Memories of Babu Parmanand,Son of the soil.
( Tributes to the
son of the soil on his 12th Death Anniversary falling on 24-04-2020)
By: - Er. H. R. Phonsa
Dogra Rattan Babu Parmanad , rose from a mud
hut in
Sarore, a small village of Jammu and Kashmir to
Haryana Raj Bhawan Chandigarh. He was born on the 10th August 1932 to revered Sh. Jaggu Ram & Smt. Matyan Devi. His parents
were deeply religious souls, having deep faith in Sant Mat as expounded by
Saints of Radha Soami Sat sang Beas, Distt Amritsar, Punjab State of India.
Village Sarore is largely in-habited by the followers of Radha Soami
Satsang, following strict norms of Sant Mat.
It is perhaps first village in UT where weekly Sat sang started before 1947.
Sh. Mangoo Ram, Chamar by caste and then panchayat member was the first Satsang
Karta of Village Sarore. This Village has the distinction of being the birth
place of Parmanand besides Sant Rasila Ram Ji (Dera Head 1966-July 2011) predecessor
to the Present Spiritual Master Sant
Subhash Chander Singh JI Maharaj of Saidpur Satsang Dera ,Amritsar .
Babu Ji completed his schooling from Govt High School Bishnah with high merits.At
times he worked as labourar to earn to
support his studies. He passed Bachelor of Arts degree in 1957 from GGM Sc. College
Art Esteem Jammu. After this he joined as teacher at Govt. High School Ramgarh presently
in Samba District. He passed with high
merits MA (Economics) and LLB, from Muslim University Aligarh. Among his
classmates was Mufti Mohd. Sayeed (1936-2016) who was union Home Minister (Dec .1989-Nov
90) and twice Chief Minister (2002–2005) and (2015-16). Two instances during studying at
Aligarh are worth mentioning. When he was facing acute financial crisis he wrote for financial help and received Rs400/- from
Babu Jagjivan Ram (1908 - 86)
then union Transport and Railways later Dy. Prime Minister. This help he
remembered life through and also returned empty hand anybody who approached him
for such help. Long working hours to
cope for his simultaneous two degrees he suffered from typified so had to get
admitted in hospital. The examination was approaching near but he could not
effort to miss it. He sought and got university permission to appear in
examination from hospital bed. He passed the Examination. He also appeared in J&K State Civil
Services Examination in 1960 and passed with obtaining 9th
opposition in merit. Although his financial position was low at the ebb still
he decided to enter state ( Now UT) politics against all advices from his friends and relations. However when he approached Zenab Gulam Mohd
Bakashi ( 1907-72) who was Prime Minister of J&K State ( 1953-63).
Babu Ji contested his first Assembly election
in 1962 from Ramgarh (Reserved) Constituency and won with high margin. There
after he won continuously elections in 1968,72, 77 and 87. He served in
different capacities as MLA, Dy. Minister, MOS , Assembly Speaker besides
Finance and Power Minister with Zenab
Gulam Mohd Bakashi, Zenab Gulam
Mohd. Sadiq, Zenab Mir Qasim , Zenab Sheikh Mohd Abdullah and Zenab Farooq
Abdullah. Babu Ji was Assembly speaker during Chief Ministership of Zenab
Sheikh Sahib. All senior politicians valued Babu Ji’s suggestions and all masses
loved Babu Ji for his personal , political and administrative capabilities
values. In official, public meetings and social functions he reached at the
appointed time. He was soft spoken but firm in his decisions and actions.
As Finance Minister of J&K State Babu ji
ordered uniformity in bi-annual Darbar Move TA for all ranks of all moving
employees. As Transport Minister he recruited 60% drivers and cleaners from
Jammu province and earned title of Jansangi in 1968 from Kashmir ill
informed pubic. As Housing Minister he established Jani Pur Housing colony and
distributed free plots to poor people mostly Scheduled Caste and Backward classes.
The Janipur Housing colony in Jammu was established on modern lines with well
planned roads , parks,wide roads,spaces for community welfare activities.
Under Indra Awash Yogna he took
interests to get established new colonies for poor population living in slum
areas of the villages. He privately got developed
“Babu Parmanand Residential Colony” in Kalali Tibba RSPURA Jammu for the weaker
section of the society. This colony has
over forty plots and peoples feeling secure. But with the untimely passing away
of Babu ji development of this colony has slowed down.
Babu Ji stood for values. When Babu Ji was contesting
election from Bishnah Constituency. He was then Finance and Power Minister in
Dr Farooq Abbdula’s government. A controversy had been raised about Bill No 09
(Tenancy Act),when rumors were a foot that after elections Muslim residents of J&K State who migrated
to Pakistan in 1947 shall return and
occupy the land they previously vacated her. So many border area Refugees in
fear of loosing their lands boycotted elections. One of his blind lady sympathizer Behn Mello
Devi asked Babu Ji that her village was likely to boycott election, but she wants to cast her vote in
his favour. Babu advised her to cooperate with her village people, as she has
to live there and social contacts should be valued by everybody. But she
exercised her right of vote even in acute opposition from the people. Babu
Parmanand eventually lost this election, first defeat of his political carrier
spanning over six decades. He also contested
for Jammu Parliamentary seat in 1996 and lost. He edited a fortnightly
English news paper “ Voice of Depressed” for some time and had to close due to
financial crises.
Babu Parmanand was deeply engrossed in the Sant Mat
Principles, a way of Saints. As all these saints have preferred family life
over austerity. His marriage was ceremonies on 6th May 1962 with Sudesh Kumari, daughter
of Lala Munshi Ram of Jalandhar town in Punjab State. Lala Munshiram was a well
to do sports businessman, who had migrated from Sailkot (Now in Pakistan ) to India during 1947 turmoil.
Babu Ji was blessed with two equally brilliant sons. His elder son Dr. Rajinder
Parsad is serving as Professor of Surgery and HO a surgery unit in country's
prestigious All India Institute of Medical sciences New Delhi & second son
Gagan Jyoti is a Chief Engineer Mechanical in J&K Engineering services.
Babu Ji was also blessed with four grand children who are excelling in their
studies. His wife smt. Sudesh Kumari served as a school teacher although.
Babu Ji was member
of National Conference, Indian National Cogress and Indian National
Congress {O} . When NC leaders defied his value based suggestion he joined BJP on the requests
of national leaders like Atal Behari Vajpai ( 1924-2018) Prime
Minister( 1998-2004) ,L.K. Advani, MM Joshi ,
Kushabhau Thakre etc to render assistance in
mitigating suffering of the masses particularly in J&K. With coming in
power of BJP Babu ji was appointed as Governor of Haryana Pradesh. Babu
Parmanand Ji was administered the oath of office of the Governor of Haryana on 19th July 2000. On the very
next day when Babu Ji was strolling in Raj Bhawan I was with him. We saw that
the fruit trees needed trimming and other treatments. Some good land was found
vacant. I proposed to Babu Ji to get paddy planting in the fields. The farmer
in Babu ji got aroused and from the very next day paddy plantation was planned.
Quality seedling from RSPURA Jammu was ordered. During his stay of about four
years in Raj Bhawan, all needs of cereals, vegetables, and cow’s milk were met
from the production from with in the Raj Bhawan .
At Raj Bhawan Staff told me that any
body can see him by appointment. He is always available to meet masse. All
visitors from different shades of society, high or low, to Raj Bhawan are
treated as esteemed important persons without caring for protocol rules. I told his personal staff that the written protocol rules have
been framed during British Times. He was
a public man and he shall not rest
unless he met to all those who wish to see him. He cared little for his
personnel comforts. A large chunk of Jammu & Kashmir common peoples,
Ministers, officials, political leaders who visited Raj Bhawan are testimony to
this statement.
Babu Ji’s love for the books can
get a glimpse from his getting a separate library building built to house Raj Bhawan Books, which were earlier
stored in a small place disorderly. Babu Parmanand toured almost to Block level
of Haryana State to see for himself the developmental activities.
Babu Ji was seen in Raj Bhawan to
getting plucked ripe fruits from the fruit trees and distribute it to the Raj
Bhawan Staff particularly lower staff. A long list of the needy, poor persons,
students, ill &, destitute including women can be drawn who received cash aid,
tools, medicines, clothes ; sewing machines for their rehabilitation from Babu
Ji. Babu Ji worked for the principles dear to him setting examples to the
future occupants of the Raj Bhawans as Governors. If Dr K.R. Narayanan (
1920-2005) 10th President Of India is known as a working President, Babu ji proved as a public
Governor.
Once a deputation of common
people from RSPURA Jammu went to Haryana Raj Bhawan . They stayed in Raj Bhawan, When they were taking their lunch, Babu Ji
went to see them, as if, he lacked faith in his staff in service of his guests.
While talking to them, Babu Ji told them
that he was one from among them. Babu Ji said that he is alive to the situation
that to what ever the heights a man may rise on a tree; after all he has to
touch the ground again. Almost all Religious heads, Heads of Ders in Punjab and
else where visited Raj Bhawn Haryana during Babu Ji tenure as Governor.
To work for enhancing education
capabilities of J&K Students Babu Ji
conceived an Institution to
prepare poor students for ALL India Competitive Examination for All India and allied services. He purchased 4 Kanals of
land in Lower Roop Nagar ( EWS colony),built some infrastructures for the
pupose. He also conceived opening of
Bhartiya Dalit Sahitya Akademy for J&K. He was its founding father remained till his death. This
Building was inaugurated in 1994 by His Excellency General (Retd) K.V.Krishana
Rao Ex. Indian Army Chief and Governor of J&K State. Alas his untimely death has kept his dream
projct as unfulfilled. A library in the name of “ Dr Ambedkar” is working
there. During his life Babu Ji was decorated
with many prestigious Awards, titles for his meritorious services to nation.
Babu ji shed his
mortal body frame at his
house when all family members were
present, after suffering for 10 months with deadly liver cancer on early morning of 24th
April,2008. I was also on his bed side.
Babu Ji’s popularity was
demonstrated by the Government and People of the J&K State, when a
Government Holiday was declared on his unfortunate death. Over 10,000 peoples
from all shades of life including State Governor Lt. Gen( Retd) S.K..Sinha,
Chief Minister Gulam Nabi Azad, State Cabinet members, All high dignitaries of
J&K State( now 2 UTs), leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and former Dy.
Prime Minister L.K. Advani , Santa Kumar former CM ,H.P state, All India
President of the Bhartiya Dalit Sahitya Akademy Dr. S.P sumnakshar , many
religious Heads of Deras , joined Babu Ji’s last rights. Babu JI given State funeral. Thousands paid
their visits to the residence of the Babu Ji to console his family members,
Hundreds of letters of condolences were received. One of the mourners from
Kashmir termed Babu Ji as a “Darvesh”. Among those who visited Babu Ji’s residence
for paying tributes to the departed soil was Dr. Farooq Abdulla, Nazir Ahmed
Sheikh( Advocate), delegation of officers of Radha Soami Satsang,Radha Soami
Satsang Saidpur Head Baba Rasila Ram and many more to share grief of family
members. Babu Ji’s ashes remains were immersed
in river Chenab and River Beas
observing Radha Soami preached ways.
Over 15,000 men and women from all
walks of lives attended Babu Ji 10th
day after death sat sang
delivered by Sant Baba Rasila Ram Ji.
Babu Parmanand was honest to the
core of his heart. Babu Ji shall be long remembered for his qualities of head
and heart.
Words 2074
Dated 23-04-2020
Er.H.R.Phonsa
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