Remembering a Reformist

Ravi Rohmetra
Duggar land has its own brilliant and unique history. It has given birth to veteran political, academicians, social workers and leaders of caliber.
One product and prominent amongst them has been Sher-e-Duggar Lala Hans Raj Mahajan.
By the turn of the nineteenth century, Jammu started experiencing reverberations of the political and social awakening  taking place in the rest of the country.  Lala Hans Raj Mahajan was the most outstanding leader of that phase of Jammu’s history. He pioneered formation of associations of various communities like the Mahajan Sabha and the Rajput Sabha as also of the Anjuman-i-Islamia and acted as their honorary secretary which ensured their mutual cooperation in the common task of social reform. The first secular organization of the state, also non-political to start with, was Dogra Sadar Sabha in 1904. He dominated the entire social reform movement in Jammu region for half a century from 1892, when he entered public life, to 1944 when he died.  His field of work included campaign for Swadeshi,  rights of women, spread of education, economic betterment of backward areas, reform in ceremonies observed at marriage, death and other social occasions, help to widows and orphans cow protection, cleanliness and redressal of grievances against omissions and commissions of administration. Needless to remind that these activities were vital adjuncts of the national freedom movement. Lala Hans Raj started first two monthly newspapers in the state named the Dogra Gazette and The Mahajan Niti Patar in 1907.
From the very beginning Jammu has been known as the place of saints and warriors, Jammuites are proud that leaders like Lala Hans Raj were born here.  Lala Hans Raj founder of Akhil Bhartiya Mahajan Shiromani Sabha and Dogra Sadar Sabha was a man of principles and freedom fighter. He  was born on 2nd October 1866 at Hamirpur Sidhar,- Tehsil. Akhnoor District Jammu in a well known family. His father’s name was Lala Harish Chand • Mahajan. At that time standard of education was not so high so he got his education at Masjid of his village from Mian Innam Aldin in Persian and Urdu. Once Late Maharaja  Ranbir Singh (1857-1885 AD) the ruler of the state paid visit to Mirpur village and met its inhabitants. Boy Hans Raj was also very curious to see the ruler. Maharaja became impressed on seeing Hans Raj who was with his father and asked a few questions from Hans Raj which he answered very quickly and accurately . On account of this, Maharaja asked Harriya Shah to send his child to Jammu for further studies where he got his education from Choba Ganesh Prasad and Choba Janki Prasad. In the history of Mahajan Community 2nd October makes much significance. This day is also important for the whole country as on this day two other great leaders’ of India Lal Bahadur Shastri and Mahatma Gandhi were also born. In 1957 the birthday of Mahajan was celebrated under the benign presence of Mahajan Sabha at Hajuri Bagh Kashmir.
After sometime, the same young boy got the title “Sher-e-Duggar”. He passed the degree of Law in first division. He was also interested in religious  works and in 1916 he constructed the Ved Mandir Ashram. Besides preaching Vedas his   motive was to improve the conditions of Orphans and to stop slaughtering cow. After  laying the foundation stone of Dogra Sadar Sabha and Mahajan Sabha, Lala Ji under the supervision of Maharaja Amar Singh laid the foundation stone Of the Rajput Sabha for the upliftment of low caste people. When the movement spread from Bengal to whole of India. Lala Ji played his role in Jammu and Kashmir. After this, he adopted Khaddar and also urged the people to wear “Khaddar” for this, he started a workshop to make and dye “Khaddar” at Purani Mandi Jammu. After retirement from Government job, he as a lawyer helped people in one or another way.
Lala Ji- during his left time’Worked’ for the betterment of the Dogra Sadar Sabha and he was also successful in opening the branches of Dogra Sadar Sabha in whole of the J&K State. Dogra Sadar Sabha also worked for the betterment of the people of Srinagar. He also successfully launched magazines, newspapers like”Dogra Gazette Mahajan Niti Patra and Mahajan : Samachar, Mahajan Sabha, Dogra Sadar Sabha, Ved Mandir and other big’ monuments were constructed.with the cooperation of Lala Ji. In the memory of Lala Ji a Park “Lala Hans Raj Park” in Jammu and a big building in Delhi are used by people in different ways, thus helping the people.’On 18th July 1936 he was unanimously elected the member of Assembly. As a Member of Assembly, he -worked for every community especially for Kandi belt.
On  2nd Oct.  every year,  Jammu Central Mahajan Sabha celebrates his day on the venue of Sher-E-Duggar Lala Hans Raj Mahajan Park near the statue of Lala Hans Raj Mahajan according to the religious rites. After this in the memory of Lala Hans Raj Mahajan the Central Mahajan Sabha  gives awards to anyone in the birdhari who excels in any field as education, sports etc.
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