Tribute to a leader

Anmol Rathore
Born on 29th of April 1927 to Kotwal Hari Lal and Sulochna Devi of Village Udrana- Bhaderwah, Daya krishan Kotwal was second among four siblings (one brother & two sisters). He got his early education at Bhaderwah in the then “Shree Amar Singh High School” from where he did his matriculation in the year 1943-44.
His father Late Sh Hari Lal Kotwal was secretary to the Rani of Chamba state who later shifted to Delhi. After doing his matriculation, Sh Dayakrishan Kotwal went to Delhi to stay with his father. There he joined “Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh” as a Swayam sevak and attended his first RSS Camp at Mathura, UP. Thereafter he came back to his native place Bhaderwah, and started preaching Principles of RSS to young men of his age. He started organising “Shakhas” and urged young men not to indulge in vices like drinking & smoking and be Nationalist to the core. During 1947, he being a youngster of 20, urged populace of Bhaderwah and adjoining areas to maintain age old traditions communal harmony at any cost.
He was one of the founder members of PRAJA PARISHAD. He firmly advanced the ideology of Late Sh Shayama Prasad Mukherjee – “EK NISHAAN, EK VIDHAN, EK PRADHAN”.
In 1952, he led the agitation for full integration of J&K State with rest of India while remaining underground. The then government headed by Late Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah had ordered to capture him dead or alive. There was siege of his native village by state forces for days together but could not get hold of him.
Sh Daya Krishan Kotwal successfully led the Food agitation in the year 1971 across the state.
During the black days of “Emergency” when whole of opposition leaders were put behind bars by the then Central / state govts, DK Kotwal went underground and successfully moulded public opinion against emergency with handful of his associates. He courted arrest only when instructed by party high command in January 1976.
In the year 1984, the then state govt headed by Late G M Shah detained him under Public Safety Act for raising slogan Bharat Mata Ki Jai and put him in jail at Srinagar. The PSA imposed on him was declared VOID by the advisory board as he had done nothing wrong or illegal by raising the slogan Bharat Mata Ki Jai. Previously he refused to be freed on Parole.
On the onset of militancy in the state during 1987, Sh Kotwal tirelessly worked to maintain the communal harmony in the sensitive erstwhile District Doda and strengthened the nationalist forces. He was instrumental in successfully defeating the nefarious designs of the anti national forces to create communal divide and camouflage the anti India tirade of anti nationals / militants into a communal problem. During the troubled period of militancy when the entire minority and nationalist population of far flung areas of erstwhile District Doda was on the verge of migration to safer places, Sh Kotwal , tirelessly without caring for his own safety, undertook tours of these areas and successfully stopped migration by boosting the morale of the nationalist forces. He was instrumental in forming the “Village Defence Committees”, (VDC). In the year 1994, he successfully highlighted the nefarious designs of antinationals and militants to effect migration of minority community from erstwhile District Doda not only in J&K State but at the national level by organising Dharna at Jantar Mantar Delhi under the Banner SAVE-DODA, BLEEDING DODA, in which thousands of residents of erstwhile District Doda settled in Delhi participated.
In the year 1996, he contested the election from Bhaderwah constituency. While on the call of militants/ hurriat, the elections were boycotted in Kashmir & some parts of Jammu region, by a section of population, but in Bhaderwah constituency there was about 80% of polling in which all sections of people participated. In his defeat also he emerged a winner as entire population of the constituency had voted despite call of boycott by the militants/ Hurriat.
In the year 1997, he was elected to the upper house of state legislature (MLC). He remained President of the State BJP, for two terms consecutively wef 1997- 2002. Up till his last breath he remained active and contributed his might to strengthen the party and remained busy in solving the problems of the poor & down trodden.
Throughout his life he upheld the principles which were so dear to him. In politics true to the logo of BJP, he lived a life like a LOTUS. He never fell prey to any temptations which were offered to him in plenty and remained a humble simple worker leader committed to up liftment of down trodden poor.
In his death, state and especially the erstwhile District Doda has lost a true Swayam Sevak and an honest politician and a dedicated social worker whose popularity cut across political & religious affiliations.
In short, Daya Krishan Kotwal is name synonymous with struggle, service & sacrifice.
As I sit down to write a tribute to you
There is a rush of feelings, but the words are few
I am young, unworthy, too immature for your experience
Unknown to your courage, ignorant of your perseverance
I always knew of you as a person I adored
You were the one whom fear had also feared
I knew of you as someone who loved all
You were also the one who stood for Bhaderwah as a wall
I knew of you as a patron of art and innovation
You were nonetheless an embodiment of struggle and dedication
People like you are a treasure to cherish
People like you are a pleasure to be with
People like you are valuable jewels to embellish
The endless vista of memories tears now flow from
You left, with you left a time we long to live again
You left, leaving us in a deep sea of pain
Not only we, but the world can’t stop to weep
For you left us with a wound and pain so deep
You are gone, but your life, your experience
Will show us the way to a new dawn
But someone as great, as charismatic as you
Will ever again be born?

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