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| caption            = Sir Chhotu Ram on a 1995 stamp of India
| caption            = Sir Chhotu Ram on a 1995 stamp of India
| birth_date        = {{Birth date|df=yes|1881|11|24}}
| birth_date        = {{Birth date|df=yes|1881|11|24}}
| birth_place        = [[ Garhi Sampla-Kiloi (Vidhan Sabha constituency)]], [[Rohtak district|Rohtak]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British India]]
| birth_place        = [[Garhi Sampla-Kiloi (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Garhi Sampla]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British Raj|British India]] <br> {{small|(present-day [[Haryana]], [[India]])}}
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1945|01|09|1881|11|04}}
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1945|01|09|1881|11|04}}
| death_place        = [[Lahore]], Punjab, British India
| death_place        = [[Lahore]], Punjab, British India <br> {{small|(present-day [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], [[Pakistan]])}}
| party              = [[Unionist Party (Punjab)|Unionist Party]]
| party              = [[Unionist Party (Punjab)|Unionist Party]]  
| alma_mater        = [[University of Delhi]]
| alma_mater        = [[University of Delhi]]
| spouse            = Giano Devi
| spouse            = Giano Devi
| family            = [[Ch. Birender Singh]] (grandson) and Ch. Mahender Singh Ohlian (Great Grandson)
| family            = [[Ch. Birender Singh]] (grandson) and Ch. Mahender Singh Ohlian (Great Grandson) Mother Name :(Harki Davi)  
}}
}}


'''[[Sir]] Chhotu Ram''', (born '''Ram Richpal'''; 24 November 1881 – 9 January 1945) was a prominent politician in [[British India]]'s [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]], an ideologue of the pre-Independent India, who belonged to the [[Jat]] community and championed{{dubious|date=June 2021}}  the interest of oppressed communities{{who said|date=June 2021}} of the [[Indian subcontinent]]. For this feat, he was knighted in 1937. On the political front, he was a co-founder of the [[Unionist Party (Punjab)|National Unionist Party]] which ruled the United Punjab Province in pre-independent India and kept Congress and Muslim League at bay.
'''[[Sir]] Chhotu Ram''' (born '''Ram Richpal'''; 24 November 1881 – 9 January 1945) was a prominent politician in [[British India]]'s [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]], an ideologue of the pre-Independent India, who belonged to the [[Jat]] community and championed{{dubious|date=June 2021}}  the interest of oppressed communities{{who said|date=June 2021}} of the [[Indian subcontinent]]. For this feat, he was knighted in 1. On the political front, he was a co-founder of the [[Unionist Party (Punjab)|National Unionist Party]] which ruled the United Punjab Province in pre-independent India and kept Congress and Muslim League at bay.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Chhotu Ram was born as Ram Richpal in a [[Jat]] family in the village of Garhi Sampla, [[Rohtak district]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Tika Ram |title=Sir Chhotu Ram: a biography |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lni1AAAAIAAJ |year=1979 |publisher=Ritu}}</ref> His parents were Chaudhary Sukhiram Singh Ohlian and Sarla Devi. He acquired the nickname Chhotu Ram as he was the youngest of his brothers.<ref>S.P. Sen, Dictionary of National Biography, Vol ?, Calcutta, 1973, p.309</ref>
Chhotu Ram was born as Ram Richpal in a [[Jat]] family in the village of Garhi Sampla, [[Rohtak district]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Tika Ram |title=Sir Chhotu Ram: a biography |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lni1AAAAIAAJ |year=1979 |publisher=Ritu}}</ref> His parents were Chaudhary Sukhiram Singh Ohlian and Sarla Devi. He acquired the nickname Chhotu Ram as he was the youngest of his brothers.<ref>S.P. Sen, Dictionary of National Biography, Vol ?, Calcutta, 1973, p.309</ref>
He was Married to a [[Jat]] girl of Village Kheri Jat, [[Jhajjar]].
He was married to a [[Jat]] girl of Village Kheri Jat, [[Jhajjar]].


Chhotu Ram joined primary school in January 1891, passing out four years later. When he was around eleven years of age he married Giano Devi.<ref>S.P. Sen, Dictionary of National Biography, Vol ?, Calcutta, 1973, p.310</ref> He studied for his middle school examination in [[Jhajjar]], 12 miles from his village, then enrolled in the Christian Mission School in [[Delhi]]. He passed his intermediate examination in 1903 and proceeded to [[St. Stephen's College, Delhi]] from where he graduated in 1905<ref>[http://www.haryana-online.com/people/sir_chhotu_ram.htm Sir Chhotu Ram] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002005110/http://haryana-online.com/People/sir_chhotu_ram.htm |date=2 October 2013 }}</ref> with a distinction in [[Sanskrit]]. He gained his [[LLB]] from [[Agra]] College in 1910 and began his practice as an advocate in 1912. He started the Anglo-Sanskrit School on 26 March 1913 in [[Rohtak]]. He joined Indian National Congress in 1916. Chhotu Ram worked as the President of the Rohtak District Congress Committee from 1916 to 1920. Parts of his education were funded by the prominent Jat philanthropist [[Seth Chhaju Ram]].
Chhotu Ram joined primary school in January 1891, passing out four years later. When he was around eleven years of age he married Giano Devi.<ref>S.P. Sen, Dictionary of National Biography, Vol ?, Calcutta, 1973, p.310</ref> He studied for his middle school examination in [[Jhajjar]], 12 miles from his village, then enrolled in the Christian Mission School in [[Delhi]]. He passed his intermediate examination in 1903 and proceeded to [[St. Stephen's College, Delhi]] from where he graduated in 1905<ref>[http://www.haryana-online.com/people/sir_chhotu_ram.htm Sir Chhotu Ram] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002005110/http://haryana-online.com/People/sir_chhotu_ram.htm |date=2 October 2013 }}</ref> with a distinction in [[Sanskrit]]. Parts of his education were funded by the prominent Jat philanthropist [[Seth Chhaju Ram]]. He was great follower of arya samaj


==Political activities==
==Political activities==
After 1920, Ram tried to create a non-sectarian peasant group consciousness. He formed the Unionist Party (Zamindara League) in 1923, which was a cross-communal alliance of [[Hindu]],  [[Sikh]], and  [[Muslim]] agriculturists. He soon aligned with such Muslim leaders as [[Fazli Husain]].{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}
Among the supporters of the party at this point were such prominent urban Muslims as [[Abdul Qadir (Muslim leader)|Abdul Qadir]].<ref>J. Henry Korson. (1974) ''Contemporary Problems of Pakistan''. Brill. p. 10</ref>
 
The Unionist Party won elections in 1935 to form the provincial government in the capital at [[Lahore]]. As revenue minister, he brought in changes in the law to stop the practice of [[usury]] (charging interest on interest).  Among the supporters of the party at this point were such prominent urban Muslims as [[Abdul Qadir (Muslim leader)|Abdul Qadir]].<ref>J. Henry Korson. (1974) ''Contemporary Problems of Pakistan''. Brill. p. 10</ref>
 
Ram initially approved the [[Bhakhra Dam]] Scheme.{{Citation needed|date=August 2007}} He got an agreement between the Maharaja of [[Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh|Bilaspur]], in whose territory the waters of river [[Sutlej]] were to be impounded. And the [[Punjab region|Punjab]] Government signed only a few weeks before he died on 9 January 1945.


== Political views ==
== Political views ==
He studied the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]'' and was very much influenced by its philosophy. There are many instances, which represent his value for education and compassion for the poor. A substantial portion of his salary as minister was set aside for scholarships and stipends for economically poor but bright students.
A substantial portion of his salary as minister was set aside for scholarships and stipends for economically poor but bright students.


The enactment of two agrarian laws was primarily due to his contribution. These were the Punjab Relief Indebtedness Act of 1934 and the Punjab Debtor's Protection Act of 1936,<ref>Abhishek Kadyan (3 January 2009) [http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/416892.html UK Indymedia – Rahabar-i-Azam Sir Chhotu Ram – angel for farmer]. Indymedia.org.uk. Retrieved on 30 November 2018.</ref> which emancipated the peasants from the clutches of the moneylenders and restored the right of land to the tiller.
The enactment of two agrarian laws was primarily due to his contribution. These were the Punjab Relief Indebtedness Act of 1934 and the Punjab Debtor's Protection Act of 1936.<ref>Abhishek Kadyan (3 January 2009) [http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/416892.html UK Indymedia – Rahabar-i-Azam Sir Chhotu Ram – angel for farmer]. Indymedia.org.uk. Retrieved on 30 November 2018.</ref>


Ram died in Lahore on 9 January 1945. His body was carried back to his home in Rohtak city, where it was cremated at the Jat Heroes Memorial Anglo Sanskrit Senior Secondary School in the presence of thousands of people.
Ram died in Lahore on 9 January 1945. His body was carried back to his home in Rohtak city, where it was cremated at the Jat Heroes Memorial Anglo Sanskrit Senior Secondary School in the presence of thousands of people.
== Recognition ==
Chhotu Ram was awarded the title of '[[Rao Bahadur]]'.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}} He was knighted in 1937 and was popularly known as ''Deen Bandhu'' (in Urdu as ''Rahbare Azam'', which translates as ''messiah of the poor'').


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
All punjabis recognised that Chotu Ram's demise possessed profound political consequences.<ref>https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Khizr_Tiwana_the_Punjab_Unionist_Party_a/jEldAgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=unionist+party+choturam&pg=PA136&printsec=frontcover</ref> Farmers flocked to Rohtak to pay respects at his demise. His legacy has been evoked by the formation of a new party, the [[National Unionist Zamindara Party]] by [[guar]] farmers in [[Rajasthan]] in 2013.<ref>[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/guar-farmers-plan-own-party-in-rajasthan/1020598/ Guar farmers plan own party in Rajasthan]. Indianexpress.com (23 October 2012). Retrieved on 2018-11-30.</ref>
All punjabis recognised that Chotu Ram's demise possessed profound political consequences.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Khizr_Tiwana_the_Punjab_Unionist_Party_a/jEldAgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=unionist+party+choturam&pg=PA136&printsec=frontcover|isbn = 9781136790362|title = Khizr Tiwana, the Punjab Unionist Party and the Partition of India|date = 16 December 2013|publisher = Routledge}}</ref> Farmers flocked to Rohtak to pay respects at his demise.


==Monuments and memorials==
==Monuments and memorials==

Latest revision as of 15:52, 13 January 2022

Sir Chhotu Ram
Sir Chhotu Ram on a 1995 stamp of India
Born(1881-11-24)24 November 1881
Died9 January 1945(1945-01-09) (aged 63)
Lahore, Punjab, British India
(present-day Punjab, Pakistan)
Alma materUniversity of Delhi
TitleFor the honesty of Social work, he was given the title of the Sir.
Political partyUnionist Party
Spouse(s)Giano Devi
FamilyCh. Birender Singh (grandson) and Ch. Mahender Singh Ohlian (Great Grandson) Mother Name :(Harki Davi)

Sir Chhotu Ram (born Ram Richpal; 24 November 1881 – 9 January 1945) was a prominent politician in British India's Punjab Province, an ideologue of the pre-Independent India, who belonged to the Jat community and championed[dubious ] the interest of oppressed communitiesTemplate:Who said of the Indian subcontinent. For this feat, he was knighted in 1. On the political front, he was a co-founder of the National Unionist Party which ruled the United Punjab Province in pre-independent India and kept Congress and Muslim League at bay.

Early life[edit | edit source]

Chhotu Ram was born as Ram Richpal in a Jat family in the village of Garhi Sampla, Rohtak district, Punjab Province.[1] His parents were Chaudhary Sukhiram Singh Ohlian and Sarla Devi. He acquired the nickname Chhotu Ram as he was the youngest of his brothers.[2] He was married to a Jat girl of Village Kheri Jat, Jhajjar.

Chhotu Ram joined primary school in January 1891, passing out four years later. When he was around eleven years of age he married Giano Devi.[3] He studied for his middle school examination in Jhajjar, 12 miles from his village, then enrolled in the Christian Mission School in Delhi. He passed his intermediate examination in 1903 and proceeded to St. Stephen's College, Delhi from where he graduated in 1905[4] with a distinction in Sanskrit. Parts of his education were funded by the prominent Jat philanthropist Seth Chhaju Ram. He was great follower of arya samaj

Political activities[edit | edit source]

Among the supporters of the party at this point were such prominent urban Muslims as Abdul Qadir.[5]

Political views[edit | edit source]

A substantial portion of his salary as minister was set aside for scholarships and stipends for economically poor but bright students.

The enactment of two agrarian laws was primarily due to his contribution. These were the Punjab Relief Indebtedness Act of 1934 and the Punjab Debtor's Protection Act of 1936.[6]

Ram died in Lahore on 9 January 1945. His body was carried back to his home in Rohtak city, where it was cremated at the Jat Heroes Memorial Anglo Sanskrit Senior Secondary School in the presence of thousands of people.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

All punjabis recognised that Chotu Ram's demise possessed profound political consequences.[7] Farmers flocked to Rohtak to pay respects at his demise.

Monuments and memorials[edit | edit source]

Panormic view of Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology (DCRUST) at Murthal.

Ram's place of residence in Rohtak was known as "Prem Nivas" and "Nili Kothi" (English: Blue Bungalow). The chowk (road square) nearest to his house is now known as "Chhotu Ram Chowk" and a Dharamshala exists at the same place in his name. A samadhi (tomb) was created in his memory at the school campus where he was cremated, and there people pay homage on his birthday each year.

Chhotu Ram State College of Engineering College in Murthal (Sonepat District), Haryana, is named after him (the name of the college has since been changed to Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology abbreviated as DCRUST, after it got the University Status in 2006).

Sir Chhotu Ram College of Education, Kurukshetra is named after him.[8] Further, Sir Chhotu Ram Institute of Engineering & Technology at Meerut is also named after him.

The Indian government issued a commemorative stamp on 9 January 1995.

The Jat-Anglo Sanskrit School was started by him on 26 March 1913 in Rohtak. A Bachelor of Education college at the same campus, is also named after him.

Ch. Birender Singh, Sir Chhotu Ram's daughter's son got built a 64 feet statue by Ch. Chhotu Ram Trust - Rohtak, highest in Haryana, at his birth site, Garhi Sampla. This statue was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9 October 2018.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Tika Ram (1979). Sir Chhotu Ram: a biography. Ritu.
  2. S.P. Sen, Dictionary of National Biography, Vol ?, Calcutta, 1973, p.309
  3. S.P. Sen, Dictionary of National Biography, Vol ?, Calcutta, 1973, p.310
  4. Sir Chhotu Ram Archived 2 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  5. J. Henry Korson. (1974) Contemporary Problems of Pakistan. Brill. p. 10
  6. Abhishek Kadyan (3 January 2009) UK Indymedia – Rahabar-i-Azam Sir Chhotu Ram – angel for farmer. Indymedia.org.uk. Retrieved on 30 November 2018.
  7. Khizr Tiwana, the Punjab Unionist Party and the Partition of India. Routledge. 16 December 2013. ISBN 9781136790362.
  8. "Sir Chhotu Ram". scrce.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2013.

Further reading[edit | edit source]

  • K.C.Yadav: The Crisis in India: Reflections of Sir Chhotu Ram, Haryana Historical Society, Kurukshetra, 1996
  • Balbir Singh: Sir Chhotu Ram in Thoughts and Deeds, Jat Samaj Sewa Trust (regd.), New Delhi, 1930
  • Madan Gopal: Sir Chhotu Ram: A Political Biography, B.R. Publishing Corporation, New Delhi, 1988
  • Madan Gopal: Sir Chhotu Ram: The Man and the Vision, Bhagirath Sewa Sansthan, Ghaziabad, 1997 ISBN 81-85083-28-2

External links[edit | edit source]