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Freedom Fighter and Philospher  |
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[1896-1959] |
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Born only 47 years after the annexation of the Punjab by the East India Company, Shri Sunam Rai was able to get the highest degree (M.A. English) from the prestigious Forman Christian College, Lahore. Most of the yougmen of that era had the eye on the highly remunerative Civil Services, but he opted to work for the new concepts laid out by Rishi Dayanand. He preferred to become a teacher rather than serve the British Empire. Many educated persons of his times who later became leaders of Indian National Congress had opted or tried their luck at these services. He wrote whatever his inner atman directed and he was a fearless critic of contemporary customs and personalities as high as Acharya Vinoba Bhave. His mind and spirit were ahead of his times and that is why he viewed the environment around him with the eye of a person who could be identified with any of the saints and philosophers. He wrote very large number of tracts and articles for journals and newspapers. He edited on honorary basis several newspapers without much monetary benefits But then the society does not change its course like a river or stream even if you put so many dams and barrages. The present day trends in social behavours in terms of holding money at the highest pedestal are as vigorous as these were during the preliminary stages of civilized human settlements and during the era when personalities like Shri Sunam Rai struggled. He wrote innumerable articles stressing on the need for change in attitudes and practices for wholesome living. These have been edited and placed in a book form titled ‘Naara-e-Haq’ in Persian script (THE CALL OF RIGHTEOUSNESS). One such article entitled “Wherein lies the true happiness?) has been translated from the collection of his articles in the above book. |
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WHEREIN LIES THE TRUE HAPPINESS?by Sh. Sunam Rai, M. A. |
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The real happiness in the life of a human is that he sacrifices his body and mind for the cause of his objectives before his body becomes useless and is cremated or buried or dumped on garbage heap. He should use his body for the achievement of his objective. He is not blessed with a body that he should become handicapped and cry over and complain that the world does not give him any solace. The human body is a miracle of power and enthusiasm whose sole purpose is that it should be sacrificed for a strong conviction and purpose. This purpose should become an axis around which he should revolve throughout day and night. A person will not prosper and develop who does not aim high.
To state clearly, the whole nation does not seem to have a goal and purpose. That is why the true happiness is a distant dream. We don’t stand anywhere among the free, dynamic and cultured nations of the world.The Maha-purshas (wise persons) are born from time to time. They awaken us.
Some get awakened but the most of the people are left un-awakened. After some time their followers get entangled in the worldly attractions and leave the theme. Shri Swami Dayanad preached awakening and it was felt that this movement of Arya Samaj will spread not only in India but will benefit the whole world. But after a little time the followers got snared in the worldly attractions. For the love of wealth they have given up high thinking and living. Leaving aside Gaytri Mantra and righteousness they have started earning money by establishing cinema houses and printing below dignity advertisements. The worship of demons has swayed them from goal of happiness.
Forgetting the penance, sacrifice, love of the motherland there
is race for acquiring powered vehicles and high-class bungalows. For social
functions these persons get golden invitations printed for the occasion and
galore over the number of cars parked outside their mansions. The childish
pleasure of getting the photographs printed in newspapers is supreme urge while
the sacred aim of serving the motherland is gone into oblivion. In a sovereign
state whose educated people are engrossed in acquiring comforts through
ill-gotten money with illiterate sections ignorant of the affairs of the land
how can righteousness prevail? And without any concepts of high class thinking
how they can be grouped with dynamic nations. This is the reason that helpless
Gandhi has gone silent as the penance and sacrifice required for high class
living is no where to be seen among his followers.
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Life Sketch Of Shri Sunam Rai M.A. |
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Place of Birth: Tehsil : Fazilka District : Firozepur Province : Undivided Punjab Date of Birth: November 20, 1896 Wordly yatra: Expired on December 25, 1959 Family: Married to Smt. Indra Devi after matriculation in 1912 Basic Education: M. A. (English) 1918 (Forman Christian College Lahore Activities: Headmaster of schools, Editor of Magazines, and Public speaker Beliefs: Stauch Congressman and Arya-smajist Books: “Naera-e-Haq” collection of articles Convictions Urge to Uplift the Indian Masses Aresearch: Poverty in Indian masses and its eradication Esteemed persons:M.K. Gandhi, R. Ragore, Bertrand Russel, Einstein, Rishi Rayananad, S. Bhagat Singh Shaheed Popular articles 1. Religious thoughts 2. Political essays 3. Uplift of masses |
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Late Mian Mohd. Sarvar Bodla
V &
PO Behak Bodla (Before Partition in 1947) |
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Mian Sahib was a through bred
personality among the three tribes of Fazilka region who were land owners before
partition and even before the foundation of ‘Bangla’ was laid by Mr. Pat Vans
Agnew a Punjabi speaking officer of the East India Company in 1844 at the bank
of horse shoe lake Badha (Now extinct due to idiosyncrasies of politicians who
took waters from the riparian banks to Rajashtan’s Thar where it sinks like the
good old lost river Sarswati) This region from Danda to the river front was
under the control of Nawab Bahawalpur (An Abassi Pathan who had snatched this
area from Sh Dewa Singh Bhatti; his fort still stands in the southern Thar and
is exposed as a tourist spot by Pak Tourism Department). Maharaja Ranjit Singh
had his hawk like eye on this area but was stopped in his tracks by Governor
General Auckland. This tract was acquired by the East India Company to install a
surveillance station to keep a watch on Sarkar-e Kalsa ji. They had desired to
have such a station at Firozpur was not agreed to by Maharaja Ranjit Singh as he
could read between the lines of their request to discover their real attention
by their scheming officers. The company had proposed the possibility of using
steam boats from Firozpur to Karachi to which Ranjit Singh did not agree. The
recently published diary of Mr. W.G. Osborne (military attaché to Governor
General) testifies that entries in May 21, 22, 23, 24, 1838 (The Maharaja died
in 1839) clearly indicate that after crossing the Sutlej at Roopar, he had
depicted the intention that how they will grab this fertilel and after Ranjit
kicks the bucket like any other mortal. Three tribes had their parganas viz
Bodla, Wattoo and Chishti in this region. The present day road side settlements
have villages named after these tribes, viz Behak Bodla (Mr. Aslam Bodla is a
MLA in assembly of Pakistan Punjab, Bhamba Watoo ( Mian Manzoor Wattoo of this
region was Chief Minister of Pakistan Punjab) and Pakka Chishti. It is the
Wattoo Pargana where the present town an extension of ‘Bangla’ is growing.
Keruwala (now identified as Rampura on Abohar Road) formed a huge chunk of land
which was acquired for growing township of Fazilka. Mian MOhd Sarvar Bodla was
the embodiment of Fazilka culture in terms of higher education (He studeied at
Aitcheson College Lahore). He wore simple but typical dress of Kurta and Chadra. |
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(World Famous Neurologist and Founder Ex. Director cum Principal of Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh) |
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Prof. Dr. Jagjit Singh Chopra
has become a legend in the medical science of Neurology, wherein a full fledged
Department of Neurology at PGI of Medical Education and Research Chandigarh has
prospered under his able guidance since its very inception. Brief Resume |
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Birth Lahore, Pakistan 1935
Primary and High
School Education
Professional Chairs
Publications
Editorship
Fellowship and Memberships
Awards
Emeritus Status
SPECIAL HONOURS
INCLUDE |
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A REVERRED SPORTSMAN OF FAZILKA( Former Captain of Indian Hockey Team, 1950)
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Identified as a fine hockey player while at Government High School, Fazilka, he captained the Indian Hockey Team on visit to New Zealand in 1950 an honour hardly won by any sportsman of Ferozpur District. He earned his (M.A. Persian) from the prestigious Forman Christian College, Lahore capital of Greater Punjab). He realized that the sportsmen of his ear were to make their own living. He started his transport business at New Delhi. He became a successful entrepreneur besides participating in International Hockey matches and promoting the sports in Punjab. One of his interests was to be on the venue of International sports events. He was felt humiliated when the government agency at New Delhi did not allow people from the Punjab to reach Delhi for watching the ASIADS-1982. His protests formed front-page news when Haryana security staff detained him. His mind and spirit were ahead of his times and the aligned his efforts towards promotion of sports in India. He would hold the responsible the state and Central government by permitting schools without playgrounds. The sports keep a person slim and trim is very true in his case. The successful sports career has endowed him with excellent health and he participates to encourage sports in young players. His is conviction that the raw participants with good perseverance usually hail from rural regions. But he also opines that the schools should be provided with facilities for sports in the form of grounds. Though busy in his self supporting entrepreneurship he always finds time to advise the agencies which look after the sports in India. The healthy stock from rural India shall not be able to reach the international scene unless there are opportunities for sports in schools He narrates with relish an episode at his school where he was captain of the hockey team. A day before the hockey match, the local Sub Divisional Officer came to the school hockey grounds on his horse. While going round the grounds, the hoofs of the horse were eroding the soil. Young Gurbachan walked unto the rider and asked him to not to ride around as there was a prestigious hockey match to be held on this ground. He agreed promptly as most of the officers of that era behaved with public decently. And at the time of the match, the same officer (Mr. G. Aminuddin I. C. S.) came fully dressed for the occasion in his Sports Blazer of the ICS academy. While appreciating the game of the young player he acknowledged the fairness with which the young player had requested him from avoiding riding around on the ground. He could visualize the making of a player. This happened in 1934.
The Physical Instructor at the Government High School Fazilka, S. Paan Singh prophesied in 1934, that this young boy though of smaller height plays excellent hockey and he will shine at the international matches. (S. Gurbachan Singh captained the Indian hockey team visiting New Zealand in 1950). The prophesy of a keen observant teacher turned out to be true. Later in 1969, he wished to know about the two brothers S. Gurbaksh Singh and S. Gurbachan Singh from Sardar Thakar Singh who himself played hockey to encourage young hockey players with the vigour of a modern day coach. The students under his care played excellent hockey and did clever stick work at international circuit when the game was played for pleasure and not for packages. A teacher can predict the future of his students, and his importance can never be challenged. But apart from the media panegyrics, there is hardly any VOTE-NARESH who encourages the players of excellence. |
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Life Sketch of S. Gurbachan Singh Brar Place of Birth Abulkhurana Tehsil: Fazilka, District : Firozepur, Province: Greater Punjab Date of Birth 1925 Settled at Panchkula Basic Education: Matriculation Govt. High School 1937, M. A. (Persian) 1943 (Forman Christian College Lahore) Activities International Sportsman, Captain . Indian Hockey Team 1950, Entrepreneur Beliefs Sports Promotion Convictions Urge to uplift sports standards Research Hockey Techniques in modern times Regards Physical Instructors at schools of the hinterland wherefrom the earlier hockey players emerged. Interests Counselling for sports |
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 Born at village Magloona in Sikar district of present-day Rajasthan in 1883, Swamiji, whose actual name was Birama, was the son of Thakarsi, a penurious camel-driver, and his wife Saran. The family were Hindu and belonged to the Dhaka gotra and the Jat clan. When Birama was five, his family left Magluna for the nearby town of Ratangarh. Thakarsi, who used to escort prosperous Seths (Businessman) from Ratangarh to Delhi on his camel, died in 1890 when Birama was seven. This put paid to Birama's already slim chances of gaining an education; it is said that for a prolonged period, his mother had perforce to move from place to place in search of shelter and fodder for her animals. Mother and son finally settled at village Kelania in present-day Sri Ganganagar district in 1897. However, this was not the end of their misfortunes: Rajasthan was then headed for one of its periodic famines. By one account: "There was no vegetation left on the ground. There was no drop of water. All the animals died for want of fodder. People survived on grasses and the bark of "Khejri" trees. Even that also became scarce. There was nothing like governance. The ruling Samants were least bothered for the poor people....". It was in these circumstances that Birama’s mother Saran died in 1899 at village Kelania. Education The famine of 1899 forced the 16-year-old Birama to leave the desert region and move to Punjab in search of livelihood. Circumstances had induced in him an ineffable spiritual quest. He approached Mahant Kushaldas of the Udasin sect, to whom he expressed the desire to learn Sanskrit, in order to be able to study the higher Hindu scriptures from primary sources. Noting that Birama belonged to the Jat caste, who were customarily precluded from studying the higher scriptures or even the liturgical Sanskrit language, Mahant Kushaldas advised him to become a sannyasi, or renunciate, which would render him eligible to learn Sanskrit. Accordingly, Birama became a sannyasi in 1904, was inducted into the Udasin sect, and commenced his education at the Sadhu Ashram Fazilka, a Hindu seminary located in Punjab. He learnt the Hindi and Sanskrit languages and the Devanagari and Gurmukhi scripts at the Ashram. At the Kumbha Mela held at Prayag in 1905, Mahatma Hiranandji Avadhut conferred on Birama the new name "Swami Keshwanand". Career Swami Keshwanand lived a life of many facets -- as freedom fighter, educator and social reformer. The freedom fighter The Jalianwalla Bagh Massacre of 1919, which caused a profound impact on the collective psyche of the Punjab, left Swami Keshawanand profoundly moved. He started attending the meetings of the Indian National Congress, joined the Indian Independence Movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, and participated in the non-cooperation movement, for which was imprisoned for two years (1921-1922) at Ferozepur. In 1930, he was given charge of Congress activities in Ferozepur district. He was again arrested the same year, but was soon released pursuant to the Gandhi-Irwin pact. The educator Swami Keshwanand, an orphan, illiterate, nomadic man who never received formal education, was the founder of more than 300 schools, 50 hostels and innumerable libraries, social service centers and museums. In 1911, within a few years of his initiation into the Udasin Dasnami sect as a sanyasi, swami Keshawanand started the “Vedant Pushp Vatika” library within the precincts of the Sadhu Ashram Fazilka. The following year, he started a Sanskrit school at the same place. In 1932, swami Keshwanand was made director of the Jat School, Sangaria, which was at the verge of closure for want of funds. He went from village to village to collect funds, and was successful in averting the closure of the school, which was renamed Gramothan Vidyapith, Sangaria in 1948. Within the precincts of this school, Swami Keshwanand developed a museum with a valuable collection of rare documents, paintings and antiques, thus initiating the idea of conservation in a profoundly backward area. The students of the school, aided by the local community, undertook a large-scale, successful project to green the precincts of the school, which is located in one of the most arid regions of India. Gramothan Vidyapith, Sangaria has become an inspiration for educators far and wide. Propagation of Hindi Swami Keshwanand felt that the knowledge of the Hindi language is a must to keep the country united and to educate the public about nationality. Swami’s own mother-tongue was of course Hindi, and he somehow felt that forcing people from other parts of India to learn that language would aid national unity. He started his programme of spreading Hindi by founding, in 1920, a Hindi forum, the ‘Nagari Pracharini Sabha’, at Abohar in the Ferozepur district of Punjab. This forum was later renamed “Sahitya Sadan, Abohar”. In 1933, he started a press named “Deepak” at Abohar, which published material in Hindi language that was distributed either free or at a very nominal price. He organized the 30th All India Hindi Sahitya Sammelan at Sahitya Sadan, Abohar, in 1941. Swami Keshwanand was a longtime member of the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Allahabad. He either himself wrote, or arranged for the translation into Hindi, of around 100 books. At immense effort over the course of eleven years, he arranged for the publication of the Hindi edition of the book “History of Sikhs” in 1954. In 1942, he was honoured with the “Sahitya Vachaspati” for his pains in propagating his own mother-tongue to other people. The social reformer Swami Keshwanand’s deep understanding of the rural society of the desert region can be gleaned from his book “Maru Bhumi Seva Karya”. In this book, he has explained the peculiarities of the Desert region, identified the problems and suggested appropriate and logical solutions. It was swami Keshwanand’s lifelong endeavour to eradicate social evils like untouchability, illiteracy, child marriage, indebtedness, poverty, backwardness, alcohol abuse, moral dissipation etc. Swami Keshwanand, born in a Jat Hindu family of Dhaka clan, and a renunciate belonging to the Udasi sect which was propagated by Srichandji, son of guru Nanakdevji, the founder of the Sikh faith, was a unique example of communal harmony. He organized celebrations in honour of Sikh, Bishnoi, Namdhari and Jain gurus. During the partition of India in 1947, he got wounded Muslims admitted to hospitals and arranged food and shelter for them. Honours Swami Keshwanand was presented the “Abhinandan Granth” by the then chief minister of Rajasthan on March 9, 1958. He was a member of the Rajya Sabha for two consequetive terms, 1952-58 and 1958-64. The department of Posts, Government of India, issued a commemorative postage stamp in his honour on August 15, 1999. Swami Keshwanand died on September 13, 1972 at Delhi.  On the independence day : 15 August 1999, The Govt. of India issued a postage stamp in the honour of Swami Keshvanand ji for his dedication towards gramothan. Courtesy : My Fazilka Website by Mr. Amit Thakral http://www.myfazilka.com/person/SwamiKeshwanand.php |
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An Eternal Cultural Dimension of Fazilka, who contributed to enrich the heritage of Punjab |
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It is a great news and proud moment for citizens of Fazilka that Mrs. Pushpa Hans, a veteran Punjabi singer from this town has been given Padamshri Award, the most prestigious and coveted civilian award for Indian citizens of the sub continent by the President of India, for her outstanding contribution in the field of Art and Culture. It is heartening to note this as she has contributed
immensely to the cause of Punjabi folk and classical music. All the musical compositions to which she gave her voice still enthrall the audiences all over the world. Her song "Channa kithan guzari raat wey", "Gallan dilan diyaan dila vich reh gayiyaan" & "Tarean to puchh Chann wey” still hold the public in awe. She is a remembered for her legendary Punjabi folklores and classical renderings. She is one of the few female play back singers for whom the Government of India has recorded a Documentary. The others artistes are Lata Mangeshkar Ji & Asha Bhonsale Ji. Credit to sing first time Shiv Kumar Batalvi’s compositions, famous poet of birha, goes to Pushpa Hans ji. Even at a ripe age she continues to sing on TV, launch CDs,
and perform on stage. Mrs. Pushpa Hans has been conducting live stage concerts
all over the world. She has performed on the prestigious stages of USA, Canada
and the UK. She was the leading singing artiste of film actor late Mr. Sunil
Dutt’s “The Ajanta Arts” troupe“which visited the border areas to entertain
Jawans on the front. May be her husband’s being in the Defence Services
motivated her to do her bit for the Jawans serving on the border under harsh
living conditions and rigorous climate.
Awards: Personal Details: Famous Punjabi Songs by Mrs. Pushpa Hans: |
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EntrepreneurMan behind the Green Revolution in the Fazilka Region |
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Shri Surinder Ahuja with His Entrepreneur Son Shri Vikram Ahuja
View of Zamindara Engg. & Autos (P) Limited, First Company of Its kind in India to start renting of Agricultural Equipments to Farmer |
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First female IPS Officer in Maharashtra Cadre from Fazilka |
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| Another reason to feel proud for the entire community of this India's smallest big town Fazilka. Daughter of Fazilka, Meera Chadha Borwankar, for becoming the first ever woman to be posted as Commissioner of Mumbai Crime Branch in its 150-year-long history. To be a woman police officer in a force that has barely one or two per cent women is unique in itself; but to head an investigative force of 300 police officers is definitely a first. At present she is working as Special Inspector General of Police, CID State Crime Branch, stationed at Pune.
Mumbai's Crime Branch is known as the premier department of the city's
police force, handling the investigation of organized and white-collar
crime, and law enforcement in the mega-polis. While it didn't exactly cover
itself with glory during the Mumbai riots in the early 1990s, it has had to
deal with the operations of rival underworld gangs remote controlled by
Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Rajan and even the don-turned-politician Arun Gawli.
It has had to grapple with criminal cases against big film financiers like
Bharat Shah, the ignominious Prevention of Terrorist Act (POTA) case against
Mohammad Afroz and myriad encounters against gangsters by trigger-happy cops
who call themselves `encounter specialists'. While answering to a question about choosing IPS as her career, she said "I was good at studies too, participating in plays, debates, etc. I was also in the Punjab Cricket Team". So, in general I grew up with no future thoughts, but I was sure I did not want my life to end with marriage. When I was in college, during '71-'72, Kiran Bedi had just joined the IPS and was creating waves. That is when, one day, my teachers called me and told me that they saw within me the potential for the IPS and that I should consider it as a career option. I completed my M.A. In English Literature, cleared my UPSC examinations and did my basic police training at SVP National Police Academy, Hyderabad. She asserts that women are much more patient, resourceful and capable than men. All they need to do is throw away the yoke of selfdoubt and their own insecurities.
In 1981, she became an
IPS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, served as Deputy Commissioner of
Police at Mumbai between 1987-91, held independent charge of Aurangabad as
District Superintendent of Police (and later of Satara in 1996-99) and was
posted at the state CID crime branch in 1993-95. She worked with the
Economic Offences Wing of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in
Mumbai and was DIG of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of the CBI in New Delhi.
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