Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 23: Floral tributes were paid to the then Maharaja Hari Singh of the Jammu and Kashmir in an impressive function organized by Maharaja Hari Singh Social & Education Foundation (J&K) at Royal Retreat Hari Niwas Palace here this evening.
The function was organized under the leadership of Maharaja Kumar Ajatshatru Singh, Trustee of the Foun-dation and grandson of Maharaja Hari Singh. Raj Kumar Ran Vijay Singh, Member of the Foundation and great grandson of the Maharaja was also present besides Capt Dewan Singh, ADC of Maharaja Hari Singh.
The function commenced with the lighting of traditional lamp/ candle by both the members of the Maharaja’s family present besides ADC of the Maharaja of J&K State. Capt Dewan Singh shared some of his experiences during his 21 years of service with the then Maharaja and termed him as man of great charter and person with true human heart who never distinguished between the people of any religion lower or from upper class. He brought many reforms and justice to all was his principle. He also quoted some of the instances of his personal experience as ADC of the Maharaja and shared with the gathering.
The speakers also highlighted the contributions of the then Maharaja and termed him as great reformer who started the tradition to conduct Pooja of all girls including from Harijans, formed recruitment board, went for abrogation of untouchability, passed Agriculture Act, instituted Infant Marriage Prevention regulations, started practice of instituting State Subject, suppression of immoral traffic among women, constituted State Public Service Commission and framed Scholarships Selection Board. He constituted the first State Legislature which is also known as First Legislative Assembly or Praja Sabha in 1934.
On this occasion, over fifty persons including officers, doctors, lawyers, CAs and media organizations were honoured for contributions to the society and given awards/ citations by the Trustee Ajat Shatru Singh. Capt Dewan Singh was honoured with Life Time Achievement award. Some of the prominent persons honoured on the occasion included- Maj Gen (Retd) R S Jamwal, Shashi Khajuria secretary Dharmarth Trust J&K, Col (Retd) M S Jamwal, Kuldip Khajuria (VC JDA), Arvinder Kotwal RTO, Sidharth Sharma from Sports Council, Arun Gupta Engineer, Y V Sharma Chamber president, R S Jamwal, Anil Padha, Rajesh Gupta, Col V K Bakshi, Kavinder Gupta Ex-Mayor, S M Gill, Sanjeev Kapoor, Arvinder Singh, Sanjay Prabhakar, Sanjeev Kalra, Surinder Sharma, Baldev Khullar, Rajneesh Koushal, I P Singh, DIG Shakeel Beigh, DIG S A Watali, SSP M L Mehra, SP Airport Ashok Sharma, Kuldip Honda, DySP, S S Sambyal DySP, DySP Ram Singh Charak, Insp Mahesh Sharma, P N Pandita, M A Giri, Parvez Ahmed, Rajesh Anand, Dr Ashok Bakaya, Dr P Bhushan, Dr Sanjay Khajuria, Dr Lavi Padha, Dr A K Sudan, Dr Dara Singh Med Suptd SMGS Hospital, Sr lawyer B S Slathia, M K Bhardwaj, CA Joginder Singh and Amit Gupta, Ajay Gandotra and media organizations Daily Excelsior, The Tribune, The Hindustan Times, Amar Ujala, Dainik Jagaran and Kashmir Times.
Meanwhile, Shri Amar Kshatriya Rajput Sabha organized a function in connection with the Maharaja Hari Singh’s birth anniversary and installed a statue of the Maharaja at Veer Bhumi Park in Samba town today. State president of the Rajput Sabha Narayan Singh was the special invitee while function was held under the leadership of District president of the Sabha for Samba Capt Inder Singh. A grand rally was also taken out in which youth of the area besides other members of the community/ Sabha participated. It culminated near Bus Stand.
Bahu Fort Development Committee Jammu also celebrated the occasion with great pomp and show at Maharaja Hari Singhji Chowk near Bagh-e-Bahu here today.It was held under the supervision of Rajeev Charak, president of the committee. Mr Charak, B R Nargotra and others garlanded the statue of Maharaja and also highlighted contributions of the great ruler.
Another function was organized by Dogra Sabha Bahu Fort under the leadership of Dineshwar Singh Jamwal near Bahu Fort today. A large number of people of the area and members of the Sabha participated. They paid their rich tributes to the great Maharaja of the State. Om Parkash chairman and S L Basson also addressed the gathering besides Mr Jamwal.
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