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CHAUDHARY BALDEV SINGH TRUST (Regd) Baldev Bhawan, Subhas Road Rohtak- 124001, Haryana

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF CHAUDHARY BALDEV SINGH :-

Chaudhary Baldev Singh was born on 04th March 1889 in an agriculturist family of Chaudhary Jage Ram at village Hamayun Pur of District Rohtak. He pursued his higher education in Lahore and earned the degree in Arts, Law and BT(B.Ed of Present day). Chaudhary Baldev Singh dedicated his life in the service of people of Haryana, rural area of Delhi and Western Uttar Pradesh and being founder of Jat school in Rohtak, he is fondly remembered as Master Baldev Singh- “A Pride of Haryana, pioneer of Education, a Freedom Fighter, a politician, a Social Reformer and a true friend of Kisans ( This is the script of the citation inscripted on a piece of marble stone, fixed on the pedestal of the Statue of Ch. Baldev Singh, installed in the central courtyard of Jat school- Rohtak)

A number of prominent writers from Haryana, have written books on the life of Chaudhary Baldev Singh, specifically remembering him as a freedom fighter and founder member of Jat School in Rohtak, which as of now, has stupendously, come up, a large campus, housing, apart from  Jat school,  other  Institutes, imparting education in the field of Arts, Science,  Engineering & Technology, Management, Law and  Education ( JBT & B.Ed) It is pertinent to mention that it was the foresightedness of Ch. Baldev Singh and his team that such a large chunk of land was got donated by predominantly Jat’s village called Bohar which is the nearest village from the present day Jat Institutions premises on Rohtak –Delhi road, Rohtak.

It may be recalled that even upto the end of nineteenth century the peasants in Haryana region of the then Punjab, particularly the Jats who were mostly illiterate and financially poor. Even doing sweating hard work in their fields,they were living a deplorable life. Most of the peasants were heavily indebted and as a result the production of their fields would be lifted by the Mahajans ( Money lenders) who had lended money to them on high interest. Seeing this pathetic condition of Jats, in the year of 1911, some socially big wigs and influential personalties of Jat community of that time namely Ch.Peeru Singh- village Matindu, Ch. Matu Ram-village Sanghi, Ch.Devi Singh- village Bohar, Ch.Jug Lal-Village Saasroli, Ch. Shiv Singh-village Aasan called Panchayate Aajam( Prime Conferential Assembly) of Jats at village Barona to discuss ways and means to improve the fate of peasantry

Thread bare discussions were held on a number of issues regarding the challenges being faced by Jats on financial, educational and social fronts. In this very Mahapanchayat, among other issues, it was also decided  to start a Jat School in Rotak, without any further delay and Jats were exhorted to contribute  bit by bit money for making this dream a reality.

A handbill mentioning the resolutions passed by the Panchayat were sent to DAV College Lahore where Ch. Bhani Ram- village Gangaana and Ch. Baldev Singh of village Hamayunpur were pursuing their higher education along with other Jat students from the Haryana region. On receiving the call by the community through this pamphlet Ch. Bhani Ram and Ch. Baldev Singh, both were students of B.A, held a meeting of the students,  wherein it was decided to open Jat school in Rohtak in the year of 1912,the time by which Ch. Bhani Ram completes his graduation. However, in this meeting ,Ch. Baldev Singh had expressed his inability to join the movement of opening a school in Rohtak as he was to seek admission in Law for becoming an advocate in competition to his cousin (Ch. Ramchander, who had already become a law Graduate) to fulfil the wishes of his father ( Ch. Jage Ram) In Dececember 1911, Ch.Bhani Ram fell ill and due to the illnes he could not prepare well  for examination and failed in B.A in April, 1912 and  was a big set back in starting  of the desired school in Rohtak, whereas, Ch. Baldev Singh cleared the B.A examination. Under these changed circumstances Ch. Baldev Singh wrote to Ch.Bhani Ram suggesting that he (Baldev Singh) ,against the wishes of his father,  would join B.T provided you ( Bhani Ram) return to  Lahore to complete your B.A. and as a result, in Aug 1912  Ch. Baldev Singh took admission in B.T and Ch. Bhani Ram re- joined D.A.V college to complete his graduation.

From Dec 1912, itself the preparation for opening a Jat School in Rotak were in full swing and all the youths of Jat community in Lahore were highly enthusiastic in making it to happen by April 1913 and for that purpose a meeting shall be held at Gokran Talab ( waterbody) in Rotak on 29th December 1912. However, it was not acceptable to the destiny that Ch. Bhani Ram could see the great day of opening of a Jat School in Jat heartland of Rohtak as he fell sick on 17th Dec 1912 in Lahore and ultimately left for his heavenly abode on 28th March 1913 after having a promise from the group of his friends lead by Ch. Baldev Singh.

To fulfil the last wishes of Ch. Bhani Ram and to serve the nation through serving the community, Ch. Baldev singh started Jat School in a house in Kasai Mohalla ( Butures Street) in Rohtak. A make shift hostel for boys was also erected with a thached roof. Ch. Ranjit Singh was made as interim Headmaster as Ch. Baldev Singh was yet to complete his B.T. Thereafter, in July 1913 Ch. Baldev Singh on completion of his B.T. took over as 1st Headmaster of Jat school, Rohtak.

In December 1913, in the 1st annual meeting of the school, Ch. Chhotu Ram took over as President and Ch. Matu Ram as Secretary of the Management Committee of the school.

It is well known to the people of the region that both Ch. Baldev Singh and Ch. Chhotu Ram were not only highly educated and social reformers but were great thinkers also. But there was a difference in the thinking of these two great personalities of Haryana region at that time. It is an open secret that Ch. Baldev Singh was an upright person and wanted to do the work for the improvement of peasants in general and of Jats in particular with active participation of self and senior students of school having no truck with Britishers. Whereas, Ch. Chhotu Ram wanted more recruitments of Jats in British Indian army having cordial relations with the British Authorities which were in power.This major diferrence in their approach in solving the problems of peasants lead their separation and both became bête noire to each other.In support of this school of thought,there was no unanimity even in naming the school itself. Ch. Chhotu Ram and his supporters wanted to name the school as Jat Killwert School  after the name of Deputy Commissionr of Rohtak to please Britishers in accordance with their way of uplifting  of Jats. This was summarily rejected by majority of the people present and finally “Jat Anglo  Sanskrit High School, the name suggested by Ch. Baldev Singh was accepted by majority.

Ch. Baldev Singh along with other people whose names are given in the beginning ran the school efficiently and Jat school had come up as most popular School of the region. Other people also followed the suit and several school in other towns of region came up on the lines of Jat School including Vaish School Rohtak and Jat School of Jind and Hissar.

Since Ch. Baldev Singh was a hard core freedom fighter and wanted active participation of Jats in Non Co-Operation Movement of Mahatma Gandhi but was opposed by Ch. Chhotu Ram and Ch. Lal Chand. However, Ch. Matu Ram, Ch. Peeru Singh Ch. Jug Lal, Ch. Harikishan of Chiri village, Ch. Devi Singh of Bohar and Dr. Ramji Lal were with Ch. Baldev Singh to fight for the freedom of country.

It is worth mentioning that in addition of receiving education in Jat school,  the spirit of patriotism and love for freedom increasingly spread among students and staff. On 20th Jan 1919, a procession, mainly comprising of students and teachers of Jat School, lead by Ch.Baldev Singh was taken through the city roads of Rotak to show solidarity with Mahatma Gandhi on the issue of Non Co- Operation with British Authorities. Ch. Baldev Singh along with Ch.Richh Pal Singh were arrested and sent to jail for 2 years.

In the absence of Ch Baldev singh, the condition of Jat School started declining and several students were leaving it in search of another good school. However, the school regained its lost position on rejoining of Ch. Baldev Singh after his release from jail.

In the year 1926, Ch. Baldev Singh, on Swaraj Party ticket, won the election from Sonepat- Gohana constituency defeating his nearest rival Ch. Tikka Ram of Jamindar party formed by Ch. Chhotu Ram and thus became Member Legilative Assembly of the then Punjab. This left Ch. Chhotu Ram red faced and started increasingly opposing Ch. Baldev Singh politically. After having elected and becoming legislator Ch. Baldev Singh Left Jat School and handed over the command of Headmastership to Ch. Duli Chand. The Management Committee and others who’s who of that time were present in the farewell function of Ch. Baldev Singh.

Beside, his active involvement in politics of Haryana region, which was part of the then composite Punjab and being a qualified legal luminary, Ch. Baldev Singh also started his legal practice in District Courts of Rohtak. He also constructed a Kothi popularly known as Baldev Bhawan, on Subhash Road, Rohtak.

Ch. Baldev Singh lived a saintly life and had always remained fully engaged in the service of peasants of Haryana Region, particularly of Jats. In 1972 when Nation was celebrating Silver Jublee of its independence, in recognition of his services to the society and to the nation, the Republic of India conferred to him Tamra Patara and a citation letter.

He left for his heavenly abode on 12th January 1976.He was cremated in front of Jat school within the precinct of Jat Institutions and adjacent to the place where Chaudhary Sir Chhotu Ram was cremated  on 9th January 1945. Chaudhary Maru Singh, the then Education Minister of Haryana, attended the funeral  of Chaudhary Baldev Singh. Hundreds of thousand people attended the funeral of chaudhary Baldev Singh, though he was not holding any powerful post at the time of his last breath. Such was the respect of Ch. Baldev Singh in the hears of the people of Haryana.

In the year 2013 while Jat Education Society was celebrating its centenary, as a mark of respect, full size statues of Ch. Baldev Singh along with his three other associates facing Rohtak- Delhi Road, were installed in the precinct of Jat Institutions, which were unveiled by Hon’rable Ch. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the then Chief Minister of Haryana. The family of Ch. Baldev Singh has also formed a Trust in his memory to continue to walk on the path shown by him for doing selfless services for the betterment of the society we belong to and the nation, we live in.

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