Freedom fighter Chandi Ram, Lala Lajpat Rai’s associate, remembered

Tributes were paid to freedom fighter Chandi Ram Verma — who was a close associate of Lala Lajpat Rai — at a programme organised at Swami Keshwanand Senior Secondary School on his death anniversary. Arya Samaj priest Krishan Shastri conducted the havan on the occasion.

Chandi Ram Verma’s great granddaughter Nanika Verma, Sahitya Sadan president Suryakant Rinwa, Swami Keshwanand Ayurvedic Hospital in-charge Dr Sandeep Watts, veteran educationist Saroj Nagpal, teachers and students offered flowers to the portrait of the freedom fighter.

Suryakant Rinwa said Lala Lajpat Rai had himself appointed Verma as the provincial in-charge of Tilak Swaraj Fund at a public meeting organised near Imperial Bank in Abohar. Verma served as the secretary of the Sahitya Sadan established by Swami Keshwanand, the immortal education saint of the desert, along with president Hazari Lal Rinwa and promoted literacy and ayurveda in the region for many decades.

Watts said Verma was selected by Mahatma Gandhi from a list of 40 members for the individual Satyagraha of 1940 because of his pure character. He was sentenced to one year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 500 (non-payable) and sent to Gujarat jail along with other Congress leaders. After Independence, he won Punjab Assembly election twice and served as minister in the state government. He was awarded Tamrapatra (bronze plaque) by the Government of India for his remarkable services to the nation by Indira Gandhi on August 15, 1972, and a silver shield by the Governor of Punjab on August 15, 1988.

• He was sentenced to one year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 500 (non-payable) and sent to Gujarat jail along with other Congress leaders
• After Independence, he won Punjab Assembly election twice and served as minister in the state government
• He was awarded Tamrapatra (bronze plaque) by the Government of India for his remarkable services to the nation by Indira Gandhi on August 15, 1972, and a silver shield by the Governor of Punjab on August 15, 1988