Face2News/Abohar
On the birth centenary of Dr. Balram Jakhar, two-time Speaker of the Lok Sabha, who also served as the chief of The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) for three years, several programs were organized today.
Dr. Jakhar's eldest son and former minister Sajjan Kumar Jakhar and great-grandson Jaiveer Jakhar were present in the programs organized in the schools in Maujgarh and Panjkosi village.
In a program organized at the Jakhar-family’s Subhash Nagar house, dignitaries, led by MLA Sandeep Jakhar, paid floral tributes to the portrait of the guardian of democracy. Hundreds of plants were distributed to strengthen the environment. At Sunderkand recitation in Gaushala, family members including Sajjan Kumar Jakhar were present, he was honoured by the management.
(SUBHEAD) Old associates of Dr. Jakhar recalled that before independence, on the call of Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Ram Jakhar along with his uncle Chuni Lal Jakhar had burnt Holi of foreign made clothes in Panjkosi village. Having love for Hindi, he worked with Sahitya Sadan and Gramotthan Vidyapeeth founder Swami Keshwanand for adult education in rural areas.
During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, he chaired the Bangla Desh Sahayata Samiti and became a special identity among the residents of Abohar. Dr. Jakhar's love for the Dalit community was visible as his family allowed Dalits to have water from public wells and hosted lunch for them in Panjkosi.
Due to his strong leadership, the Jakhar family registered success in assembly elections 8 times since 1972 from Abohar. The development of Abohar villages, considered a desert, can be gauged from the fact that 65 percent of the fruit production in Punjab is now contributed by Abohar.
Mayor Vimal Thatai, former MC chief Babu Ram Arya, city BJP president Ramesh Gandhi, Naresh Khurana, Gurbachan Singh Sran, Madan Lal Bhalotia, Dhanpat Siyag and many councillors were present.