PPRIBC Research Project for YMCAUST

   नाम :                   गांव/पता:                                     शिक्षा:                      लिंग:                     उम्र:                        किसान /गैर-किसान:

भाग -१ 
१. क्या आप पंचायत चुनाव पर लागू शिक्षा मापदंडो से सहमत हैं जिसमें पढ़े-लिखे ही चुनाव लड़ सकते हैं?      
 हाँ                नहीं

२. क्या नई एजुकेशन नॉर्म्स से शिक्षा प्रति रूचि बढ़ी है?                                                                      हाँ                नहीं
3. क्या बेटी बचाओ के नारे के बाद बेटियों के प्रति माहौल बेहतर हुआ है?

                                            हाँ                नहीं

४. क्या पढ़ी-लिखी बहु की कदर बढ़ी है?             

                                             हाँ                नहीं

५. क्या इन पंचायत चुनावों के बाद महिलाएं निर्णायक भूमिका में आई हैं?

         हाँ                नहीं

६. गाँव में शिक्षा के पहले से ज़्यादा अवसर प्राप्त हैं ?

                                                हाँ                नहीं

७. स्त्री प्रधानों ने पिछले कुछ माह में बढ़िया काम किया है?

                                                 हाँ                नहीं

८. इन पंचायतों में युवाओं को नेतृत्व का अवसर मिला है.

                                                  हाँ                नहीं

९.  क्या पढ़े -लिखे उम्मीदवार बेहतर निर्णय ले रहे हैं?

                                                   हाँ                नहीं

१०.पंचायतें पहले से ज़्यादा कारगर व सक्षम हुई हैं.

                                                     हाँ                नहीं

_____________________________
भाग-२ 
१. गाँव में सरकार की कौनसी विकास स्कीम लागू  है? 

(क) ___________________(ख)______________  (ग)  __________________(घ) ______________
२. क्या आप का गाँव आदर्श ग्राम स्कीम का हिस्सा है?

                              हाँ                नहीं

३. गाँव में टॉयलेट्स का बंदोबस्त पंचायत ने किया है?

                             हाँ                नहीं

४. डिजिटल ट्रांसक्शन व मोबाइल फ़ोन पंचायतों पर थोपा गया है.

                            हाँ                नहीं

५.क्या डिजिटल  लेनदेन में आपका रुपया सुरक्षित रहेगा?

                            हाँ                नहीं 

______________________________________
भाग-३

१ . क्या आप खेती में रहना चाहते हैं ?

                             हाँ                नहीं 

२. आप क्या कभी कर्ज लेकर खेती में डालते हैं?

                             हाँ                नहीं 

३. आप किन वजहों से कर्ज़ लेते हैं?

१) शादी इत्यादि  २) अन्य  कार्यक्रम ३)बीजाई, दवाई छिड़काव, थ्रेशिंग, फ़र्टिलाइज़र कृषि कार्य/उत्पादन 

४. आपकी फसल की पेमेंट में कितना समय लगता है ?
(१) . सप्ताह (२). एक माह (३). कुछ माह (४ ). एक वर्ष 

६. एक किसान की कौनसी परेशानी सरकार तुरंत हल कर सकती है?
________________________________________

७. क्या फसलों के दाम स्थिर रहते हैं और किसान को अंदाजा दिया जाता है की दाम बढे-घटेंगे?

                            हाँ                नहीं 

८. क्या पर्याप्त वेयरहाउस हैं ताकि फसल बर्बाद न हो?                                                           हाँ                नहीं 
९.  यदि किसान भाव तय  करे तो आपके हिसाब से क्या एम् एस  पी रखा जाना चाहिए?

गेहूं के दाम: रू _________

गन्ने का दाम:रू  _______

जीरी (चावल)का दाम:रू________

बासमती चावल: रू _________

ग्वार का दाम: रू __________

सरसों का दाम: रू __________

१०. क्या प्रोग्रेसिव/प्रगतिशील किसान  के लिए बाजार में बेहतर या मुनाफादार प्रबंध  हैं?

                                              हाँ                नहीं 

११. क्या आप फसल बीमा योजना से सहमत हैं?

                                               हाँ                नहीं 

१२. खेती से आपको मुनाफा होता है ?

                                                 हाँ               नहीं 

                          ___इति ______

                            धन्यवाद !

दिव्यज्योति ( PPRIBCM Research Project,YMCA, Faridabad)updated on April 26, 2017)

Common Man Gets Tech -Savvy: Cartoon strip by Jagdeep, MJMC(I)

A Simpleton No More

Our LOve for Expensive Entertainment : Cartoon strip by Mohd. Anas Qadri

Theater : Who cares? Culture: Rather Rare!

Rao Tula Ram:Shining Bright in the Galaxy

While the social fabric of Haryana lies torn today. This is the land that gave birth to luminaries drawn from different communities who became martyrs for the common cause-to liberate the motherland from the colonizer.Shining bright in the firmament of nationalists, there is a star called 'Rao Tula Ram'- woe it is that today these great men become circumscribed to their own community or religion.Let us recall the mission of these bravehearts when 'Divide & Rule' seems to resurface in disguise.

Rao Tula Ram Ahir - (1825 - 1862)

Sketch by Veena Rawat

Many of us, who are familiar with India’s capital, must have used the nation’s main international airport, Indira Gandhi International, at some point or the other. Enroute from the airport to the centre of the capital is a long and famous road, Rao Tula Ram Marg (‘Marg’ being the Hindi for street). Situated on this road is one of New Delhi’s finer higher education institutions, Rao Tula Ram University. All this begs the question, ‘who is this Rao Tula Ram?’

Rao Tula Ram was one of the great leadersof the Indian Uprising of 1857 against the colonial British forces. His story is one of rebellion and guerrilla warfare against the stronger and better-equipped imperialist forces of the British Army.       

                        

He was born on 9 December 1825 in the well known Rao family in village Rampura in the district of Rewari (a two-hour drive south-west of New Delhi), in what is now Haryana. His father was Puran and his mother's name was Gyan. He was educated according to the then prevalent customs and he knew Persian, Urdu, Hindi and a small amount of English. In November 1839, Rao Tula Ram ascended the throne on the death of his father.
In 1857, on hearing the news of rebellion atMeerut and other places, the people of the Rewari rose up in revolt. In the Rewari area,lead was given by Rao Tula Ram.

On l7 May 1857, Rao Tula Ram went to the ‘tehsil’, or headquarters, at Rewari with four to five hundred followers and took all the government buildings in their possession. For their headquarters, they chose Rampura, a small fortified village, one mile south-west of Rewari. Tula Ram, the elder Rao became Raja and Gopal Dev his commander-in-chief. 

After assuming charge, Rao Tula Ram organized the revenue department and collected revenue and taxes. He took donations and loans from the people of Rewari. He raised a force (about five thousand men) and set upa large workshop in the fort of Rampura where a substantial number of guns, gun-carriages and and ammunition were manufactured. Law and order was enforced; his State was defended from outside attacks.

At this time, Delhi was under attack from the British forces, so Rao Tula Ram helped the emperor Bahadur Shah in their fight against the British. But this help could not protect Delhi which fell to the British on September 20, 1857. Soon after Brigadier-General Showers led out a column (from Delhi) of 1,500 men with a light field battery, 18 two-pounder guns and two small mortars, "to attack and destroy Rao Tula Ram and his follower and to raze his fort (at Rewari)." The situation was serious and the Rao foresaw that a fight with the British forces in the mud fort of Rampura, in the changed circumstances after the fall of Delhi, would result in the complete destruction of his army without any seriousloss to the British. So he left his fort before Showers' arrival
.the fort of Rewari was taken without any opposition on October 6th. 

Immediately after the occupation of the fort of Rewari, Brigadier-General Showers sent a messenger to Tula Ram telling him that if he submitted along with guns and arms, hewould be treated on merits.

After a few days rest at Rewari (Rampura), on November 16, Gerrard marched to Narnaul. As the track was sandy, the column reached Nasibpur, a small village, two miles northwest of Narnaul and halted for a short rest. The rebel force, having abandoned their strong fort in the center ofthe town pounced on them. Rao Tula Ram's first charge was irresistible and the British forces scattered before them. The Patiala Infantry and the Multani Horse on the British side were completely disheartened. But at this juncture, the Guides and the Carabineers came to their rescue and saved the situation. The Englishfire, especially of the artillery was too muchfor the rebels. But soon the situation took an unexpected turn when Col. Gerrand wasmortally wounded by a musket ball.

With this, the British too, were demoralized.Taking full advantage of the circumstances, Rao Tula Ram .swooped down upon them. The British could not stand the charge and the Multani Horse fled away in bewilderment. They recaptured their guns and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. The right and the left wings of the British forces were thrown intoconfusion.Appreciating the gravity of the situation Major Caulfield, the officiating British Commandant, ordered his artillery to start heavy bombardment and his cavalry and infantrymen to charge straight on with full force in to their front ranks.

 Rao Tula Ram’s forces fought back furiously and stood their grounds. The British artillery fire, nevertheless, broke their backbone andsplit their forces into two parts - one engaged in the close quarter battle and the other fleeing to go out of the range of the British guns. Rao Tula Ram was defeated that day but luckily managed to flee to safety. His escape frustrated the British.The battle of Narnaul was undoubtedly oneof the most decisive battles of the Uprising of 1857. 

The English felt jubilant over their success in this confrontation, for it marked the ‘beginning of the end’ of the crucial period of the struggle in the Haryana region and northern Rajasthan. After the battle, Rao Tula Ram moved into Rajasthan; then joined Tantya Tope's forces for one year. On 1 November 1858, the British issued the promises of unconditional pardon and amnesty to all offences against the British to all except those who directly or indirectly took part in the murder of British subjects.

Story by Veena Rawat

The Unsung Hero of 1857-Story of Raja Nahar Singh by Veena Rawat

The Story Of Raja Nahar Singh - 

The Unsung Hero Of 1857 Who Guarded Delhi's Freedom for  Over 120 Days

Raja Nahar Singh(1821-1857)

Sketch by Veena Rawat

Whether it was Mangal Pandey, Rani Laxmibai, Tatya Tope, Nana Saheb, or the last Mughal, Bahadur Shah Zafar - the revolt of 1857 saw many heroes. But alongside these heroes who got credit for scripting the mutiny, there were thousands of others whosacrificed their lives without being sung. One such hero was Raja Nahar Singh, the king of Ballabgarh, Faridabad who guarded Delhi's borders from British forces and kept Delhi liberated for over 120 days.

Bharatmata mandir 

In the first war of Indian Independence, on 16th May 1857, when Delhi was liberated, the army of Nahar Singh was on guard on the western border of Delhi. He had established military guardposts from Delhi to Ballabhgarh, and also had his men of intelligence on the ground. 

The English called Ballabhgarh, the eastern border to Delhi, "Delhi's gate of Iron" and were fearful of it. They did not have the courage to face him. John Lawrence, the then commissioner of Punjab, had written to the thengovernor-general, Lord Canning that, "The East and the South is protected by the strong forces of Raja Nahar Singh of Ballabhgarh, and it is unlikely we can break this wallof soldiers unless we receive reinforcements from China or England."

His birth

Nahar Singh was born to Jat King Raja Ram Singh and Basant Kaur at Ballbhgarh on 6th April 1821. Nahar Singh received his education at the feet of his preceptors Pandit Kulkarni and Maulvi Rahman Khan which made him secular in the true manner.Haryana TourismSince his father passed away when he was nine, his uncle Nawal Singh took over the responsibility of running the state affairs till Nahar Singh's coronation in 1839. Prior to this, Nahar Singh received tutorship in martial arts and soon grew to be an adept horse rider and fine shooter. Legend has it that he once single-handedly hunted a lion.

In 1839, Nahar Singh organised a meeting in Mukteshwar (Uttar Pradesh), which was attended by Rao Krishan Gopal, Raja of Gwalior, Tantya Tope  and other important people who later participated in the mutiny.He played an important role in safeguarding Delhiwikipedia commonsRaja Nahar Singh, who was one of the trusted lieutenants of Bahadur Shah Zafar, played an important role in repulsing successive British attacks on Delhi in the battles of Hindon and Badli-ki-Sarai. The Indian forces defeated the British and further extended Delhi's liberation from the British.

When Delhi fell

Raja Nahar Singh wanted to bring the emperor to Ballabhgarh, which till then was a stronghold of the rebels. But Mirza Elahi Baksh, the father of the emperor's daughter-in-law, betrayed the emperor. Baksh was an agent of the British, and persuaded the Emperor not to go beyond the tomb. Quite different from the British narrative, that says that Nahar Singh seized Humayun's Tomb. But after British general Hudson killed Bahadur Shah's two sons and threatened to kill the emperor, the siege was lifted.His captureNahar Singh had retired to his stronghold in Ballabhgarh after the emperor was arrested. The British emissaries went to Ballabhgarh with white flags and asked for peace talks which would result in a settlement with the Mughal Emperor.

Story by Veena Rawat

Bhagat Singh:The Face of Revolution by Veena Rawat

In the last few years, nationalism has been redefined. But there were times, when patriots walked the talk. And tempers flared up against the colonizer, not the brother next-doors.The man who is an outstanding symbol of the times is Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh. Despite attempts to efface him from public memory, he remains ensconsed as an ideal, an eternal icon- torchbearer of rationalism with nationalism- true inspiration for Youth!

His legacy prompted the    Indian  youth to fight for independence of India and today in the modern India; 

Bhagat Singh continues to be a youth icon.The Reserve Bank had issued Rs.5 denomination coins to commemorate Bhagat Singh's birth anniversary.

Bhagat Singh is often termed as the 'youthicon' or the 'revolutionary of the youth' but his stature is one that equals some of the prominent names in the Indian freedom struggle. His patriotism was not restricted to the strong violent outburst against the British; he rather had a mind and intellect of a genius who could foresee division of India on communal lines which many of the much esteemed leaders of the time were unable to see. Keeping the cause of country ahead of the religion was another signs of his mature and rational mind.

Personal Life of Bhagat Singh

One of the most prominent revolutionaries of India, Bhagat Singh was born on 28 September 1907 in a Sikh family in the village of Banga in Layalpur district of present-day Pakistan. The third son of Sardar Kishan Singh and Vidyavati, Bhagat Singh's father and uncle were members of Ghadar party.

Influences on Bhagat Singh

He was greatly attracted towards socialism. Believed to be one of India's earliest Marxists, Bhagat Singh was one ofthe leaders and founders of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA). Bhagat Singh was deeply saddened by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919. Though he participated in the non-cooperation movement, he was disappointed when Gandhi called off the agitation after the Chauri Chaura incident. He studied at the National College in Lahore where he came into contact with other revolutionaries such as Bhagwati Charan, Sukhdev and others.

Deeds of Bhagat Singh

Bhagat Singh was against individual acts of terrorism and gave a clarion call for mass mobilisation. In 1928, he came in contact with another famous revolutionary Chandrasekhar Azad. The two combined to form the 'Hindustan Samajvadi Prajatantra Sangha'. During the Simon Commission's visit to India in February 1928, there were protests against the Simon Commission's visit to Lahore. In one of these protests, Lala Lajpat Rai was injured in a lathi charge and later on succumbed to his injuries. To avenge Lajpat Rai's death, Bhagat Singh decided to kill the British official responsible for thekilling, Deputy Inspector General Scott. Buthe accidentally shot Assistant Superintendent Saunders instead, mistaking him for Scott.Bhagat Singh threw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly on 8 April 1929 and thereafter courted arrest.

Bhagat Singh, Sukh Dev and Raj Guru were awarded death sentence by a court for their subversive activities. They were hanged on 23 March 1931. Bhagat Singh is still seen as the role model by a large number of young people in India.



Part-II


"I have been arrested while waging a war. For me there can be no gallows. Put me into the mouth of a cannon and blow me off."


One of the most affable revolutionaries of the Indian independence movement, Bhagat Singh, was hanged on March 23, 1931 at 7:30 PM in Lahore jail with his companion Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar.March 23, every year, is therefore, observed as the Martyrdom day (Shaheedi Divas) of  Shaheed Bhagat Singh in India.


Bhagat Singh, a Sandhu Jat(an Indian ultimately), was born in September 1907 to a Sikh family in Bankga village, Jaranwala Tehsil in the Lyallpur district of the Punjab Province of British India (now in Pakistan). His family had earlier been involved in revolutionary activities against the British rule in the country.


He was a great actor in college time and acted in several plays like Rana Pratap, Samrat Chandragupta and Bharat Durdasha. During the independence movement,  Bhagat Singh, had for some time been exploiting the power of drama as a means to inspire revolt against the British, purchasing a magic lantern to show slides that enlivened his talks about revolutionaries who had died as a result of the Kakori Conspiracy, such as Ram Prasad Bismil. In 1929, he proposed a dramatic act to the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) with the intention of gaining massive publicity for their aims.

 Singh was a great writer. He wrote for and edited Urdu and Punjabi newspapers, published from Amritsar, as well as contributed to low-priced pamphlets published by the Naujawan Bharat Sabha that excoriated the British . After Mahatma Gandhi called off the non-cooperation movement, Bhagat Singh became disillusioned with Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence. Gandhi's decision followed the violent murders of policemen by villagers who were reacting to the police killing three villagers in the 1922 Chauri Chaura incident. Singh joined the Young Revolutionary Movement and began to advocate for the violent overthrow of the British in India.

To avoid getting married by his family, Singh ran away from his house to Cawnpore. In a letter he left behind, he stated:"My life has been dedicated to the noblest cause, that of the freedom of the country. Therefore, there is no rest or worldly desire that can lure me now"


Subhas Chandra Bose said"Bhagat Singh had become the symbol of the new awakening among the youth."Jawaharlal Nehru acknowledged that the popularity of Bhagat Singh was leading to a new national awakening. Over the years, innumerable songs grew about him and the popularity that he achieved.



Singh was sentenced to death in the Lahore conspiracy case and ordered to be hanged on March 24, 1931. That schedule was moved forward by 11 hours and he was hanged on March 23, 1931 at 7:30 PM. It is reported that no magistrate of the time was willing to supervise his hanging as was required by law.

Singh was not a devotee of non-violence, but he also did not subscribe to the religion of violence. He took to violence due to helplessness and to defend his homeland. In his last letter, Bhagat Singh wrote,"I have been arrested while waging a war. For me there can be no gallows. Put me into the mouth of a cannon and blow me off."

Sir ChhotuRam’s 135th Birth Anniversary

Historic Day at Garhi: Vipul, the ‘Right Choice’ for Anniversary Celebrations of Deenbandhu

At the ceremony: Sh Vipul Goel, Minister of Commerce, presided by Sh Birender Singh, Minister of Steel.

(photo: Anshul Garg, MJMC I)

November 24. Garhi, Rohtak

It was a historic day in Garhi as the farmers celebrated the 135th Birth Anniversary Deenbandhu ChhotuRam. The day remained special for several reasons beginning with the pleasant fact of the agrarian community welcoming Sh Vipul Goel as the Chief Guest on the occasion.

Arya Samaj delegation presents a book to Ch Birender Singh, Union Minister  and Smt Prem Lata, MLA Uchana 
(Photo: Kavita and Veena, MJMC I)

The function was presided over by Ch Birender Singh, the Minister of Steel, much respected in the region for his clean image, Haryana's contribution to the cabinet and the grandson of the peasant stalwart who carries forth the legacy with great aplomb.

Yajna ceremony at Sir ChhotuRam memorial, Garhi, Rohtak

The day began with yajna ceremony performed by Ch Birender Singh and Smt Prem Lata,MLA Uchana, the better half of the minister and also the grand-daughter in law of Sir Chhotu Ram. A 65 feet tall alloy statue of the peasant stalwart Deenbandhu ChhotuRam will be erected here about  months from now.



On this occasion, Arya Samaj delegation presented a book to be unveiled by the Union Minister and his better half Smt Prem Lata.

Sharing a light moment: Ch Birender Singh and Ch Chand Singh

The Union Minister Ch Birender Singh presided over the ceremony which is considered as a prologue to the the grandest event in the region organized by Birender Singh till date.As the agricultural community took a vow to gather at the site a few months from now to erect a collosal statue of their great leader Sir Chhotu Ram. Spadework for the same is already going on as farmers, bureaucrats and people with roots in the region have started making collective effort to realize the dream of the great peasant-leader's statue.

The Chief Guest on the occasion may surprise the critics who never thought that two communities that are considered mortal enemies of eachother could be united in times like these.

Mrs Prem Lata, Sh Vipul Goel on the occasion.

Sh Vipul Goel addresssing the press on the occasion.

The agricultural community extended a warm welcome to the Minister of Commerce, Sh Vipul Goel who has become the face of modern commerce in Haryana- modern and holistic development being symbolized in his drive for digitization, humility and attempts to woe the trust of all communities in the region.

Sh Goel with Ch Chand Singh, President of Sir ChhotuRam Trust.

Ch Chand Singh, the Chairman of ChhotuRam Vichar Manch, welcomed the Sh Vipul Goel asserting that the Minister was the ‘right choice’ for Chief Guest on this occasion as it was an attempt to bridge the great Divide between ‘baniyas’ and the farming community. Sh Goel’s acceptance of the honour signaled a new era of friendship between two communities that cannot see eye to eye. 

Ch Chand Singh hailed Goel’s good works including record-breaking Plantation Drive where 3 lac saplings were planted in 3 hours at Faridabad, his material idea of the highest flag in the world and his digitization plan to the applause of the farmers.

Dignitaries on the podium listen eagerly as Vipul Goel, Minister of Commerce & Industries speaks.

Sh Goel expressed his immense pleasure on being felicitated on the Birth Anniversary of the farmers’ favourite leader. He said he was humbled by the affection of the crowd there.
He stressed how Sir Chhotu Ram’s stringent laws liberated both the farmer and the local money lender from the cycle of exploitation. “Actually, our community prospered as we moved towards the city. Earlier we knew only one way of earning money- we remained petty ‘moneylenders’ but he forced us to become more enterprising, become industrialists-a robust economy cannot have exploitation in its foundation'. Goel rubbished the 35 versus 1 and said that the youth wanted leaders like ChhotuRam who could lead all '36 biradaries' to prosperity.

On the Cards :Ch Birender Singh sharing the plans with the press.

The ceremony in which the foundation stone is a prologue to a grand assembly that will take place around four months from now when a colossal 64 feet statue of “Deenbandhu” will be erected on the site earmarked for it. Ch Birender Singh has declared it to be his most ambitious thus far and has urged all-peasants, sadhus and soldiers to participate with zest. The stature of farmer rose with the stature of their leader. He maintained that ‘self-praise’ and ‘recognition’ both were important to community and individual identity. The farmers enjoined him in the mammoth project and assured that they are committed to the task from the spadework to the Grand Finale.Similarly, he asked for War Memorial Gateways which the Minister of Commerce asserted had already been approved. 

Birender Singh told the farmers to change with times and get techno-savvy. Taking a dig at his better-half Birender Singh narrated how he caught his Smt PremLata wife but also the MLA Uchana ironing 100Rs Notes that had lain crumpled in some nook of her wallet. He asked the farmers to accept change and overcome the challenge- ‘farmers don’t let your genius be wasted, learn the ropes from Vipul Goel’. The event remained successful with the coordinated attempt of  Sh Joginder Antil, Dharampal Sharma, Amit Kajal, OmPrakash Katri, Sh Sudhir Phogat, Deepak Malik, Colonel Rajbeer Singh, Sh Ranbeer (sarpanch-Garhi), Sh Vijay Kaushik, Jai Singh Ahlawat(Head of Ahlawat Khap), SD Sharma(Faridabad),Smt Joon, Smt Santosh(Retd. Director, DAV Societies) and Sh Raj Singh Hooda, stage secretary besides other ChhotuRam followers.

A blood donation camp was also organized on the occasion.

NB: This Report by Journalism and Mass Communication branch of YMCA University of Science & Technology may be used for all academic purposes.

Sir Chhotu Ram Memorial Lecture on Partition of India: Report by Chanchal, MJMC

                                   MEMORIAL LECTURE ON SIR CHHOTU RAM

November 22, Faridabad(Chanchal MJMC-I)

Modern Delhi Public School in collaboration with Rashtriya Chetna Shakti Foundation organized ‘Sir Chhoutu Ram's Ninth Memorial Lecture’ on 22 Nov. 2016. The Principal Sh Verma of Modern DPS extended a warm and hearty welcome to the Hon'ble Chief guest Ch. Birender Singh (Union Minister of Steel), Dr. Sukhbir Singh (President, Rashtriya Chetna Shakti Foundation), Prof. Dr. Raghuvendra Tanwar(KU). The Director-Principal, Vice– Principal, President and Ch. Briender Singh floral tribute to legendary Sir Chhotu Ram. 

Dr Raghuvendra Tanwar, Historian delivers Keynote address

Dr. Raghuvendra Tanvar, Professor-Emeritus of history from KU and delivered a memorial lecture on Sir Chhotu Ram and Partition of India. He shared how demographic mobility from East Punjab to West Punjab and discussed the colossal scale of tragedy that left 6 lac people dead in ‘peaceful’ times. 

He, then, discussed why Chhotu Ram remained absent from mainstream history. The basic reason being Chhotu Ram’s staunch opposition to partition. 

Ch Birender Singh flanked by Sh Verma, Director-principal Modern DPS 

Ch. Birender Singh gave an example of Delhi Hockey World Match. When Pakistan lost in the premiere round and they stayed for analyzing match. Pakistani Player requested to visit Garhi, the native village of Chhotu Ram and pay tribute on behalf of his Muslim farmer grandfather. 

Choir, Modern DPS

To continue the program from lamp lighting ceremony by Ch. Birender Singh. School Choir presented “Tum Samaye Ke Ret Par, Chorte Chalo  Nishaan”.

Haryanvi Dance

An energetic invocation dance performance “ Samdesh Hariyana Je To, Dudh Dahi Ka Khada” followed.

Ch. Birender Singh in doing great work for development of villages carried forward Chhotu Ram’s legacy. A biopic PPT of Sir Chhotu Ram was screened and much appreciated.

The Secretary of school society presented a shawl to the Chief Guest Ch. Birender Singh. The director principal presented a memento to Ch. Birender Singh. Ch. Birender Singh inspired audience to be progressive. Sh Sukhbir Singh proposed a Vote of Thanks to the Hon’ble Birender Singh.

Interview with Ch Birender Singh:Highlights

Some highlights from the exclusive interview given to MJMC students, YMCA University on this occasion:

Jagdeep, Anshul Garg, Dr Divyajyoti, Mansi, Kavita with Hon'bLe cabinet minister Ch Birender Singh

MJMC: What is your take on demonetization ?

BS: It is a radical move. Criticism was natural but 'desperate diseases call for desperate remedies'. Only 23 per cent of 500 and 1000 denomination notes were in circulation, the rest were part of parallel economy. The issue needed to be addressed.

MJMC:We are talking about move towards digitization of currency, plastic money and digital economy, you have been the Finance Minister of Haryana and also the minister of Panchayati Raj and Rural development, how acceptable is the idea to an average villager who is not computer -savvy?

BS: That's passe. The villager today has moved on. In UP , we have a whole village that wields debit cards. Follow the example.

MJMC: What is your take on Punjab Government's stand regarding SYL?

BS:The Supreme Court has already pronounced its judgement in favour of Haryana receiving the water. No government can supersede it.

MJMC: For Sir ChhotuRam 'Economics and Politics were inextricable...' There are several parallels we witness in present PM's moves with that of Deenbandhu's economic and political programme- how far are the two leaders similar and where do they differ considering that Sir Chhotu Ram's politics was peasant-centred and the PM believes in taking the peasant along with corporate on the road to development?

BS:The concept of 'corporate' did not exist back then as it exists today. Production, manufacturing and enterpreneurial activities were marginal. But yes, Chhotu Ram's vision was that robust economy could not have exploitation or debt cycle as its base. 

MJMC: Any message on Haryana Swarn Jayanti?

BS:Peaceful co-existence and progress. 

MJMC: Thank You sir.

(MJMC Team included Anshul Garg, Jagdeep, Mansi, Ragini, Kavita and Chanchal with Sh Dushyant supervised by Programme Coordinator/ Editor, YMCA TrailBlazers)

On Idea of 'Akhand Bharat': Ch. Birender Singh visits Faridabad

Partition, Progress and Men of Mettle: Anniversary of Sir Chhotu Ram

November 22, Faridabad. 

The Hon'ble Union Minister Ch Birender Singh,  was here to attend a seminar on partition of India organized by Rashtriya Chetna Shakti to celebrate the anniversary of the peasant leader and secular icon from pre-partition undivided Punjab Sir Chhotu Ram. Floral tribute was paid to the farmer doyen by the distinguished gathering. 

The event that had Prof. Rahuvendra Tawar, Professor-Emerius from KU, eminent historian and Chairman of Haryana History and Culture Academy as the keynote speaker was held this afternoon at Modern DPS, Greater Faridabad. 

The seminar was convened by Sh Sukhbeer Singh Malik, IAS(retd.) President of RCF.Speaking on the occasion. Professor Tawar pointed out that in pre-partition India people were not divided along communal lines but voted for trans-communal alliance with Sir ChhotuRam as its popular face. 

Prof Tawar quoted Shyama Prasad Mukherjee as underlining the fact that Sir ChhotuRam was the only leader who could effectively and proactively counteract the two-nation theory propounded by CRajgopalachari. It was pointed out that ChhotuRam had as far back as in 1941 presaged against dangers of stoking fire of communal hatred. 

Sir Chhotu Ram was a force to reckon with in Punjab and the British Governor-Generals, powerful that they were, all looked at ChhotuRam as true representative of aspirations and strength of the people of Punjab. His popularity surpassed that of Nehru and mainstream history drops him out as an inconvenient truth.

He emphasized that the current government was trying to excavate the relegated or marginalized histories and bring them into perspective. For ChhotuRam the premise was not communal but economic- it was class and not religion that divided people in routine interactions.

He referred to Sir ChhotuRam's letter to Gandhi ji as a masterpiece from history, a volatile document shedding light on the politics of the day and concerned warning for future- an attempt to forewarn and forearm against an impending tragedy. RCF President affirmed that Chhotu Ram had a personality and following that could thwart the tragedy but his untimely demise deprived the prospective nation of a the real leading light.

Ch Birender Singh, Minister of Steel 

erstwhile Minister of Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, Water and Sanitation

Hon'ble Union Minister of Steel told about an incident about nine years back.Hockey team from Pakistan visited India. After having lost the match, a player telephoned Ch Birender Singh, then the Finance Minister of Haryana and expressed his wish to visit Garhi. " My 75 years old grandfather has asked me to visit Garhi, slaute the soil where Chhotu ram was born, " said the Pak player. My brother and I were told by our grand-dad that the peasant of Punjab on either side of the border had prospered due to this great man.

Though he asserted that war hindered youth and progress, he applauded the gallant soldiers of the region for leading Indian defence and guarding our borders. The fact that the past, current and future generals of Army are from this part of country, underlines the kind of spadework done by leaders of Punjab(that includes Haryana and Pakistan Punjab).

Speaking on the occasion Birender Singh said that he found the idea of 'Akhand Bharat ' a chimera. "We are the 'elder brother', not 'Big brother' who intimidates.  I am wary of those who say, Unko Maza chakha Do!(teach them a lesson). War is a trap, it demands cannon-fodder, we should avoid it as it penalizes both the aggressor and the target. For progress, let us adopt an alternative approach that will avoid jingoism without ignoring the fact that Pakistan 's government is controlled by 'military Mafia'. There is a solution , other than 'appeasement' and 'aggression'- the antidote can be retrieved from history in the friendship of Muslim Premieres of Undivided Punjab and ChhotuRam".

Mr Verma, Principal Modern DPS emphasized how Sir Chhotu Ram liberated the peasant from debt circle,and auctioning of property. Secretary DPS Society felicitated the Minister.

Old currency exchange form

Demonetization: the less touted side!

The PM and minister Arun Jaitley claim that the demonetization move is welcomed by the farmer and it empowers the farmers and the poor.

This story(hard news) from Tribune reveals the flip side: