Providing safe drinking water to residents Solan MLA’s aim

Ambika Sharma

Solan MLA Dr Dhani Ram Shandil is a multi-faceted personality, who took the plunge into politics to fulfil his wife’s wishes after having superannuated from the armed forces.

He completed his Ph.D while serving the Army. He has two daughters and a son who, too, has followed into his footsteps of joining the Army. A resident of Basheel village, his interests vary not only from reading books on renowned personalities who have made a mark in the society, but also in playing the harmonium while humming Dogri songs, which he has memorised since his Army days as a colonel in the Dogra Regiment.

The day starts early around 5:30 am for the 78-year old legislator and it is incomplete without a session of yoga and exercises. While this helps him retain his physical fitness, equally significant is his daily puja, where apart from blowing the conch shells, which he has secured from various places, it is the desire to keep the old traditions alive which inspires him to invest a good half-an-hour in this activity.

“Playing the conch and participating in the aarti with family helps in educating the younger generation with traditions,” says Shandil.

While one can catch up with reading when time permits, other hobbies usually take a backseat in politics. “Time is a casualty, when one adopts politics as a career and though I was fond of playing golf, badminton and tennis, there is hardly any time to pursue any sport now,” he quips.

Sonia Gandhi’s autobiographical compilation “The Red Sari” and “I am Malala”, recounting the story of the undaunted Pakistani activist who stood up for education against the Taliban dictate and became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace prize, are his latest picks.

Shandil began his political innings in 1999 as Lok Sabha MP from Shimla from the Himachal Vikas Congress and went on to join the Congress for his subsequent LS poll of 2004. He is a second-term MLA from Solan and was elevated as a Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment in his previous term.

“My foray into politics was propelled by my dying wife Indira’s wish, who wanted me to join this profession to come out of the stress of losing her and for undertaking social service. I was ably helped by seniors in the Army, who have been like my family,” he said.

He envisions completing the Solan Bypass Road, which started during his previous tenure. He said he had provided crores to the Solan constituency during his last five-year tenure, but some projects like the new circuit house should be provided the requisite budget. He said his only grouse with the BJP government was that there was undue politics in developmental works. 

Construction of covered water tanks to ensure availability of safe drinking water to Solan residents and the need to hand over supply and distribution of water in the town to the same agency are his other priorities.

  Know your MLA 

Dr Dhani Ram Shandil (78)

Party: Congress

Qualification: Ph.D

Constituency: Solan  

Political background: Shandil began his political innings in 1999 as a Lok Sabha MP from Shimla from the Himachal Vikas Congress and went on to join the Congress for his subsequent LS poll of 2004. He is a second-term MLA from Solan and was elevated as a Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment in his previous term

Focus

• To complete the Solan Bypass Road, which started during his previous tenure
• Construction of covered water tanks to ensure availability of safe drinking water to Solan residents and the need to hand over supply and distribution of water in the town to the same agency