Er. Hem Raj Phonsa
Parmanand affectionately called ‘BABU JI’, traveled with dignity, a long way from a hut to Raj Bhawan.Babu Parmanand Ji was born on 10th August 1932, to Late Sh. Jaggoo Ram & Smt Matyan Devi; Ramdasia (untouchable) by caste, whom were deeply religious souls, having deep faith in Sant-Mat expounded by Saints of Radha Soami Satsang Beas, Distt Amritsar, Punjab. Village Sarore is largely in-habited by the followers of Radha Soami Satsang, following strict norms of Sant- Mat. Sarore village has the proud privilege to be the birth place in addition to Parmanand Ji of Baba Sant Rasila Ram Ji the present head of Baba Teja Singh Radha Soami Ashram Saidpur Distt Amritsar( Punjab). Babu Ji was brought up in an atmosphere full of spirituality, so he followed and exhibited principle of “Love all, hate none”. In his childhood days no body could imagine that the child born in a poor Dalit family at remote backward village Sarore in district Jammu (J&K) shall one day be proud occupant of Raj Bhawan at Chandigarh.
Babu ji from his early school days was hard – working, punctual, brilliant but poised boy. Poverty and vagaries of wealth could not deter him from his determination to get educated. During those days education was rare, particularly for rural Dalits, and only a few lucky were privileged to go to a school. His will to succeed , brought laurel’ when he passed his M.A.& LL.B degrees with flying colures He passed his M.A. LL.B degree from Aligarh Muslim University, in 1958–59 with very high merits. He was one of the first Dalits from J&K state to acquire such higher qualifications. Prior to Babu Ji Bhagat Daulat Ram & Bhagat Mangat Ram IAS had received this distinction. During his student life, he was taking active part in politics as a student leader, always ready to help the needy students. His efforts earned scholarships to many students from his area & community. He was inclined from the very beginning to politics, as it was a master key with solution to all problems.
Duly equipped with higher learning, he met late Bakshi Ghulam Mohd. then Prime Minister of J&K state, who offered Babu Ji the post of Dy.SP or Judge in J&K Judiciary. But Babu ji declined the offer and instead asked for candidature to contest next election of the State Legislative Assembly. This was even disapproved by many well wishers of Babu Ji, who advised him to join service and to lead a comfortable life. But Babu Ji stood like a rock on his self- chosen path. He also practiced as a lawyer at Samba &Jammu bar, where he pleaded for the poorest even fee of cost. His strong will to become a public representative, won him his maiden elections from Ramgarh (reserved) constituency in 1962, general election.
On becoming M.L.A. his family pressed him to get married and raise his family as advised by Sant Mat. His marriage was ceremonials on 6th May 1962 with Sudesh Kumari, daughter of Lala Munshi Ram of Jalandhar in Punjab, who was a well to do sports businessman. Babu ji was blessed with two equally brilliant sons. His elder son Dr. Rajinder Prasad is serving as Professor in surgery in country’s prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi & second son Gagan Jyoti is a Executive Engineer Mechanical wing of the J&K Engineering services.
Babu ji got elected second time in 1967 and was made Dy. Minister of Transport under Chief Minister G.M. Sadiq, a seasoned value based politician cum administrator. Babu ji in his first tenure as Minister exhibited high qualities of head and heart and won the confidence of public in general and the state administration in particular. Problems of the Poor farmers and persons of weaker sections from all areas were given special attention.
Babu ji was made Minister of State by Late Mir Qasim, Departments like Social Welfare, Housing and Urban Development, Local Bodies, Co-operative were nursed by Babu Ji. His contribution for the development of new residential colonies, launching of many welfare schemes and development of small town shall be remembered for years to come. As MOS Social Welfare Babu Ji ensured that funds earn marked for the welfare of the weaker sections were utilized in full & judiciously. He arranged group marriages for the poor girls & scholarships for the deserving students. During his minister ship, doors of higher education including professional colleges were got opened for the weaker section of the society, despite the facts that reservation Rules were not applicable in the State of J&K till 1972. His commitment to the cause of down trodden and needy remained on record, which won him next elections thrice. By this time his name & fame spread into all corners of the J&K state & beyond. He took land mark decisions based on law of the land for the welfare of the society in general & deprived section of the society in particular. For Babu Ji every needy person irrespective of his or her caste or religious affiliations needed help & Babu Ji came to rescue of all needy.
Babu ji had the proud privilege of serving as speaker of J&K Legislature Assembly from 1977 to 1980, with late Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah as the Chief Minister. Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah loved Babu Ji for his many good qualities, when the society was fasting loosing moral values. After the sad demise of Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah. When Dr. Farooq Abdullah took over as Chief Minister, he made Babu Ji Finance and Power Minister in 1982 with rank two. As Finance Minister Babu ji passed orders for equal bi- annual Darbar Move Traveling Allowance, for ranks of employees and broke the age old practice of linking it with pay scale & rank of the officers, officials.
Babu Ji won the next election from the Bishnah constituency (Reserved) again and continued till 18th January, 1990 when the House was dissolved & the state was put under Governor Rule. Thereafter, Babu Ji was on panel of Governor’s Advisory Board 1991 to 1995 under General KV. Krishna Rao (Retd.) and G.C.Saxsena as Governor. Babu Ji enjoyed confidence of both these Governors during peak militancy days.
Bhartiya Dalit Sahitya Academy, an all India Registered society confirmed Dr. Ambedkar National Award in1991-92. for his life long distinguished services to the down trodden ~ The award was presented to Babu Ji by the Vice President Of India (later President of India) Dr K.R. Narayan. Babu ji was also made President of J&K unit of Bhartiya Dalit Sahitya academy. The foundation stone for headquarter building for Bhartiya Dalit Sahitya Academy at Roop Nagar, Jammu was laid by His Excellency then Governor of J&K Gen. K .v. Krishana Rao (Retd.) on 14th April 1994. Part of the building stands already completed. Babu ji had planned to impart free coaching to the deserving students from weaker segments of the region to compete for All India Services like lAS, IPS, IRS etc. But his dreams have remained unfulfilled due to the apathy of administration, and his untimely death .
Babu Ji remained deeply engrossed in welfare of poor and needy persons. To him the true freedom of man is not only political, but also social, economical, intellectual and spiritual. During peek militancy period, people from all walks of life belonging to different religion & regions consulted Babu ji for solace. For a brief period Babu ji edited “The Voice of Depressed” newspaper. Babu ji joined Bhartiya Janta Party in 1996. He was made Vice President of All India Morcha of BJP for SC/ST. He also served as Director of J&K Bank Ltd & some, other Banks and contributed for starting of Grammen Bank Branches through out the State.
Babu Ji reached the rightful post as The Governor of Haryana on 19th July 2000 as Babu Ji take Oath in the Raj Bhawan in Chandigarh”, .The Raj Bhawan became a living example of his dreams as it was open to all needy persons for the personal attention of the Governor. Babu Ji worked for the principles dear to him setting examples to the future occupants of at Raj Bhawan. He reached almost all rural areas of the state to see personally the development works initiated for the welfare of the poor masses.
Babu ji had worked for the upliftment and just cause of the people all throughout his life, they too have lot of love, affection, respect and regard for him. All this was evident when Babu Ji departed from this world on Thursday the 24th of April 2008 at 0005 Hours. Babu Ji breathed his last in his house, where all his family members & near relatives, besides a team of doctors were by the side of his bed.
When the sad news of the death of Babu ji spread in the morning, peoples from all walks of life, high & low, officers & workers started reaching Babu Ji’s, Gandhi Nagar Jammu residence and by the noon the crowd of mourners spell to many thousands.
The Jammu & State Government declared state mourning, State funeral and a public holiday was also declared, Through out the State~ National & State Flags were lowered to half mast. Mess~ges from many National & State high dignitaries started pouring in through telephones, & by other means. The mourners made a bee line to have Last glimpses of their leader, while passing by the side of the body of Babu Ji. They were crying to see him lying motion less. His Excellency Lt. Gen SK Sinha ( Retd ) Hon’ble Governor of J&K State along with Sh. Gulam Nabi Azad Chief Minister , his cabinet colleagues came personally to Babu Ji’s residence to pay floral tributes. Floral wreath was also laid on behalf of the A.R Kidwai Governor of Haryana through the ADC to Governor of J&K State.. Leaders of all political shades paid their respects and conveyed their sympathies with the bereaved family
At the cremation ground again a large crowd of over 10,000 people had gathered. Sh. L.K. Advani former Dy. Prime Minister of India, now Leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha along with Shanta Kumar ex Chief Minister Himachal Pradesh & R. P. Singh reached by a charted plane from New Delhi to pay their last respects to Babu Ji. Advani said that it shall be difficult to find an equal to him with high moral values. Gulam Nabi Azad Chief Minister J&K State along with many of his cabinet ministers and admistration Heads parties reached the cremation ground to have a last glimpse of their loved senior colleague. Revered Soami Gurdeep Gir ji Maharaj of Dera Pathankot and Dera chief of Dera Baba Badbhag Singh H.P also came with their sangat to shower their blessings. A Kashmiri Muslim, who had joined the mourners, described Babu Ji as “A Great Darvesh or Saint “.
Today is his 6th Nirwan Divas
A Guard of Honour was given by J&K police with reversed arms and with blowing of last bugle the mortal remains of Babu Ji were consigned to flames. The pyre was lit by Babu Ji’s two sons Dr Rajinder Parsad & Gagan Jyoti & two grand children Master Varun & Anmol along with other relatives.
Babu ji shall be long remembered as a leader of masses, who cared for their welfare more than his personnel comforts. He often advised them ” APNA DIYA AAP BANO” ‘BABU JI’, traveled with dignity, a long way from a hut to Raj Bhawan.
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