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MAHARAJA HARI SINGH: THE BENEVOLENT RULER
YB WEB DESK. Dated: 9/26/2022 1:03:28 PM
The announcement of the Jammu and Kashmir Administration led by Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha to declare Maharaja Hari Singh’s birthday a public holiday is a historic decision and a step to correct the historical wrong done with the last benevolent ruler of erstwhile state. For over a decade, different social and political organisations in Jammu were demanding a public holiday on September 23, when Maharaja Hari Singh was born. The announcement was made by Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha following his meeting with a delegation composed of prominent political leaders, members of the Yuva Rajput Sabha, civil society members, including head of J&K transport union, at the Raj Bhavan. Declaring holiday on the birthday of the last Dogra ruler has been a long pending demand being raised in Jammu, region. The Rajput community has been vocal about this issue and has been organizing regular rallies and protests which have received support from all the political and social organizations. For over three years, different organisations were regularly holding protests. Although the decision for holiday has taken some time, at last Jammu celebrated to welcome the decision. In Jammu Maharaja Hari Singh has emerged as a unifying force and icon for the young generation. In recent years, especially after 2008, Shri Amarnath land row, younger generation is keenly looking towards the Dogra rule. Maharaja was a great educationist, progressive thinker, social reformer and a towering man of ideas and ideals. The public holiday will be a fitting tribute to Maharaja Hari Singh's rich legacy.Even the Lieutenant Governor observed that. Pertinently, on the directions of Lt Governor, a four-member committee was constituted by the UT administration earlier this year to examine the public demand regarding holiday on the birth anniversary of Maharaja. For decades, the political order which took over J&K after 1947 had made every effort to erase the memory of the Dogra rule, especially Maharaja Hari Singh. It was a great injustice to the entire Jammu division, mainly Dogras.