higher education after matriculation, a meeting of the prominent citizens of Jammu was convened at their residence and it was unanimously decided to set up a college for education of females too. Public donations were raised and the Mahila college was launched from a private building in Jammu and Maharani Tara Devi inaugurated it putting a seal of approval for heralding a new era of higher female education in Duggar Pradesh. This college was shifted to another building in Kachi Chowni, Jammu and later headquartered at the present premises in Prade Ground, Jammu and now is functioning as Government Women College.
Referring to Dogri Sanstha, it was pointed out that Srinivas Shah was instrumental in giving a practical shape to this literary and cultural organization as envisioned by Deenubhai Pant, Prof Ramnath Shastri, Sansar Chand Baru, DC Prashant, N.D. Misra. Periodical meetings were held at our residence in which plans were chalked out for its activities in the literary and cultural spheres.
In reply to a question, she stated that her father always took keen interest in organizing festivities like Dusherra, Navratras Holi, Deepawali and other programmes.
Reminiscing, Shakuntla Khajuria, who is herself a leading Dogri poet and author fondly remembered the close relationship of her father with the leading lights like Ishar Dass Khanna (Businessman), Mulakh Raj Gandotra (CCF), Pt Prem Nath Dogra, Karam Chand Mahajan, Pt Banke Behari and many other prominent citizens.
This proud Dogra passed away during December 1981 but he still lives in the memories of the people.
(Starline Syndicate Service)
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