Jammu,September 23 (Scoop News) –Various organizations organized function to celebrate the 115th Birth Anniversary of Late Maharaja Hari Singh in various places in Jammu. A large number of Jammuites in general from all corners of Jammu province joined to celebrate the occasion. Prominent citizens of Jammu and heads of various social organizations,Polictal parties expressed their views and experiences on the reforms, development and benevolent deeds of Late Ruler of the state.
Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla today said that Maharaja Hari Singh Ji was a true patriot with secular vision who brought many social reforms and always worked for the upliftment of the masses.
Bhalla said this after garlanding the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh Ji on his 115th birthday at Gorkha Nagar, near Bagh-e-Bahu, today.
He said that Maharaja always preached brotherhood and all the communities were provided justice irrespective of caste, creed and religion during his rule.
Bhalla also reviewed the progress of development works under different departments in the Bagh-e-Bahu area.
Sectoral officers, prominent citizens accompanied the Minister.
Maharaja Hari Singh’s 115th Birth Anniversary was also celebrated by JKNPP at Jammu today, on his birthday the Panthers Party described him as a greatest hero of freedom, nationalist, patriot and secularist who was insulted, humiliated and put to indignities by the Congress Rulers only for the reason that he acceded India and was a great Dogra Rajput.
Amar Kshtriya Rajput Sabha Shri Amar Kshatriya Rajpur Sabha (J&K), celebrated 115th birth Anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh.
The function started with performance of Havan by sabha president Kr. Narayan Singh and joined by Judge (Retd.) Pavitar Singh Bhardwaj, B.S. Jamwal (Retd. FA & CAO) General Secretary, R.S. Jasrotia Secretary and other prominent members of the biradri, amed chanting of vedic mantras in the premises of sabha bhawan. People from all walks of life, participated in the Puran Ahuti. Eminent writers, poets etc. also recited poems in honour of Maharaja Hari Singh, a colourful cultural programme was presented by children of Rattan Primary School, Dogra Hall, Jammu of the sabha under the guidance of its Principal s. Savita Jasrotia.
Paying homage to Maharaja Hari Singh, Capt. Dewan Singh Shared his 25 years experience with him. Quoting Maharaja’s speech during his coronation in 1925 he said, Maharaja had said “henceforth I will give no special preference to any religion as now my religion, will be of humanity and justice.”
Paying his homage to Maharaja Bahadur, Kr. Narayan Singh highlighted the social reforms introduced by Maharaja, such as, prohibition of child marriage, prohibition of smoking among children, polygamy, opening of doors of temples for scheduled castes and exhorted the youth to follow good deeds in their life.
The stage was managed by B.S. Jamwal. The vote of thanks was presented by Th. Pavitar Singh Bhardwaj.
The function was chaired by kr. Narayan Singh, and among others who paid tributes to Maharaja Hari Singh included Maharaja’s ADC Capt. (Retd.) Dewan Singh Bhau, Harsh Dev Singh, Ch. Lal Singh, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta, Ashok Khajuria, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Rama Kant Dubey.
Rich tributes were paid to Maharaja Hari Singh on his 115th Birth Anniversary by the staff, NCC Cadets, and students of Hari Singh Higher Secondary School today.
The Principal of the School and NCC Officer highlighted the life and works of Maharajaji. It was decided that 23rd of September will be celebrated as annual day of the school.
It may be mentioned here Maharaja Hari Singh was born on 23 September 1895 at the palace of Amar Mahal, Jammu, the only surviving son of General Raja Sir Amar Singh (14 January 1864-26 March 1909), the younger son of General Maharajadhiraj Sri Sir Ranbir Singh and the brother of Lieutenant-General Maharajadhiraj Sri Sir Pratap Singh, the then Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir.
At the age of 13, Hari Singh was send to Mayo College in Ajmer. A year later in 1909, when his father died, the British took a personal interest in his education and appointed Major H.K. Brar as his guardian. After Mayo College the ruler-in-waiting went to the Imperial Cadet Corps at Dehra Dun for military training, imbibing its British upper-crust atmosphere and polishing his English to a high gloss, and by the age of 20 he had been appointed commander-in-chief of the Jammu and Kashmir state forces.
He married Maharani Tara Devi (1910-1967), his fourth wife as his first three wives had died young, and had one son, Yuvraj (Crown Prince) Karan Singh.
Following the death of his uncle, Maharaja Pratap Singh, in 1925, Maharaja Hari Singh ascended the throne of Jammu and Kashmir. He made primary education compulsory in the State, introduced laws prohibiting child marriage and threw open places of worship for the low castes.
In 1947 India gained independence from British rule. Kashmir had the option to join either India or Pakistan or remain independent. He originally manoeuvered to maintain his independence by playing off India and Pakistan. Following an invasion by Pakistani Armed Forces in October 1947, Singh appealed to India for help. India refused to come to his aid unless he acceded to India.
He signed the Instrument of Accession (Jammu and Kashmir) on October 26, 1947 acceding the Jammu and Kashmir princely state (including Jammu, Kashmir, Northern Areas, Ladakh, Trans-Karakoram Tract and Aksai Chin) to the Dominion of India. These events triggered the first Indo-Pakistan War.
In 1951 Singh’s rule was terminated by the state government of Indian-administered Kashmir. Singh retreated to Jammu and eventually left the state, dying at the age of 66,on 26 April 1961 at Bombay after a reign of 35 years.
Maharaja Hari Singh was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in India.