Seth Chhaju Ram

2020-10-13T03:25:51Z

2409:4051:2E02:B089:B8E3:2E66:3FEF:83B3:

{{Use Indian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{no footnotes|date=August 2012}}
'''[[Indian honorifics|Seth]] Chhaju Ram Lamba''' (1861–1943) was a [[Jaat]] tycoon from [[Bhiwani]] district of then [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab (British India)]] (now [[Haryana]] state) and made a fortune in [[Calcutta]] during the [[British Raj]] period. A [[philanthropist]], he undertook many social improvement projects. He financed the higher studies of Sir [[Chhotu Ram]].

==Early life==
He was born in a [[Hindu]] [[Jat people|Jat]] family in 1861 at Alakhpura in [[Bawani Khera]] tehsil, [[Bhiwani]] district of then [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]] (current [[Haryana]] state). His father was [[Chaudhary]] Salig Ram Lamba and had migrated from the village of [[Gothra]] in [[Sikar]] district, [[Rajasthan]].

He was married twice. His first wife was from the village Dohaka who died from [[cholera]]. He had no son from his first wife. Then he married Lakshmi Devi of the village Vilawal in Bhiwani district and had children with her.

==Career==
When in his early 20s, Lamba met [[Arya Samaj]]ist engineer [[Raisaheb]] Shivnath Rai, who was very much impressed him. Rai took Lamba to Kolkata and for some time Lamba coached Rai’s children and also those of a businessman from Rajgarh. During this work he picked up knowledge of their operations and in particular of the ''dalali'' (brokerage business or commission agency). He began to trade in old bags and later shifted to the new bags trade.

==Philanthropic work==
He adopted two siblings named Neera Arya and her brother Basant. He started many hostels, libraries, [[Dharamshalas]] and schools, such as [[Chhaju Ram Jat Senior Secondary School, Hisar|Jat School, Hisar]] (founded 1924).<ref name=gaz1>{{cite web| url=http://revenueharyana.gov.in/html/gazeteers/gazetteer_india_hisar.pdf| title=Gazetteer of India: Haryana, Hisar, pp.210| author=Haryana Gazetteers Organization| publisher=Controller of Printing and Stationery| location=Chandigarh| date=1987| url-status=dead| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140501213030/http://revenueharyana.gov.in/html/gazeteers/gazetteer_india_hisar.pdf| archivedate=1 May 2014| df=dmy-all}}</ref> He financed higher studies of Sir [[Chhotu Ram|'Chhotu' Ram Richpal]]. He was known as ''Danveer [[Bhamashah]]'' of the Jat Kshatriya race. The British government awarded him the [[Orders,_decorations,_and_medals_of_the_United_Kingdom#Life_peerage|life peerage]] title of ‘Sir.’

==Death==
He died on 7{{nbsp}}April 1943.

==Legacy==
Several prominent jat institutes are named after him, including the following:<ref name=jat1>[http://crpublicschool.com/ C.R. Public School societ]</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[CRM JAT College]]
* [[Chhaju Ram Law College, Hisar]]
* [[Chhaju Ram College of Education, Hisar]]
* [[Chhaju Ram Jat Senior Secondary School, Hisar]]
* [[Chhaju Ram Public School, Hisar]]
* Numerous dharmshaalaa across the length and breadth of Punjab-Haryana-Rajasthan , often near railway stations. Many now in dilapidated condo on and being encroached over
{{col div end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ram, Seth Chhaju}}
[[Category:People from Bhiwani district]]
[[Category:1861 births]]
[[Category:1943 deaths]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Haryana]]
[[Category:Indian knights]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]

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Seth Chhaju Ram