In news
Recently, the Prime Minister has paid tribute to Sir Chhotu Ram Ji on his birth anniversary.
About Sir Chhotu Ram
- He was born on 24th November 1881 as Ram Richpal in a Jat family in the village of Garhi Sampla, Rohtak district, Punjab Province of British India(now in Haryana)
- He was a prominent politician of British India’s Punjab Province and championed the interest of oppressed communities of the Indian subcontinent.
- Chhotu Ram was a co-founder of the National Unionist Party(a cross-communal alliance of Hindu and Muslim agriculturists) which ruled the United Punjab Province in pre-independent India and kept Congress and Muslim League at bay.
- He started the Anglo-Sanskrit School on 26 March 1913 in Rohtak.
- He joined Indian National Congress in 1916. Chhotu Ram worked as the President of the Rohtak District Congress Committee from 1916 to 1920.
- The Unionist Party won elections in 1935 to form the provincial government in the capital of Lahore.
- As revenue minister, he brought in changes in the law to stop the practice of usury (charging interest on interest).
- He was awarded the title Rao Bahadur
- He was knighted in 1937 and was popularly known as Deen Bandhu
Source: PIB
