STATE TIMES NEWS
REASI: Leading people to pay homage to Maharaja Hari Singhji on his 128th Birth Anniversary, Senior BJP leader Devender Singh Rana on Saturday said the best tribute to the benevolent last ruler of Jammu and Kashmir would be to promote rich Dogra art, culture, heritage and language.
Speaking at a homage giving function here, Rana said much onus lies on scholars and artists , the conscious keepers of the Dogra heritage, who can play their crucial role in promoting and propagating Dogri, reviving Duggar culture and bequeathing to posterity the sagas of valour scripted by the great warriors from times immemorial.
He said the Dogra heritage encompasses the glorious past of the Duggarland, which stands tall for harmony and reconciliation that can be reclaimed by promoting Dogri language in a big way, as Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians were proud inheritors of the Dogra ethos.
Devender Rana said that Duggarland is actually a Veerbhoomi that has produced great warriors and military heroes who have left indelible mark of bravery for posterity to emulate. He sought establishment of a museum in the memory of General Zorawar Singh to exhibit Jammu’s history of valour.
Rana called for strengthening the bonds of amity and brotherhood, saying those vitiating the atmosphere are doing disservice to the nation. He referred to the motivated campaign against Sanatan Dharma and said these machinations will be fought with full might.
Paying tribute to the last Dogra ruler, Rana said Maharaja Hari Singhji was as a great reformist, a visionary and a benevolent ruler. The old timers still remember his governance as the golden era of Jammu and Kashmir. Whenever J&K’s glorious era is recalled, the Maharaja’s rule unfolds the glory of his benevolence, he said.
Rana said while the steadfastness of Maharaja Hari Singh in signing the Instrument of Accession of Jammu and Kashmir with the Dominion of India on October 26, 1947 in most challenging circumstances will always be remembered by the compatriots, his contribution to the country’s freedom struggle cannot be forgotten. The Maharaja worked towards the promotion of literacy and gave due impetus to agricultural activities. Historians have all along credited him for bringing reforms by bringing laws prohibiting child marriage. His administrative and socio-economic reforms made him distinct among the rulers of his times, he added.
He said Maharaja’s vision about social justice and various other reforms were ahead of time, which made him the bellowed ruler of the masses.
Rana referred to the relentless efforts by the people over the years in getting the Maharaja Hari Singh Ji’s Birth Anniversary declared as a holiday and said the overwhelming demand finally got realized. He said the best tribute to the Maharaja will be to carry forward his legacy of reforms and promotion of heritage to the posterity.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included Balwant Singh Mankotia, Ex-MLA, Saraf Singh Nag, DDC Chairman Reasi, DDC Katra Nirmala Devi, Kuldeep Dubey, Maheshwar Singh, Romail Singh, Jaswant Singh, Pawan Dev Singh, Gurbachan Singh, Bhanu Partap, Dharamveer Singh Jamwal, Ashok Singh and others.
Guest of Honour Balwant Singh Mankotia, while paying homage to the great Dogra ruler, dwelt on various facets of the illustrious life and contribution of Maharaja Hari Singh ji for progress, development and welfare of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Mankotia described the signing of the Instrument of Accession as the greatest contribution of the Maharaja, saying this integrated Jammu and Kashmir with the Union of India.
The various other speakers also paid tribute to Maharaja Hari Singh ji.
Devender Rana complimented the organisers for holding the event to pay homage to the Maharaja and express gratitude of the indebted people for his immense contribution.