BHIWANI is called Chhoti Kashi, as there are more than 350 temples in and around this city. Besides two gurukuls, one each for girls and boys, it has a century-old orphanage. The district of Bhiwani is adjacent to the Shekhawati area of Rajasthan. Many parts of it till the early decades of the 19th century had remained famine-stricken.

The famine of 1887, known as Chalisa ka Akaal, took many lives. The situation was no different during Chapna ka Akaal, which took place in 1898-99. Besides, other minor famines occurred in the area in 1833-34, 1837-38, 1860-61, 1869-70, 1877-78 and 1896-97.

The government woke up to reality only after the famine of 1896-97. A few relief committees sprang up in Bhiwani, Hansi, Hisar and Sirsa towns. On November 10, 1899, an orphanage was opened in Bhiwani town. Veteran freedom fighter and national leader Lala Lajpat Rai laid the foundation stone of its building on May 30, 1909. Situated near the railway station on the Tosham road, it was named Hindu Orphanage. A local philanthropist, Chandu Lal, offered his double-storeyed building to Babu Chudamani, an advocate, to keep orphans there. Babu Chudamani was one of the founders of this orphanage and remained its manager till his death.

Christian missionaries were very active in the area those days. They had 82 orphans with them. When Lala Lajpat Rai, who was a practising lawyer at Hisar, learnt about this, he immediately consulted his friends Babu Chudamani and Pandit Lakhpat Rai.

He filed an application for their guardianship in the court of Sessions Judge, Ferozepore. The Sessions Judge ordered that the children should be handed over to Lala Lajpat Rai. The Christian missionaries appealed against the Sessions Judge’s verdict in the Lahore High Court. Their plea, however, was dismissed.

Chief Engineer of the Punjab Government Sir Ganga Ram drew up the plan for the present building of the orphanage. This building was completed in four years (1909-13)at a cost of Rs 27,000. A separate block for girls was added to it with Rs 2,950 during 1923-24.

The orphanage, which got its new name — Bal Seva Ashram — on July 24, 1977, also has a government-recognised school on its premises. The word Hindu was deleted from its name to impart it a secular image. The ashram provides technical knowledge like carpentry and weaving to boys and embroidery, cooking and housekeeping to girls. Talented students are sent to well-known institutions for higher studies at the expense of the ashram.

Students in the ashram chant bhajans and perform prayers in the morning and evening.

The ashram authorities do not allow the inmates to take their meals outside the orphanage. The donors who wish to feed the children have to bring all items like atta, vegetables and ghee required to prepare the meal along with a cook.

At least for eight to nine months in a year, food is supplied to inmates by donors, according to the honorary secretary of the ashram. At present, there are 60 orphans in the orphanage.

Till date, 87 orphan girls have been married off by the ashram authorities with full Vedic rites and rituals. Fiftysix orphans have been adopted so far by childless couples. The ashram, spread over 81 kanals, has two separate hostels for boys and girls. The number of annual and monthly donors is 45 and 690, respectively.