Celebrations clog Jammu

TNN Bureau. Updated: 9/24/2017 1:54:46 AM Front Page

Maharaja Hari Singh's Birth anniversary

JAMMU: It was no surprise as on Maharaja Hari Singh's Birthday Anniversary on Saturday, all roads led to Maharaja Hari Singh's square where thousands of Jammuites thronged to participate in the celebrations and pay tributes to the 'Last Emperor' of the Dogra rule in state. The celebrations even were marked across the national capital and abroad in London.
Apparently Dogras cutting across the caste, creed, religion or region have celebrated 123rd Birth Anniversary of last King of Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh in different ways from Jammu to London.
Amid slogans in praise of the Maharajha Hari Singh, several programmes, including rallies where Rajput participants brandished the arms and swords too were organised today in Jammu region to mark the 123rd birthday of their beloved king. Besides this some agitated participants were raising slogans reiterating long pending demand of announcing September 23 to be declared a 'state holiday'.
Rajput Sabha, Yuva Rajput Sabha, Team Jammu, Bar Association of Jammu, various business associations, transport associations celebrated the occasion by organising separate events. Other than social organisations, the mainstream political leaders too were seen actively participants in these celebrations. Leaders of opposition Congress, National Conference and Panthers Party also became part of the celebrations.
Celebrations also witnessed Deputy CM, Dr Nirmal Singh, Speaker of State Legislative Assembly and MLA Gandhi Nagar along with various BJP leaders garlanding the statues of Maharaja Hari Singh while Maharaja's grandsons namely MLC Ajatshatru from BJP and MLC Vikramaditya from PDP also participated in many such events.
Pertinent to mention here that lawyers affiliated to the Jammu Bar Association stayed away from work and instead organised a programme within the Association's premises to celebrate the contribution of the Maharaja, under whom the historic instrument of 'accession of the state with the Indian Union' was signed in 1947.
Amid sloganeering, Maharaja's grandson and PDP lawmaker Vikramaditya Singh said the demand for public holiday will continue as the issue is linked to the "sentiment" of people in the Jammu region.
Ajatshatru, the younger brother of Vikramaditya, who also led a rally in old city along with BJP and Congress leaders, said, "We tried and also brought a resolution in the council on the state holiday on this day, but unfortunately it is not done."
"We will pursue the demand, but we are quite satisfied and happy that thousands of Dogra people today on voluntary leave from their work and participating in the celebrations," he devotedly said.
In connection with occasion, Team Jammu organised functions at 50 different places across Jammu province, from Poonch to Lakhanpur and Kishtwar to Arnia where the enthusiastic activists of Team Jammu distributed 'sweets and halwa' among the people.
The fever of celebrations was also noticed near the heated Indo-Pak dividing line, as people in border area Arnia also celebrated the birth anniversary of last Dogra ruler of J&K. raising slogans in praise of Maharaja, the Team jammu activist who braved the border firing described him visionary and social reformers.
While addressing the volunteers of Team Jammu, Chariman, Zorawar Singh Jamwal came down heavily on PDP-BJP govt for not declaring September 23rd as a 'state holiday'.
Meanwhile, It is for the first time when Maharaja's birthday also celebrated outside Jammu and Kashmir, In New Delhi Dogra community members from different walks of life Anil Anand, Asha Khosa, Jatinder Singh, Rashpal Dasgotra and many others celebrated the occasion. The occasion was also attended by Maharaja's great grandson, Martand Singh.
As per reports, Voice of Dogras (VOD), an organisation of Dogras settled in UK celebrated Maharaja's birthday. The Voice of Dogras at London paid tribute to Maharaja Hari Singh on his birthday by lighting lights, offering flowers homage to his portrait. In London Manu Khajuria Founder Director VOD, Lalit Sharma Director VOD along with Dogra community members Nakul Sharma, Sana Sharma, Vikrant Gupta, Suvi Dogra, Mayank Singh, Rahul Angre, Mahasweta Basu and Mandeep Chib VOD Team.
The team also read the book "Maharaja Hari Singh, The troubled years" by Harbans Singh - and could be more beautiful tribute tio late soul by than remembering him together and knowing more about - legendary visionary man on his 123rd birthday.


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