He left an impact on Punjab

By Randhir Singh

Master Tara Singh and Giani Kartar Singh left an indelible imprint on Punjab affairs for nearly one-third of a century. Master Tara Singh was a legend, while Gianiji ranked as his number two. Sardar Baldev Singh, Hukam Singh, Sant Fateh Singh, Harchand Singh Longowal, Gian Singh Rarewala, formed part of this galaxy. Sardar Partap Singh Kairon, Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir, Giani Zail Singh, Swaran Singh, Darbara Singh, Col Raghbir Singh, Harcharan Singh Brar, Gurdial Singh Dhillon, pursued the Congress ideology.

Master Tara Singh, by and large, represented Sikh sentiments while demanding formation of a Punjabi speaking state. Giani Kartar Singh, who played a crucial role in fuelling and propelling this movement, was a typical rural Sikh. As simple as a Fakir, he clad himself in kuchha kurta and donned a pugree on his dishevelled hair. He had no airs about him. He was invariably hemmed in from all sides by party workers. He often moved in a group, sometimes sitting with workers on bare floor. As Minister his orders were spontaneous, prompt and straight for compliance. He was shrewd, with razor-sharp intellect. He liked me especially because I had a similar rural background. The objectives too appeared to be common in the sense that he stood for creation of the Punjabi Suba and we swore to carving out a Haryana state, comprising Hindi-speaking territories of the then Punjab. Due to his rural connection, he appealed to the farming segment of our Hindi-speaking belt. Sardar Partap Singh Kairon was another such figure who inspired Haryana peasantry and motivated the rural poor.

Giani Kartar Singh’s simple living, amiable nature and straight-forward demeanour yielded him full dividends; and his popularity graph rose. He sat, ate, talked, and slept along with ordinary workers, paying no heed to caste, creed, language and religious barriers. He was particularly interested in helping students — in raising their level of education and finding them employment. Liberal financial help was given to youth irrespective of their creed or community. This too widened his base, providing him a formidable constituency to help him, achieve his objectives.

He reminded one of the legendary Chaudha-ry Chhotu Ram and that is why people of Haryana liked him. They would often say that they saw Chhotu Ram in Giani Kartar Singh and Sardar Partap Singh Kairon.

Giani Kartar Singh’s services to Punjab and Haryana are immense. He inherited humility and love of people from the revered Gurus.

The death anniversary of Giani Kartar Singh fell on June 10.