Page 17 - Seniors Today Jan20 Issue
P. 17
Fire in the bazaar two daughters. He gave the elder wife 40% and
One evening a munshi from the shop came the younger wife got 60%. Both of them agreed
home and informed Kanshi Ram that there and Kanshi Ram handed over everything to the
was a group of young men setting fire to all the women. Sarfaraaz was the son of the first wife
shops in the bazaar. Kanshi Ram got into his and at that time was twelve years old and was a
tanga and hurried to the market just in time to witness to all this. He never forgot what Kanshi
save his shop. There was a mob of a hundred Ram had done for them.
boys setting fire to every shop. On seeing Kanshi Rawalpindi became the centre of all
Ram a young man who seemed to be the leader underground revolutionary activities in Punjab.
of the mob came up to Kanshi Ram and asked The Sethi brothers – Kanshi Ram, Hari Ram,
“Shaaji, which of these shops are yours?” to Amolakh Ram, Govind Ram and Jagat Ram
which Kanshi Ram replied “Saari dukana were at the forefront of the National movement.
meriyan hai, gharjao, nahao aur gussa thanda PanditMadan Mohan Malviya called them the
karo” (all the shops are mine, go home, have a paachpandav and Baba Khadak Singh called
bath and cool down). The young man who had them PanjPiare. Kanshi Ram Sethi was the
come forward asked Kanshi Ram “Aap ne mujhe president of the Indian National Congress and
pehchana?”Kanshi Ram replied no, who are was jailed seven times under various laws.
you? The young man fell at his feet and said, “I For all their wealth the Sethis lived a very
will come day after tomorrow to meet you,” and simple life. Kanshi Ram only wore khadi and
dispersed the mob. The young man appeared so did his wife and mother. Food was always
in the shop as promised on the appointed time frugal – one dal, one vegetable, hot tandoori
and introduced himself as Sarfaraaz, the son of rotis and four five kinds of achaar. Pulao was
Noorali, profusely apologising. made if there were guests, and in the summer
Noorali was a jaggery trader in the bazaar, and there were various kinds of raitas and dahi. The
a dear friend of the Sethi family. They worked men ate together in one thaal and the women ate
together buying the entire output of sugar and later. The Sethis funded the DAV College and
jaggery from thefactories and selling them to Hari Ram became a trustee of the institution.
the British and other wholesalers from different They also funded the Arya Samaj but stayed
parts of the country. One day Noorali came to away from any active involvement. They built
the shop with all his valuables –gold, property a baraatghar (janjghar), a venue that was given
papers, bank accounts, money –and left these for weddings for a token price of Rs. 5. Laxmi
in the custody of Kanshi Ram saying that he Bagh as it was called had all requirements for
was going to Haj. He requested Kanshi Ram a baraat of up to a hundred people. Beddings,
to keep these till he returned. They bid each pillows, blankets, crockery, cutlery, utensils, ten
other goodbye and it so happened that a year toilets for men and ten for women. The baraat
later news came that Noorali had passed away. ghar even had a doli to send the bride home.
Once it was confirmed from the others who had Kanshi Ram also insisted that all the Sethi
accompanied him, Kanshi Ram called the two children should be married here. His belief was
wives of Noorali along with two elders from the that if our children get married at this venue no
community. He told the wives, before going for one will hesitate to use this for their daughter’s
Haj Noorali had left valuables –gold, property weddings.
papers, bank accounts, money –and if the wives The family were close to Lala Lajpat Rai, and
agreed to his decision he would divide the Kanshi Ram was his mentor. Kanshi Ram
wealth in the manner he thought fit and if they also provided him funds whenever he needed
didn’t agree he would deny that he possessed money for the revolutionary activities. On an
anything. The two wives could not believe their occasion Lala Lajpat Rai asked for some money
luck and readily agreed. The first wife had a and Kanshi Ram handed over the cheque book
son and a daughter and the second wife had and said fill as much as you want. Lala Lajpat
17 SENIORS TODAY | Issue #7 | January 15, 2020
