Raj Sadosh/Abohar.

Ch. Rati Ram of Dharampura village, was conferred with the “Legend of Malwa” award posthumously at a rally here.

About two thousand people, including recently elected members of panchayats and former sarpanches, from about 80 villages of Punjab and neighbouring Rajasthan, participated in the Kumhar Samaj Chetna Rally.

Haryana Minister of Public Health Engineering, Public Works Departments Ranbir Singh Gangwa, Suratgarh MLA Dungar Ram Gedar and Baba Gurdev Singh Kulliwale of Amritsar conferred the award which was received by deceased’s granddaughter Mehak Singhmar who was accompanied by Alamgarh village former Sarpanch Ratan Lal Saraswa.

People recalled that on August 14, 1947, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh volunteers approached Rati Ram Chaudhary to prevent suspected massacre of the local community during the process of migration on religious basis. He along with dozens of other armed people laid a cordon around Abohar railway station and forced the suspects to flee. His bravery in protecting people had become a part of Independence related history. Veterans including Vinoba Bhave’s Bhoodan Andolan region incharge and former Punjab minister Ch. Radha Krishan was a witness and spoke highly about his act of bravery. He was recognised by the post-Independence veterans as the “Saviour of Abohar”