Er. HEM RAJ PHONSA
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 and 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 and some, other banks and contributed for starting of Grammen Bank Branches throughout the State.
Babu Ji reached the rightful post at The Governor of Haryana on 19th July 2000 as Babu Ji took 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 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 12:05 AM. Babu Ji breathed his last in his house, where all his family members and 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, people from all walks of life, high and low, officers and workers started reaching Babu Ji’s, Gandhi Nagar Jammu residence and by the noon the crowd of mourners spell to many thousands.
The Jammu and State Government declared State mourning, State funeral and a public holiday was also declared, Throughout the State. National State Flags were lowered to half mast. Mess on ges from many national state high dignitaries started pouring in through telephones, by other means. The mourners made a bee line to have last glimpse of their leader, while passing by the side of the body of Babu Ji. They were crying to see him lying motion less. Lt. Gen S.K Sinha ( Retd ) Governor of J and 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 and 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.
L.K Advani former Dy. Prime Minister of India, (now Senior Leader of the Ruling BJP, in Lok Sabha ) along with Shanta Kumar ex Chief Minister Himachal Pradesh and 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 and K State along with many of his cabinet ministers and admistration, heads of 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 “.
A Guard of Honour was given by J and K police with reversed arms and with blowing of last post the mortal remains of Babu Ji were consigned to flames. The pyre was lit by Babu Ji’s two sons Dr Rajinder Parsad and Gagan Jyoti and two grand children Master Varun and 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’, travelled with dignity, a long way from a hut to Raj Bhawan.
(Concluded)