Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 23: A grand Shobha Yatra was taken out by Yuva Rajput Sabha on the occasion of 122nd Birth Anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh in Jammu city while various organizations and educational institutions organised different functions to pay floral tributes to Late Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir.
Youth of Rajput Sabha in the shape of car/motorcycle rally, organised a grand show of strength, to mark the Birth Anniversary of the Late Maharaja. This Shobha yatra programme was commenced last year and this year the response was more as compared to previous year. The Shobha Yatra which was commenced from Bantalab, passed through Chinore, Janipur, New Plot, Ambphala, Panjtirthi, Kachi Chawni, Parade, Shalamar Road, Indira Chowk, Bus Stand, Gummat and Dogra Chowk, finally culminated at Tawi bridge near the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh. The YRS members paid floral tributes to Late Maharaja. The rally was flagged off by MLA Devinder Singh Rana.
Apart from the members from Rajput community, the rally was also attended by prominent dignitaries and members from other communities. The members of the community including youth and elders were seen in their traditional dresses- Pyjama kurtas and Kesri Pagri (Turban) on their heads. Many youth displayed naked swords while mounting on the bikes and jeeps and shouting slogans in the praise of Rajput community and the Maharaja. They were also chanting slogans like “Jai Rajputana, ….Yuva Rajput Sabha Zindabad, ….Maharaja Hari Singh ji Amar Rahein, Rajput Welfare Board Sthapit karo, 23rd Sept Ko Chhuti do.”
Addressing the gathering at Tawi bridge, Surinder Singh Gilli, president Yuva Rajput Sabha, said that Rajputs are the real creators of the J&K state who fought tooth and nail to extend the boundaries of Jammu state to Kashmir, Gilgit, Baltistan, touching the boundries of Afganistan, China but unfortunately Rajput community is being ignored and thrown to the wall since 1947 after Kashmiri rulers took over the regime. He appealed the people of J&K in general and Rajput community in particular to follow the path shown by Maharaja Hari Singh. He demanded declaring 23rd Sept as a Gazetted holiday in the State and formation of Rajput Welfare Board.
In Samba town also a large scooter/ motorcycle rally was taken out by the Rajput Sabha Samba under the leadership of Samba unit president, Capt ( Retd) Inder Singh, to mark the occasion. The rally after passing through all the Mandis, markets and main highway at Bus Stand culminated peacefully.
Meanwhile, Dy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh while lauding the contributions of Maharaja Hari Singh made for the welfare and development of J&K State, said that Late Maharaja will be remembered for long for his good works done for the social transformation in State.
While speaking at a function held to commemorate the Birth Anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh here today, the DyCM highlighted the contributions of the Maharaja and remembered the works performed and schemes implemented by him for the betterment of State. Dr Singh said that Maharaja was a social reformer who worked for women education and upliftment of weaker sections of the society.
Referring to establishment of Jammu & Kashmir Bank to streamline the economic conditions of State, the Deputy Chief Minister said that he also set-up Court in order to put justice on track. He said in order to abolish untouchability, Maharaja Hari Singh allowed the entry of Scheduled Castes in the temples. He stopped the rampant practice of child marriage and promoted widow remarriage, Dr Singh maintained.
Unveiling the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh at a function at Gurah Slathia in Vijaypur Assembly Constituency here today former NC minister S S Slathia said that regional unity and amity were pre-requisite for harmony and hoped the people will play their crucial role in strengthening age old ties between various segments of society.
The function was organised by the Rajput Sabha, in which a large number of people participated. Mr Slathia besides others paid rich tributes to the late Maharaja.
He urged the people to work for harmonious society by further strengthening the bonds of unity and amity. “Unity in diversity has been strength of this state”, Mr Slathia added.
Speaking on the occasion, the office bearers of the Rajput Sabha highlighted various facets of the life of Maharaja Hari Singh, saying he was a great social reformer who strived for just and equitable society.
122nd Birth Anniversary was celebrated with great pump and show by the activists of National Panthers Party, Bharatiya Samata Samaj and others at Jantar Mantar, Delhi this afternoon describing him as one of the greatest nationalists and Indian patriot who had challenged the British Crown in 1931 at Round Table Conference in London declaring that, “I am an Indian first and then a Maharaja”.
It was this declaration of Maharaja Hari Singh which made him to face several hostile tempests and storms from 1931 till the day he opted for exile on March 5, 1948.
Prof Bhim Singh, chief patron of NPP while addressing the Party activists said that Maharaja Hari Singh had taken a historic decision by acceding to the Union of India on October 26, 1947 and gathered support from all regions of J&K including Kashmir.
He regretted that the Indian leadership in 1947 and 1950 failed to realize the international implication of keeping J&K out of the Union of India and did not include the State of J&K among 577 states of India which were included in the Union of India on 26th January, 1950. This was the blunder committed by the Indian leadership in 1950 by excluding J&K from the list of states which were merged into the Union of India on January 26, 1950, Bhim Singh added.
Reiterating resolve to carry forward messages and teaching of Maharaja Hari Singh, `Team Jammu’ today regretted that the last Dogra ruler was a victim of the “malicious and vicious” campaign launched by Valley based ruling elites to undermine revolutionary steps taken by the visionary Maharaja.
Team Jammu further regretted that instead of recognizing contribution of Maharaja Hari Singh’s in uniting the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the successive rulers in J&K always undermine such contributions of late Dogra ruler, who was a real social reformer.
A large number of people from different walks of life including College students, irrespective of their castes, colour, creed and religions joined Team Jammu and paid floral tributes at Maharaja Hari Singh Statue on Tawi Bridge, today morning.
While paying floral tributes to the Late Maharaja, chairman of the Team, Zorawar Singh Jamwal said that Maharaja Hari Singh will remain a role model for the generations to come. ” The contribution of Maharaja Hari Singh is phenomenal as he has immensely contributed in every sphere of life which is remembered today as well”, he said, adding that he was a visionary far ahead of his times.
Jammu West district BJP under the leadership of Ayodhya Gupta celebrated 122nd birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh at Pt Prem Nath Dogra Bhawan, Kachi Chawni, Jammu.
District president Ayodhya Gupta spoke on the achievements of Maharaja Hari Singh, especially with contest to the reforms like abolishing child marriage, opening doors of temple for the Dalits, making primary education compulsory for girls etc.
On the occasion other eminent speakers included Munish Sharma, Sanjay Baru, Jugal Kishore Gupta, Mohan Singh Rana, Bansi Lal Bharati, ND Rajwal, Prem Gupta and others.
Bahu Fort Development Committee also celebrated Birth Anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh at Maharaja Hari Singh Chowk, opposite Police Station Bagh-e-Bahu, Jammu where statue of Maharaja Hari Singh has been installed. Rajeev Charak president of the organisation, Baldev Raj Nargotra- chairman, Ishant Gupta spokesman, SHO Bagh-e-Bahu Vijay Choudhary and Ajay Pargal paid rich tributes to Maharaja Hari Singh by garlanded his statue. Charak highlighted the contributions of Late Maharaja.
Delhi Public School Jammu, a unit of Rajput Charitable Trust organized an impressive function in the school complex and paid rich tributes to Maharaja Hari Singh, erstwhile ruler of Jammu & Kashmir state on his Birth Anniversary today. The celebrations commenced with floral tributes to the legendary king led by garlanding the statue of Maharaja by the chief guest- Speaker J & K Legislative Assembly Kavinder Gupta along with guests of honour – Rajesh Gupta MLA Jammu East, Ashok Khajuria – MLC, S Charanjeet Singh Khalsa- MLC, Ramesh Arora- MLC, Danish Rana- IGP Jammu, Manmohan Singh – Commissionor Municipal Corporation Jammu and M S Jamwal, Secretary, Rajput Charitable Trust, Jammu. It was followed by Tilak ceremony, lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the dignitaries and `Ganesh Vandana’.
Kavinder Gupta extended gratitude to the Management of DPS for inviting him on such an auspicious of birth anniversary of an illustrious king of J&K who signed the Instrument of Accession with India on October 26, 1947. He said that it was because of his great wisdom and statesmanship that we are part of the great country -India, today. He also lauded Maharaja for doing away with many social evils for the welfare of the public.
SS Sodhi, Director DPS Jammu /Katra /Udhampur / Leh/ Nagbani and Principal DPS Jammu Ruchi Chabra also spoke on the occasion.
Management of Maharaja Hari Singh DAV Public Higher Secondary School, Udhampur also celebrated Birth Anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh and paid floral tributes to him. Sunil Sharma- Head of the Department, DIET (Kud) was the chief guest on the occasion who paid tributes to Late Maharaja along with Principal, Durgesh Nandini and chairman of the Institution, Romesh Sharma.
The students of class 11th and 12th also presented a play and cultural programme on the occasion.
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