Reasi, Sep 23: Paying homage to Maharaja Hari Singh on his 128th birth anniversary, senior BJP leader Devender Singh Rana on Saturday said the best tribute to the “benevolent” last ruler of Jammu and Kashmir would be to promote rich Dogra art, culture, heritage and language.
Speaking at a homage giving function here, Rana said much onus lies on scholars and artists, the conscious keepers of the Dogra heritage, who can play their crucial role in promoting and propagating Dogri, reviving Duggar culture and bequeathing to posterity the sagas of valour scripted by the great warriors from times immemorial.
‘Dogra heritage encompasses the glorious past of the Duggarland, which stands tall for harmony and reconciliation that can be reclaimed by promoting Dogri language in a big way, as Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians were proud inheritors of the Dogra ethos,” he said, adding, “Duggarland is actually a Veerbhoomi that has produced great warriors and military heroes who have left indelible mark of bravery for posterity to emulate. He sought the establishment of a museum in the memory of General Zorawar Singh to exhibit Jammu’s history of valour.”
The BJP leader called for strengthening the bonds of amity and brotherhood, saying those vitiating the atmosphere are doing a disservice to the nation. He referred to the motivated campaign against Sanatan Dharma and said these machinations will be fought with full might.
Paying tribute to the last Dogra ruler, Rana said, “Maharaja Hari Singhji was a great reformist, a visionary and a benevolent ruler. The old timers still remember his governance as the golden era of Jammu and Kashmir. Whenever J&K’s glorious era is recalled, the Maharaja’s rule unfolds the glory of his benevolence.”
“While the steadfastness of Maharaja Hari Singh in signing the Instrument of Accession of Jammu and Kashmir with the Dominion of India on October 26, 1947, in most challenging circumstances will always be remembered by the compatriots, his contribution to the country’s freedom struggle cannot be forgotten. The Maharaja worked towards the promotion of literacy and gave due impetus to agricultural activities. Historians have all along credited him for bringing reforms by bringing laws prohibiting child marriage. His administrative and socio-economic reforms made him distinct among the rulers of his times,” he said, adding, “Maharaja’s vision about social justice and various other reforms were ahead of time, which made him the beloved ruler of the masses.”
