Romi Sharma
Paying tributes to a stellar personality like Yashpal Sharma itself is a tall task. His stature is so huge that we ordinary human beings cannot even see his complete aura. However, whoever came in contact with him had a Midas touch. He was a dear soul of all; few called him Sher-e-Poonch, few called Chacha and some found solace calling him Yash, Neta, Sharma Saheb etc. It is something like calling a God by a hundred names. He as a true leader possessed all the qualities i.e. integrity, empathy, unrelenting resolve and the capacity to mobilize the common public within the inviolable ethical and ideological framework of politics. He was such a magnificent leader that he commanded love and respect across the religion, cast, community and borders too. Such a leader very sadly left us all of a year ago leaving a vacuum which sadly will never be filled. Yashpal Sharma became widely known in political circles after a mass movement in 1978, his care for people of all faiths has been well-known to those who knew him from his early years. Even in his early years as a student, he began mobilizing his peers around important social issues, and his efforts had a real and lasting effect on their lives. He had a deep understanding of the problems faced by people from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds and had effectively proposed remedies to alleviate their suffering on occasion. It is worth mentioning that his Karmabhoomi (Poonch) has a number of concerns of national and international relevance, including the displacement of the Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) population in 1947, ceasefire violations across the Line of Control (LoC), and terrorism. Sharma Sahab, a law graduate and social researcher, had the steely resolve and knowledge of the national and international legal framework necessary to tackle such issues.
Our Sher-e-Poonch played a pivotal role by bringing equality and parity by involving women in the success of Poonch agitation of 1978. Thousands of women participated in this movement under Sharma Saheb’s capable leadership because he held the view that their equal participation is necessary for a robust democracy. Throughout his extensive social and political career, he garnered the admiration and support of countless people owing to his boldness, integrity, and selfless dedication to others. In 1980, he was elected president of the Poonch Municipality and began major construction projects to modernize the city.
Historic landmarks like Krishan Chander Park and Town Hall Poonch were built during his tenure as Chairman. His strategy of encouraging widespread engagement in government affairs remains a hallmark of his administration.
The majority of the works were launched after the impacted populace was consulted. As a member of the Legislative Council, he made sure his money went to those who needed it most across the entire state, and he kept tabs on how quickly the projects were moving along to ensure they were finished on time.
Foremost, he has done tremendous work in maintaining the town of Poonch’s illustrious spiritual and cultural history. He believed that it was crucial for the inhabitants of this border town to view their religious institutions as sites of healing and tolerance.
There is so much to write about our beloved Sharma Saheb and that would really require a life time to narrate. I was fortunate to meet this great soul and will never ever forget the magnetic effect of his aura. My heartfelt tributes to this great personality who shall always be remembered very fondly.
Real tributes will be to follow his footsteps as it will help our future generations to live in harmony and protect humanity.
(The author is an Actor,
Writer and Social Activist).
