Dr Karan Singh, others pay rich tributes to Maharaja Gulab Singh

Dr Karan Singh performing Havan on the occasion of 224th birth anniversary of Maharaja Gulab Singh at Jammu on Friday.
Dr Karan Singh performing Havan on the occasion of 224th birth anniversary of Maharaja Gulab Singh at Jammu on Friday.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 21: Rich tributes were paid to the first Dogra Ruler of Jammu and Kashmir Maharaja Gulab Singh on his 224th birth anniversary today.
In this connection a grand function was organized at Shri Raghunath ji Temple by the J&K Dharmarth Trust. Chairman Trustee Dr. Karan Singh performed the pooja in presence of president of the Trust BR Kundal, secretary Shashi Khajuria and other office bearers of the Trust. Dr. Karan Singh highlighted the life and achievements of Maharaja Gulab Singh, who was instrumental in extending the boundaries beyond Ladakh up to Gilgit and Baltistan.
Maharaja Gulab Singh received no formal education and was raised instead as a great warrior and an accomplished horseman, proficient in the use of sword and gun. It was Maharaja Gulab Singh who created the State of Jammu & Kashmir with an area of 84,000 sq. miles. This has assumed importance in the present context when Pakistan and the separatist elements in J&K have raised questions about the accession of the State with India. Besides being a great warrior and a wise ruler; he had a keen interest in social and administrative reforms. He passed sanctions against female infoeticide and Sati, made justice accessible to all and brought about many social and administrative reforms.
Maharaja Gulab Singh was instrumental in creating J&K Dharmarth Trust with a personnel donation of Rs. five lakh, for the purpose of maintenance, management and repairmen of temples in the State.
A Hawan was performed on this occasion and a large number of yatries including the official and the staff of the Dharmarth Trust offered Puran Aahuti. Later Prasaad was offered to the gathering.
Rich and floral tributes were also paid to Maharaja Gulab Singh, by All Jammu and Kashmir Charak Bridari here under the chairmanship of its president, Rajeev Charak.
A grand function was organized in this connection. While paying tributes to the first Dogra King of Jammu and Kashmir, Charak said Maharaja’s rule was a glorious period for the State, adding “after taking over the reins of the State from Maharaja of Punjab Province, the great visionary statesman kept the whole State united.”Despite of huge difference in cultures, castes, religions and climatic conditions of the State, Maharaja successfully carved out a separate identity of largest independent State in geographical area in British India,” he added.
He said with shrewd statesmanship Maharaja extended the boundaries of former princely State far and wide by capturing Ladakh, Aski Chin, Baltistan, Gilgit and over 300 sq miles of Tibet.
Charak dealt in detail about the achievements of the Maharaja Gulab Singh who rose from an ordinary soldier to the highest position of a King.
Charak also appealed the youth to start vigorous struggle for protection of rich cultural heritage of Dogras.
He asked the government to declare State holiday on birthday of Maharaja Gulab Singh, naming the University of Jammu after the name of Maharaja Gulab Singh and preservation and restoration of prestigious Dogra heritage .
Rangeel Singh, Kamal Dev Singh, Yashpal Singh, Mohinder Singh, Vikram Singh, Rohit Singh, Sanjeev Singh, Narinder Singh and others were present on the occasion.

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