Jalalusman remembered

A tribute function was held at Jalalusman village to remember education promoter and veteran politician Jathedar Sohan Singh Jalalusman, who played a key role in shaping the Shaheed Darshan Singh Pheruman Memorial Trust (SDSPM), Rayya.

SDSPM Trust chairperson Satnam Kaur Sekhon recalled that Jathedar Jalalusman had been instrumental in setting up the Trust in memory of his close associate Shaheed Darshan Singh Pheruman, who died during a fast unto death for safeguarding the sanctity of the Sikh Ardas and for the inclusion of Chandigarh and Punjabi-speaking areas in Punjab. She said Jathedar, known for his honesty and selfless public life, helped secure 10 acres of the Defence Department land for establishing the SDSPM Girls’ College at Rayya, which later led to the opening of the SDSPM Public School. The Trust now runs CBSE-affiliated schools in Butala, Jalal Usman and Ram Tirath. Trustee Sawinder Singh Butala said Jathedar Jalalusman was also instrumental in transferring the privately managed Guru Teg Bahadur College, Sathiala, into a government institution.

Principal Kulwant Singh Ankhi said Jathedar represented the Beas Assembly constituency for five consecutive terms owing to his tireless and transparent service, adding that he had shaped the Rayya region into an educational hub without accumulating personal property.

Speakers on the occasion highlighted that he resigned from the British Army after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and later took part in the freedom struggle. He was jailed during the Gurdwara Reform Movement and served as manager of gurdwara in Tarn Taran, a role that earned him the title of Jathedar.

Several local dignitaries, including Sukhdev Singh Jalalusman, Amarjit Singh Randhawa and sarpanch Lakhwinder Singh, paid floral tributes to Jathedar. Principals, teachers and students of various educational institutions attended the ceremony, during which Gurbani was recited. Chairperson Satnam Kaur Sekhon was honoured with a robe on the occasion. — TNS