Itihas Divakar - October 2017
Editorial
A Diligent Goal-Oriented Worker
The kind-hearted, skilled manager, and diligent, goal-oriented worker, the virtuous late Chetram Ji, was deeply immersed in the social and cultural activities of Himachal Pradesh. Although he was born on the holy land of Punjab, his field of work became the divine land of Himachal Pradesh. After completing his education, the late Chetram Ji became a pracharak (full-time worker) for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in 1971 and came to Himachal in 1982. The service of Himachal itself became the goal and path of his life. While fulfilling the responsibility of a Sangh pracharak and provincial coordinator, he dedicated his all to realizing various dimensions. The specialty of the late Chetram Ji was that whatever task he took in hand, he had to complete it, no matter how difficult. His personality was so influential that social workers from other social fields also used to consult with him. The foundation of the Thakur Jagdev Chand Smriti Shodh Sansthan, Neri, was laid by Thakur Ram Singh, but the late Chetram Ji made a significant contribution in giving it a tangible form. It was through his well-planned efforts that this research institute was established. After a long illness, he left his mortal body on August 5, 2017, and merged with the five elements. The life of the late Chetram Ji, a man of simple yet influential and inspiring personality, will always inspire society to be dedicated to the service of the nation. This issue includes Chetram Ji's life story, memoirs of workers who were close to him, a photo gallery, and his articles published in various newspapers and magazines from time to time. The Thakur Jagdev Chand Smriti Shodh Sansthan, Neri, will continue to carry forward the work initiated by the late Chetram Ji, and this will be a true tribute to him.
Life Sketch
The Life Journey of a Karmayogi
Life Journey
The life journey of the late Chetram Ji is the journey of a 'Karmayogi' (a dedicated worker). His personality was multifaceted. He started his journey from Jhandwala Hanumanta in Punjab and made Bilaspur, the hermitage of Maharishi Vyasa, the center of his virtuous deeds. One of his stops was also the Ropar district of Punjab. His innate qualities included amazing management skills, being a skilled organizer, being a man of few words, and being constantly diligent. He molded many workers with his own hands and inspired them for national work in various fields of society. Whatever task the organization gave him, he accepted it willingly and achieved the goal.
Jhandwala Hanumanta
Jhandwala Hanumanta is the ancestral village of the late Chetram Ji. He was born here on August 3, 1948 (Kaliyugabd 5050, Vikram Samvat 2005, Ashadh Krishna 13) in the house of his father Ram Pratap and mother Dakha Devi. Among Ram Pratap's total of seven children, Chetram Ji had five sisters and one elder brother, Gopi Ram. Jhandwala Hanumanta is in the Abohar district of Punjab province.
Memoirs
Strong Willpower
I was saddened by the departure of my dear friend Chetram Ji. Both of us attended the Sangh Shiksha Varg - first year in 1972 in Kaithal, Haryana. At that time, the present northern region was the Punjab province. I received Sangh training after becoming a Mahant. My friendship with Chetram Ji developed when he introduced himself as being from Abohar, and I wanted to get information from him about another Mahant who lived near Abohar. One day, during the same Sangh training camp, by mistake, 'jamalghota' (a purgative) was added to the chutney in the afternoon meal. All the teachers and trainees who had eaten started having diarrhea. Chetram Ji himself had to go to the toilet 16 times. Even in this condition, Chetram Ji was busy helping other volunteers to the hospital. This surprised not only me but all the trainees. Such was his strong willpower.
God Sent Me for Sangh Work
On the morning of August 5th, I received a call from Sham Sundar from Abohar. He informed me that Chetram Ji had passed away at night in a hospital in Shimla and his last rites would be performed in the evening at Jhandwala Hanumanta. This place is near Abohar. However, his connection with Punjab was only of birth and last rites. After completing his B.A. from D.A.V. College, Abohar, he decided to find a new path for himself instead of living a normal life, and this decision made him a pracharak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. As a pracharak, he spent most of his life in Himachal Pradesh.
Articles
Millennium vs. Varsh Pratipada
The New Millennium fever has started to subside a little. There was no poster, television program, or newspaper advertisement that did not have 'New Millennium' or 'Nav-Sahastrabdi' written on it. The question is, how can a calendar with so many inaccuracies, disputes about the birth of Jesus, conflicts about the start of the era, and doubts about the number of days in February, and controversy over when the millennium and century will begin, be given the status of a government calendar? Why not make India's calculation system the basis?
400th Birth Anniversary of Samarth Guru Ram Das Ji
In the tradition of saints of India, Samarth Guru Ramdas Ji holds a unique and incomparable position, having strengthened the nation's power through the divine path of spirituality. Therefore, Samarth Guru Ramdas was a nation-loving saint who initiated an era. Just as the Vikram Samvat is predominantly used in our practical life in North India, the Shaka Samvat is more prevalent in Western India. Based on this, in the mention of Samarth Guru Ramdas's birth, his birth took place on Ramnavami of Shaka Samvat 1530 in the village of Jab in Maharashtra.
