Er. HEM RAJ PHONSA
This is the story of Dogra Rattan Shri Parmanand affectionately called ‘BABU JI’, who travelled with dignity, a long way from a hut to Raj Bhawan.
Babu Parmanand Ji was born on 10th August 1932, to late Sh. Jaggoo Ram and Smt Matyan Devi; Ramdasia (untouchable) by caste, who were deeply religious souls, having deep faith in Sant- Mat expounded by Saints of Radha Soami Satsang Beas, Distt Amritsar, Punjab. village Sarore is largely in-habited by the followers of Radha Soami Satsang, following strict norms of Sant- Mat. Sarore village has the proud privilege to be the birth place in addition to Parmanand Ji of Baba Sant Rasila Ram Ji .
(31st Oct 1921-30th July,2011) the second revered Head of Baba Teja Singh Radha Soami Ashram Said-pur Distt Amritsar (Punjab) .Babu Ji was brought up in an atmosphere full of spirituality, so he followed and exhibited principle of “Love all, hate none”. In his childhood days no body could imagine that the child born in a poor Dalit family at remote backward village Sarore in district Jammu (J and K) shall one day be proud occupant of Haryana Raj Bhawan at Chandigarh.
Babu ji from his early school days was hard – working, punctual, brilliant but poised . Poverty and vagaries of wealth could not deter him from his determination to get educated. During those days education was rare, particularly for rural Dalits, and only a few lucky were privileged to go to a school. He had to work as a labourer to pursue his studies and created history of sorts for village Sarore when he passed his Matriculation in 1952 in First Division after his brother Bua Ditta. Parmanand’s studying brought laurel when he passed his M.A.& LL.B degrees with flying colures. He passed his M.A. LL.B degree from Aligarh Muslim University, in 1958–59 with very high merits. Babu Parmanand when failed to get financial help from any quarters he wrote to Babu Jagjivan Ram then Union Minister, who sent him rupees four hundred. Parmanand was one of the first Dalits from J and K State to acquire such higher qualifications. Prior to Babu Ji Bhagat Daulat Ram and Bhagat Mangat Ram IAS had received this distinction. During his student life, he was taking active part in politics as a student leader, always ready to help the needy students. His efforts earned scholarships to many students from his area and community. He was inclined from the very beginning to politics, as it was a master key with solution to all problems.
Duly equipped with higher learning, he met late Bakshi Ghulam Mohd. then Prime Minister of J and K State, who offered Babu Ji the post of Dy. SP or Judge in J and K Judiciary. But Babu ji declined the offer and instead asked for candidature to contest next election of the State Legislative Assembly. This was even disapproved by many well wishers of Babu Ji, who advised him to join service and to lead a comfortable life. But Babu Ji stood like a rock on his self- chosen path. He also practiced as a lawyer at Samba and Jammu Bar, where he pleaded for the poorest even fee of cost. His strong will to become a public representative, won him his maiden elections from Ramgarh (reserved) Constituency in 1962, general election.
On becoming M.L.A. his family pressed him to get married and raise his family as advised by Sant Mat. His marriage was ceremonial on 6th May 1962 with Sudesh Kumari, daughter of Lala Munshi Ram of Jalandhar in Punjab, who was a well to do sports businessman. Babu ji was blessed with two equally brilliant sons. His elder son Dr. Rajinder Prasad is serving as Professor in Surgery in country’s prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi and second son Gagan Jyoti is a Superintending Engineer Mechanical Wing of the J and K Engineering Services.
Babu ji got elected second time in 1967 and was made Dy. Minister of Transport under Chief Minister G.M Sadiq , a seasoned ,value based politician cum administrator. Babu ji in his first tenure as minister exhibited high qualities of head and heart and won the confidence of public in general and the State administration in particular. Problems of the poor farmers and persons of weaker sections from all areas were given special attention.
After death of Sadiq Sahib in harness 1971, zenab Mir Qasim as CM,who made Babu ji Minister of State.Departments like Social Welfare, Housing and Urban Development, Local Bodies, Co-operative were nursed by Babu Ji. His contribution for the development of new residential colonies, launching of many welfare schemes and development of small town shall be remembered for years to come. Development of Janipur Housing Colony is a classical example of vision of Babu Ji. As MoS social Welfare Babu Ji ensured that funds marked for the welfare of the weaker sections were utilized in full and judiciously. He arranged group marriages for the poor girls and scholarships for the deserving students. During his minister ship, doors of higher education including professional colleges were got opened for the weaker section of the society, despite the facts that reservation rules were not applicable in the State of J and K till 1972. His commitment to the cause of down trodden and needy remained on record, which won him next elections thrice. By this time his name and fame spread into all corners of the J and K State and beyond. He took land mark decisions based on law of the land for the welfare of the society in general and deprived section of the society in particular. For Babu Ji every needy person irrespective of his or her caste or religious affiliations needed help and Babu Ji came to rescue of all needy.
Babu ji had the proud privilege of serving as Speaker of J and K Legislature Assembly from 1977 to 1980, with late Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah as the Chief Minister. Sher-I-Kashmir Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah loved Babu Ji for his many good qualities, when the society was fast loosing moral values. After the sad demise of Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah when Dr. Farooq Abdullah took over as Chief Minister, he made Babu Ji Finance and Power Minister in 1982 with rank two. As Finance Minister Babu ji passed orders for equal bi- annual Darbar Move Traveling Allowance, for ranks of employees and broke the age old practice of linking it with pay scale and rank of the officers, officials.
Babu Ji won the next election from the Bishnah Constituency (Reserved) again and continued till 18th January, 1990 when the House was dissolved and the State was put under Governor Rule. Thereafter, Babu Ji was on panel of Governor’s Advisory Board 1991 to 1995 under General K.V Krishna Rao (Retd.) and G.C Saxsena as Governor. Babu Ji enjoyed confidence of both these Governors during peak militancy days.
Bhartiya Dalit Sahitya Academy, an all India registered society confirmed Dr. Ambedkar National Award in1991-92. for his life long distinguished services to the down trodden ~ The award was presented to Babu Ji by the Vice President of India (later President of India) Dr K.R. Narayan. Babu ji was also made President of J and K unit of Bhartiya Dalit Sahitya Academy. The foundation stone for headquarter building for Bhartiya Dalit Sahitya Academy at Roop Nagar, Jammu was laid by then Governor of J and K Gen. K .V Krishana Rao (Retd.) on 14th April 1994.
(To be continued)
