Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation, Amit Shah remembered Prem Nath Dogra on his 147th birth anniversary. He is remembered for his ability to mobilise the people of Jammu for the cause of total integration of the region with India.
Pt. Prem Nath Dogra was popularly known as Pandit ji. Read further to know about his early life and contributions made by him towards the nation..
Family background and Early life
Pt Prem Nath Dogra was born in Jammu’s Smailpur village on October 24, 1884. During the reign of Maharaja Ranbir Singhji, his father, Anant Ram, was a high-ranking officer in the state. He attended Pir Mitta School in Lahore and graduated with a B A degree from Forman Christian College in Lahore in 1908. He was a standout athlete in high school and college, serving as captain of his college football team.
A Social Reformer
Pt Prem Nath Dogra launched a campaign against untouchability which was plaguing the society of Jammu & Kashmir. He served the society by heading various community organisations like Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Bharamin Mukhya Mandal and Dogra Sadar Sabha.
He was instrumental in establishing the first Shakha of RSS in June 1940 at Dewan Mandir Jammu to ignite the minds towards patriotism and cultural fevour amongst the Hindu polity. He was nominated as a member of the Legislative Assembly (Praja Sabha) twice in 1936 and 1942, owing to his high social status and contributions to J&K.
Political Career and Recognition as a National Leader
Panditji was one of the first members of the Praja Sabha in the pre-independence era to criticise the Glancy Commission report, which supported major structural reforms in the civil service and advised that it be regional-based rather than merit-based.
Panditji, along with other national leaders such as Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, was convinced that Article 370 is a barrier to a true merger of Jammu and Kashmir with India.
He was a Nationalist who served as all-India President of the Bhartiya Jan Sangh from 1955 to 1956, and afterwards amalgamated the Praja Parishad with the Bhartiya Jan Sangh in 1964. He served as President of the Bhartiya Jan Sangh’s state unit till 1967.
Panditji opposed the Agrarian Laws framed by the Sheikh regime as he considered it to be biased and a politically motivated law, moreover the supreme court of India had no jurisdiction over such a law. He was elected representative in the state Legislative Assembly for three terms viz 1957, 1962 and 1967.
He coined the “Ek Nishaan,Ek Vidhan ,Ek Pradhan” to make the state an inevitable part of India. He was jailed many times for the work of bridging the gap between India and J&K. At the age of 75 again he was arrested in 1969 for taking part in agitation against separatism under the flag of India.
Amit Shah’s Maiden Visit to J&K after abrogation of Article 370
Amit Shah is on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the Centre revoked the erstwhile state’s special status and split it into two UTs – J&K and Ladakh – on August 5, 2019. He said that Prem Nath Dogra played a major role in ending the post of Prime Minister in Jammu and Kashmir. He encouraged the nationalist people of Jammu and Kashmir and the country with his principles and efficient leadership.
Important Announcements made by Amit Shah
- He inaugurated the first direct international flight between Srinagar and Sharjah and the United Arab Emirates. The low-cost airline of India GO FIRST became the first airline to launch direct flights from Srinagar to Sharjah. The terminal at the Srinagar airport will be expanded from 25,000 square meter to 63,000 square meter.
- There will also be an investment of Rs. 1,500 crores at the Srinagar airport, while Rs. 600 crores will be spent on the Jammu airport by the government.
- The Home Minister highlighted that there are 4500 youth clubs registered all over Jammu & Kashmir, out of which 4229 youth clubs are in rural areas, which are working to connect the youth in the respective areas with the activity of development, sports, education, employment and skill upgradation.
- ‘Youth Club’ is a multifaceted program, which generates livelihood, advances education, skill development, economic development, grants, counseling and guidance, besides adding various aspects of healthcare upgradation to it.
- A program has been institutionalized to provide assistance of Rs 25,000 to every youth club. Buildings have also been provided, Sports Engagement Program has been started all over J&K
- The work of providing tap water has been completed in two districts of the Valley and will be completed in 11 other districts by December this year.The project to provide tap water to every family in Kashmir would be completed by December 2022.
- The SEHAT scheme was launched, under which the Jammu and Kashmir administration will cover up to Rs. 5 lakh in medical expenses for each person in the state.
- There is no need to pay any commission for widow and old age assistance and children’s scholarship, assistance directly goes into the beneficiary’s account at the press of a button.
- The construction of a 500-bed hospital in Srinagar has been completed at a cost of Rs. 115 crore, and the foundation stone for Handwara Medical College was laid down from here.
- Last year, roads worth Rs. 2,000 crore were created, and work on roads worth Rs. 4,000 crore will begin this year.
- 75 Sufi religious sites, including temples, gurudwaras, and Muslim religious sites, are being upgraded at government expense in order to restore the Ganga-Jamuni culture.
- By 2022, an investment of more than Rs. 50,000 crore will come into Jammu and Kashmir and 5 lakh children will receive employment.
With this we come to the end of this blog. We covered all the major points about Prem Nath Dogra and his significant role in developing Jammu and Kashmir.
