-Ramesh Chander
(Asian Independent)- I thought of writing with a sense of appreciation and gratitude about one of my close friends and a fellow Bootan Mandian, Ram Lal Dass, a retired senior banker. We both are alumnus of Jalandhar DAV College and spent our formative years in the college and back home at Bootan Mandi till we parted company in the pursuit of our respective careers to earn our bread and butter. After retirement and return back to our roots, we picked up the threads and started meeting off and on for “Gapp Chapp’ and exchange of views on matters of concern and interest to the community and the society at large. Unlike me; a freelancer, Ram Lal is a dedicated social activist, an ardent Ambedkarite and a devoted Buddhist with deep study and knowledge of socio-political issues concerning the weaker sections of the society – a flag-bearer of the lofty ideal of ‘Paying back to society’.
The immediate reference point is – Ram Lal donated more than 100 books with almirah and Rs. 10000/- to APJ Abdul Kalam Library of Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar Government Co-education College of Bootan Mandi in Jalandhar at a solemn function on November 2, 2023. Most of the books pertain to Babasaheb Ambedkar including several volumes of Speeches and Writings and Debates of the Constituent Assembly published by the Government of India and subjects relating to weaker sections of the society. Ram Lal was kind enough to invite me to the function as a Guest of Honour along with our common friend IPS Malkit Singh.
The function happened to be a rewarding event, as the college under the stewardship of Principal Dr. Chander Kanta and her deputy, Dr Harblas Heer very thoughtfully, made it a session to discuss and ponder upon the lofty ideal of ‘Paying back to society’ in appreciation of Ram Lal’s gesture of ‘Kitabon Ka Langar’ as instantly termed by Malkit Singh in a lighter vein. Keeping with Babasaheb’s and also that of Ram Lal’s spiritual affiliation to Buddhism, the function was started with the invocation of ‘Tri-sharan – Buddham Sharnam Gachshami’ and rightly so. Principal Chander Kanta, welcoming the guests and thanking Ram Lal Dass and his gracious wife Chindo Rani for their praiseworthy gesture of donating the books, made a thought provoking short speech motivating the students to learn from our forefathers and icons. She noted with satisfaction that the newly opened college in the name of one of the greatest sons of India was doing well with more than 700 students, not a small achievement in only a couple of years. Apart from the Guests of Honour, the speakers were carefully and thoughtfully picked – Social activist, Harmesh Jassal spoke on the importance and value of books quoting the world renowned intellectuals and narrated a couple of anecdotes from the life of Babasaheb Ambedkar with regard to his love of books; Teacher Asha Kler, belonging to the iconic family of Seth Kishan Dass of Bootan Mandi, motivated the students to take advantage of the library and the books donated by Ram Lal and thoughtfully recited a poem of the worthy son of Bootan Mandi, Pritam Ramdasspuri :
ਗਿਆਨ ਦਾ ਭੰਡਾਰ ਹੈ ਐ ਭੀਮ ਤੇਰੀ ਹਰ ਕਿਤਾਬ,
ਲਿਖਤ ਤੇਰੀ ਬੇਮਿਸ਼ਾਲ ਹੈ ਤਰਕ ਤੇਰੇ ਲਾਜ਼ਬਾਬ ।
Prof Dinesh Arora of the Political Science Department of DAV College was really in his elements as an erudite motivational speaker. I could sense that attentive audience of young students was fully engaged and listening to Dr. Arora’s excellent presentation. Prof. Inderjit Kumar of St. Solider Group of Colleges underlined the role of Babasaheb Ambedkar in making the constitution of India and enlightened the audience of the current socio-political scenario in the country; Guest of Honour, IPS Malkit Singh nostalgically recalled their student days and narrated anecdotes as to how Ram Lal was keeping the teachers and fellow students in awe of him on the Indian political thought with reference to Ambedkar and view point of so called dalits on many socio-cultural issues. He also added that the concept of ‘paying back to the society’ should be recognized and accepted to establish a harmonious society and informed as to how he and his family were doing their bit to help and support the needy students and their parents in their native village Ballan of Dera Sachkhand of Sant Sarwan Dass.
In my brief remarks referring to the thought provoking and educative inputs of the speakers and well planned and conducted interaction, I humbly registered my love and affection for Ram Lal as a good old friend and recalled his several benevolent activities to pay back to the society as a true follower of Babasaheb Ambedkar. Appreciating the progress of the host College in a short span of time, I wished that one day Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar College would be an acclaimed ‘Centre of Excellence’ in the area in consonance with the motto of the College “Never Stop Learning”. Ram Lal did his best with regard to the theme of the function – Free coaching classes for young aspirants of jobs, publication and distribution of literature under the aegis of Ambedkar Study Circle of which he was one of the founding members, donation of books and almirah to Jalandhar DAV College and Samta Sainik Dal at Chicholi in Nagpur, adoption of schools for much help to students among some more initiatives. I happened to be a witness to the handing over ceremony at DAV College for the Ambedkar Study Corner in the Lajpat Rai Library. My blog on the subject may be accessed at: https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/search?q=ambedkar+study+corner
Ram Lal was thoughtful in presenting to Principal Chander Kanta a brass bust of Babasaheb Amedkar and an enlarged photo of the Members of the Constituent Assembly specially issued by the GOI in connection with the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in 2015-16, both befitting mementos on the occasion. Ram Lal was invited to speak and he reluctantly came to the podium as by now his batteries were fully charged. While thanking the hosts led by Principal Chander Kanta for arranging the books handing over ceremony which eventually turned out to be full pledged session on Ambedkar and the lofty ideal of paying back to the society, he said that it was his small bit to pay back the debt of gratitude to our savior and benefactor, Babasaheb Ambedkar. His utterly educative explanation of Babasaheb’s famous dictum: Educate – Agitate – Organise was very good and useful to the young minds in the audience.
This narration will not be complete if I don’t mention about yet another highlight of the function – release of the College magazine – The Samlok. The Chief Editor of the Magazine, Prof. Sukhpal Singh Thind informed that it was the second number of the publication which they could manage in spite many difficulties in these days of financial crunch. He aptly quoted Surjit Patter to keep the flag flying as it was difficult even for the old and established colleges to publish or continue publishing their annual magazines. It was a matter of satisfaction that they could do it. Congratulations to the Chief Editor of the Samlok and his team and also to the young and budding writers and contributors. Vice Principal, Dr. Harblas Heera conducted and steered the function with aplomb and insight of a scholar of standing. Thanks a lot.
