Sir,
Public is clamouring for declaration of holiday on 23 September as mark of respect to their last beloved ruler. Public demand for a holiday on Maharaja Hari Singh’s birthday is long and persistent. It is gaining public support and strength each passing day. The delay in govt response is astonishing and suspect. So far the public demand is apolitical and peaceful. Grandsons of Maharaja; both legislators, raised the demand for the holiday in the State Legislature and got the bill passed in the Upper House. Various social, religious and Non-Governmental Organisations have been raising it from various other forums and platforms and many a time loudly. But the Govt silence is not understandable. One wonders why is the Govt in J&K so insensitive to the persistent public demand emanating strongly in Jammu region. Whosoever heads the Govt is not the CM of one region or one segment of the society but of all, hence duty bound to accept the public demand if genuine and reject it if unbecoming. Unfortunately it has not yet happened in this case probably for the sectarian reasons and vote bank politics. Public expects Govts to be non-partisan in certain public related issues. This issue is one such. We as laymen, appeal the Govt to declare 23 September as holiday as mark of respect to the benevolent ruler who swore by justice and secularism and went out of the way to usher social, educational, agrarian, religious, democratic and political reforms to empower scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, farmers, poor and down trodden, both men and women, across the State, irrespective of caste, creed or religion. Earlier the holiday is declared, the better, lest by any chance or intrigue, the public anger takes the shape of ‘Jat Agitation’ type sectarian discourse. If that happens the blame will squarely rest with the political leadership of all hues.
Your’s etc….
Col J P Singh
Th. K P Singh
Akhnoor.
II
Sir,
Birthday of Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, who took the reigns of power from Maharaja Hari Singh at the time of Partition of India, is observed as a State Holiday every year in Jammu and Kashmir while as the Birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh is not, who despite tremendous pressure from enemies of the Indian nation finally acceded to the Secular Sovereign Socialist Democratic Republic of India by Instrument of Accession !!!
Had Maharaja not acceded to the Indian Union the story of the Subjects of the whole state of Jammu and Kashmir would have been altogether different it!!!
Your’s etc…
Rajendra Razdan
On e-mail
III
Sir,
Our State has not done justice to the memory of Maharaja Hari Singh, a unique prince among the 600 rulers ruling the other princely states. Having been educated in Britain, he was much emancipated and ahead of his times. To him, his religion was equal justice to one and all. Having meager resources, he couldn’t uplift the lower strata of his subjects in Jammu or the valley, though he strived for equality for all sections until last. The only prince who had the guts to demand freedom from the British at the Round Table Conference. Who else deserves a holiday on his birthday if not the popular Maharaja. God bless him with eternal bliss !
Your’s etc…
Tej Munshi
On e-mail
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