Immortalised by his projects

THE significance of the role of an enlightened and benevolent soul is generally realised after his death. But Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia was one such man who even during his lifetime had made everybody feel that he had done a great service to the country through his efforts to enlighten the middle class educated men of British India. The Tribune, his benevolence personified, stands a testimony to the fact that he had a distinct role to play in shaping the destiny of free India.

Instilling the spirit of nationalism and patriotic feelings during British rule was not to the liking of the then rulers of India. Notwithstanding all such pressures, The Tribune took up the cause of freedom for the country even during the days of its infancy and this is no mean achievement. The courage shown by this great Indian in enlightening the people and making them understand the difference between a slave and a free nation equals the physical efforts made by the revolutionaries of those days.

As the writings of Rousseau Voltaire and Montessque were instrumental in bringing about the French Revolution, similarly the writings of freedom fighters through the columns of The Tribune contributed to the cause of mentally preparing the people for the struggle ahead. Its role after the attainment of freedom is also praiseworthy. As long as The Tribune and its group of newspapers live, the name of Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia lives. The man was great in his lifetime and has become far greater after his death.

The personality of a living person is judged by his eloquence. And the personality of a man who is no more in this world in his physical form is judged by the activities and projects started by him. The able trustees during all these years after Sardar Majithia's death have kept him alive through his projects.

In addition to that at Karnal and Delhi, if a Dyal Singh College is started at Chandigarh it will amount to furthering the cause of education a cause so dear to Dyal Singh Majithia.

The library movement started by Sardar Majithia can also be spread if The Tribune helps inculcate the habit of extra- reading among the student community of today.

Although we cannot see Dyal Singh Majithia in his physical form, we can have a look at him through the projects started by him. Those who have tasted slavery can abundantly feel it and express their gratitude to this illustrious Sardar. May he live long through the prosperity of his projects!

SHYAM SUNDER AIRI
Kapurthala

Poverty-stricken Indians

The love for one’s country that lies dormant in the hearts of people comes to the fore in times of crisis. It is rare that a person would have no love for the place where he is born and will not rise to defend it in times of aggression. Even animals love the place they inhabit. Take the case of stray dogs in the locality. It will bark and bite to evict any intruder in the area.

Motherland is the mother of all mothers in whose defence we forget the mother who gave birth to us. The Kargil crisis to a great extent brought out the love for the nation. But did it bring out the spirit of nationalism in us? No, the spirit of nationalism transcends the times of crises. It is the spirit which should prevail at all times in the hearts of men. Differences of opinion are bound to be there, as even a family which shares the same roof witnesses a clash of opinions and ideals. But in a family this conflict is soothened with the spirit of tolerance. So, it should be with the nation.

Who likes to see one’s mother in tattered clothes, hungry and distraught, in pain and suffering? No one! Then why must we daily see our motherland in such a pitiable state? Go to the poverty-stricken areas of the country, our motherland seems to stare us in the face and beg. She seems to say, “These suffering people too are my children. You are fortunate to be healthy and rich. But these also are your brethren. Would you not do something for your brothers and sisters? Be sensitive to the suffering you see around you”.

Drop by drop the pot fills up. So, try to do things in small ways. A drop of effort on the part of each one of us, in whatever way we can, will help in reducing a bit of suffering of our fellow Indians and relieve the suffering and pain of our motherland.

MARY PARMAR
Shimla