SIR CHHOTU RAM

Born on November 24, 1881, he was named "Chhotu" for being the youngest in the family. His real name, in fact, was Ram Richpal.His father Sukhi Ram had no idea that higher education could bring any returns. It was only through his personal efforts that he studied Law. Sir Chhotu Ram not only wanted to make a career in Law but also ardently desired to combine it with service to the people. He passed his L.L.B exam in 1911 with First Division. He started practicing at Agra initially and was amongst the top barristers in Agra, Mathura, Aligarh and Bharatpur. He later shifted to Rohtak, his hometown.

The fact that Sir Chhotu Ram, the under-rated Jat boy would one day, rise to become the Revenue Minister and would uproot the practice of usury was beyond the imagination of exploitative business class.

He believed that the agriculturists will one day defeat the non agriculturists.

Sir Chhotu Ram led a long, lonely struggle but he was confident that the Punjab peasant will one day awaken the masses and break the unholy combination of the bureaucracy and the urban exploiters.

The last thing Sir Chhotu Ram did, before his sudden demise in January 1945, was to have completed all details about the Bhakra Dam in order to irrigate southern Punjab including dry Rohtak.

Sir Chhotu Ram shaped the Punjab in a new mould. He s laws he got his name written in the history of the joint Punjab with "Letters of Gold". The greatest well wisher of farming community of his time he lived for the upliftment of the Punjab farmers. He devoted his whole life to the service people of the joint Punjab. His courage was so great that he did not hesitate to challenge and fight the greatest leaders of India.

This great soul was finally laid to rest on Jan 9, 1945.