Page 16 - Seniors Today Jan20 Issue
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expanding business.
The fire of Independence had been lit, and
there were agitations everywhere. Kanshi
Ram and his father participated in the Bengal
Agitation of 1906-07. Both were arrested in
the partition of Bengal, and Kanshi Ram was
in prison for a year. By now Rawalpindi had
become a centre of all revolutionary activities.
One day on a hot May afternoon a fakir entered
the bazaar shouting at the top of his voice “Hai
koi mai ka laal jo meri dil ki muraad puri kare?”
repeating this again and again. May is one of
the worst months in Rawalpindi, the sun is so
strong that even the vultures and crows do not
venture out in the sun. Kanshi Ram heard this
fakir and sent one of the workers to call him. As
The Sethis played an important part in the national movement the fakir came to the shop Kanshi asked him,
remained intact. From Pindi the salt was sold “What is your heart’s desire?” The fakir looked
to wholesalers all over the region. It was Laxmi at him and responded, “Do you have the guts to
Devi’s idea that instead of sending the camels give me what I want?” Kanshi Ram said, “Tell
back, they would sell the camels in Rawalpindi me what you want.” The fakir “I can ask for
itself. They purchased a large area where anything, I can even ask for the shop, all this
suitable stables were built for the camels. Not property of yours.”
only did they trade in salt but they also sold Kanshi Ram very calmly asked him what
camels and this became a much bigger business he wanted. The fakir said he wanted to have
than the salt business. The British cantonment halwapuri, and a mulaazin (worker) was sent
had an ongoing requirement for camels. to get halwapuri and the fakir had his meal and
By now their eldest child Kanshi Ram started left. Something distracted Kanshi Ram at that
working in the shop. He realised that there time but while going the fakir said “Kanshi Ram
was a huge business opportunity in supplying tune meri aawaz suni hai, duniya teri awaaz
to the cantonment and various arms of the sunega.” The fakir left and after about a minute
British government. He inducted his younger KanshiRam got up started running after the
brothers Hari Ram and Amolakh Ram also fakir. It was a sight that no one had ever seen
into the business. Both the brother were before. The fakir also seemed to have gone far
smart businessmen. Amolakh Ram set up a and, as if knowing that Kanshi was running
fruit business and through a chain of around after him, he quickened his speed. Eventually
20 wholesalers, started a two-way trade in Kanshi Ram caught up with him and they
fruit. Right from Kabul to Srinagar and up to looked at each other. Kanshi Ram requested the
Mumbai, Amolakh Ram sold fruits and also fakir to come home and stay with them. The
supplied to the British cantonment. In the fakir said you are a grhast (family man) I cannot
overall business ventures, the salt business had stay or even eat and drink in your house. But I
diminished and the family decided to sell the will come again.
salt mine. That evening Kanshi Ram addressed his first
Moolchand moved his business to an area public meeting. He began his Speech with ‘Eko
called Trunkonwala Bazaar and extended his jeya karra beko jeya kar’ – make us all alike
residence to include the three houses. They O God, make us all alike and help us move
bought a large plot in the Trunkonwala Bazaar forward. Every speech that Kanshi Ram gave, he
and built godowns and offices for the ever began with this invocation.
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