Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo
There were some sweet provocations received by this author to document certain facts regarding the Praja Parishad movement and the Kashmiri Pandit community’s contribution in it. Though it is a difficult job keeping in view the time gap between the movement era and now yet it is my proud privilege to make a serious attempt.
It also needs to be informed in this context that the Documentation department of BJP, J&K headquarters has also undertaken a serious project to gather facts about the Praja Parishad movement and document them. Some voluminous books have also been published, released and circulated by now. This process is still unabatedly going on.
The movement led by the revered leader, Pt. Prem Nath Dogra created history in the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State that stands written in golden letters. It is due to his vision, struggle and consistent efforts that we have been able to rewrite history in the Jammu and Kashmir State, courtesy, the 5-6 August 2019 successful parliamentary legislative action pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir. The shackles of the so-called sub-nationalism in J&K, Muslim majoritarianism and precedence and the “second and third class treatment” with various sections of society in the state stand broken and melted for all the times to come. The credit invariably goes to the herculean efforts of Pandit Prem Nath Dogra and his colleagues and comrades in arms.
Praja Parishad Agitation of 1951-53 was a Jammu province based agitation supported by the Kashmiri Pandit community; in fact, it contributed to its success immensely. It needs to be made known that there was a great contribution that the Pandits offered in this movement when a group of youngsters joined the movement and took important assignments during the period of the agitation.
The leading figures that came out as full-timers at that time in Kashmir valley (who worked in the Jammu region for the movement) included: Janki Nath Dhobi, Makhanlal Harkar, Som Nath Ogra, Omkar Nath Kak, Brij Nath Miyan, Amarnath Vaishnavi, Niranjan Nath Kaul, Prem Nath Bhat, Pran Nath Miya, Devkinanadan Nakhasi and Avtar Krishen Kaw. These are some of the names that my research could gather in this regard. We knew many of them and are fortunate to have worked with them for the cause of the nation and the community.
They were all full-timers for two to four years each. When this author was an RSS Pracharak in Jammu region during the period 1978-81, a number of important people and even commoners in the areas such as Kishtwar, Bhaderwah, Udhampur, Akhnoor, Samba and Kathua detailed me about their contributions and work. Makhan Lal Harkara (Aima) was declared persona-non-grata in the then J&K State by the Sheikh Abdullah regime and was indeed a hero of the movement (at the age of 18).
All these men of material were well read and had acquired degrees and diplomas at a young age. A few of them were in service of the Government of the day. When they joined the movement, they eventually left their Government jobs as well. A few of them were also married at a young age but that also didn’t deter them from joining their cherished mission to which they were committed so intensely.
Som Nath Ogra of Sathu, Srinagar is alive and is residing somewhere in Gujarat. I mentioned about Omkarnath Kak, he lives in Talab Tillo, Jammu. He visited my residence a number of times only to bless me and encourage me for what I was doing…….I have great respect for him. Let me inform that O.N.Kak is far senior to many of his ilk at an All India level in RSS/BJP. He used to be the RSS Secretary, Jammu Division (Jammu Vibhag Karivah 1977-85). He continued to be in that position for a number of years.
We cannot afford to miss the name of Tika Lal Taploo in the context of Praja Parishad movement…….but there is no documental evidence to support whether he was a whole-timer or not during the movement. On enquiry, it was found that he was an underground activist during that period in Kashmir and a contact between the overground activists of the movement and the leadership comprising Jagdish Abrol, Kedar Nath Sahni and Balraj Madhok.
I take this opportunity to name some of the great activists who worked in Kashmir and belonged to that particular generation of the period 1951-53 (as I know) who created bands of karyakartas (activists) during their lifetime in the vale of Kashmir: Amarnath Ganjoo, Dina Nath Zutshi, Som Nath Suri, Moti Lal Kuchroo, Pushkar Nath Karnail, Moti Lal Zadoo Pushkar, D.P Kaul, Jialal Kaul, Harjilal Jad and Madan Lal Khashu .
Out of all of them only Revered Harji Lal Jad and Madan Lal Khashu are alive and live at Jammu and Noida (UP) respectively. May God give them a long and cherished life. Madan Lal Khashu was falicitated by the Karyakartas recently at Jammu. He suffered a lot during the Emergency and thereafter. He went to jail as a satyagrahi in 1975 and was dismissed by his employer Tendyl Biscoe School, Srinagar. He did not get the job back and worked then with Mohan Meakins, but could not economically be better off for whole of his life. Dina Nath Zutshi was killed in 1974 at his residence by the assailants in mysterious circumstances.
While we feel passionate about those heroes, their memories and their work, they also deserve to be remembered by the current generation. They worked for the society and the nation in the Kashmir valley in the most hazardous environment including political and social apartheid. They deserve salutations always from the activists they built with their sweat and blood. We pray that they shower their blessings upon all of us…from wherever they are…!
Some of the names that have been enumerated above were on the tip of the tongue of the erstwhile Central leadership comprising Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L.K.Advani, Kidar Nath Sahni, M.M.Joshi and Madan Lal Khurana. While on their visit to the valley during sixties and seventies of the last century, they would be hosted in the valley by the same class of activists therein. This author is a witness to many such developments in the Valley and outside the Valley where the top leadership of RSS and BJP would bank upon this band of leadership and activists of the Kashmir valley than any other Government and administrative machinery inputs.
Times change, so change the heads and priorities but the history based upon facts remain unchanged. It leaves an indelible mark and print on the future pages of history that remembers heroes who create the beautiful annals of history by their perseverance, commitment, consistency, vision and heroic efforts. “The more said about them the best even at this stage and forever”…..!
(Feedback: ashwanikc2012@gmail.com)
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