Descriptions Of Relief Work

Historical Incidents & Relief Efforts
  • Bikaner Famine (1895) : In 1895 a calamitous Famine broke out in 1895 in Bikaner. The pangs of these grief stricken people reached to the hearths of Arya Samajists in Punjab. Mahatma Hansraj and lala Lajpat Rai through their articles stirred the hearts of people and urged them to help the victims in large number. The missionaries taking-advantage of the situation were buying little kids from their helpless mothers but with the timely intervention of APPS and its members their malicious designs could be failed.
  • Rajputana Famine (1899) : Lahore Arya Samaj resolved to revive the orphan Relief Movement so as to extend help to the victims of famine. Lala Dewan Chand, the then president, travelled across the affected area of rajputana and motivated the people of Lahore to extend their help to Hindu victims and their survivors.
  • Kangra Earthquake (1905) : At the time of earthquake, Arya Samajist were the first to reach the affected area and provided assistance in organizing medical relief camps, nursing the wounded persons and helping in cremation of dead bodies.
  • Famine at Awadh (1907-08) : When a famine hit region of Awadh in 1907 Mahatama Hansraj, Principal Mehar Chand, Lala Balraj and many other members of APPS reached there to help the victims. Many people who were hesitant to accept grain in donation for their sake some shops providing grain at cheaper rates were established. This effort could help save the lives of thousands of people.
  • Garhwal Famine (1918) : The region of Garwal time and again witnessed famines. The famine of 1918 claimed many lives. Mahatma hansraj divided this region of garwal into three parts and sent monetary and medical help help along with social workers of APPS. Many precious lives could be saved and the money collected through donations etc was used for the welfare of victims.
  • Famine in Chattisgarh (1918) : During these years various parts of country were affected by famines. In 1918 when the region of Chattisgarh was under the claws of fierce famine PPS decided to send SH, Khushhal Chand ji, with his team to held the sufferers.
  • Famine in Garwal and Orissa (1920) : People of Garwal had not forgotten the miseries Mahatma Hansraj deputed, a member of APPS. Mehta Sawanmal along with some and the survivors were carefully sent to orphanages.
  • J &K Famine (1921) : Jammu and Kashmir then a part of the Punjab (an area which always fed the hungry) was struck by a calamitous famine in 1921. People were dying due to the lack of food stuff. Mahatma hansraj, Pt. Mastaan Chand and lala Hanuman Rai started the rescue mission and relief work and helped a remarkable number of people.
  • Revolt of Moplass (1921-22) : In Malabar province of madras condition of Hindus was miserable, they were forcibly converted and brutally murdered if they resisted. Mahatma Gandhi expressing his grief and concern over this sensitive issue said that such atrocities will not be tolerated when Arya Samaj is there. APPS sent Pt. Mastaan Chand , Pt. Rishi Ram and later on Sh. Khushhal Chand ji also to restore Hinduism and perform “SHUDDHI” to bring back those to dharma who had been forcibly converted. Such a hazardous challenge was accepted by fearless and valiant leaders of APPS.
  • Communal Riots In Jammu & Kashmir (1932) : APPS under the Mahatma Hansraj worked to extend help to the victims of jammu & Kashmir communal riots. They distributed articles related to daily needs of people.
  • Communal Riots in Bihar (1934) : During this periods APPS Punjab, Sind , Baluchistan started relief work to help those who had lost their properties and belongings in the fierce earthquake. They opened relief camps and dug wells etc. for helping the people Khusshat Chand ji and mahatma Dev Raj took the lead of this mission.
  • Earthquake in Quotta (1935) : On may 27-28 a disastrous earthquake hit the region of Quotta in 1935. APPS sent a medical Mission headed by Dr. Ashanand to help the people.
  • Earthquake In Kangra (1986) : Similar work was done in 1986 when earthquake occurred again in Kangra principal Ramesh Jeewan of DAV collage Kangra and regional director of the area became the organizer of relief work. He along with his his collegues and students did admirable work with the help of Arya Pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha. Tha Arya pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha collected the fund for rescue work in kangra.
  • Earthquake In Maharashtra (1993) : On sept. 29,1993 the news of Earthquake came from killari Maharashtra. The workers of DAV and Arya Samaj did remarkable work there.
  • TSUNAMI (1999) : In 1999 Orrisa faced Tsunami. The workers of DAV were the first among those who started relief work for distress caused by Tsunami. Sh. N.D Grover and Sh.H.K. Mohanti the Regional director were deputed to open the relief centres there. Arya Pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha had sent 2 trucks full of amenities of daily needs like blankets, Cloth, rice, Sugar, etc. Besides this 175000 were collected by Sh. H.K. Mohanti and more than once lac was sent to Orrisa From Sholapur.An orphanage was opened in Katak for orphans of Orissa. On 26th Dec, 2004 Tsunami waves affected the coastal area of tanil nadu, Pondicherry and kerala. A high level team was constituted by sarvdeshik Arya Prinidhi Sabha New Delhi for the rescue work. The team visited Chennai and started the relief work with the help of Arya Samaj and DAV school deputed to start the relief work. This was the joint venture of Arya Samajes, Arya Yuva villages and did commendable relief work there. The work was highly appreciated by the administration also.
  • Kargil War (1999) : The Kargil war was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan which was known as operation vijay. This was held between May and July 1999. Several of DAV scholary soldiers fought for the country along with Indian Army. Some of them sacrificed their lives for sake of the country. As per glorious tradition of our nation they won the war and raised the Tiranga on Kargil hills. DAV managing committee decided to collect the money for Prime Minister Relief Fund to boost the Jawans of our country. The following appeal was released and distributed among the students of DAV schools and colleges.
  • Earthquake in Gujarat (2001) : Similarly DAV carried on a successful campaign in Gujarat. Gujarat earthquake on 26th jan 2001 at 8:46 AM the epicenter was about 9 KM South-south west of the village of Chabari in Kutch distt. Of Gujarat. The shock waves spread 700 KM and affected 600000 people of 21 districts. Thousand were homeless. The office bearers of Arya Pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha visited the affected area. A subcommittee constituted consisting of Sh. Puram Suri Ji, Sh. Ram Nath Sehgal, Sh. R.S. Sharma, Sh. S.C. Nanda etc. they deputed Sh. K.L. Manuja, Dr. V. Kulwant the Regional Director along with Sh. Yash Veer Arya, Dinesh Arya and Dr. D. Vidyarthi and the workers of Arya Yuva Samaj for rescue work. On the appeal of president Arya Pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha lakhs of rupee were collected and other material of daily needs like cloths, food, rice, tentages, blanket etc. were sent to the affected person of Gujarat. They opened 5 relief centers and adopted 25 villages. The work was highly appreciated by the media of Gujarat as well as Sankracharya of Puri also. A cheque to Rs. One Crore was presented to the Prime Minister of India by the President Sh. G.P. Chopra for the Prime Minister Relief fund. A school was opened with the help of Sh. Saheb Singh Verma former Chief Minister Delhi. Arya Pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha donated a cheque of Rs. 15 Lacs to him for this purpose. A cheque of Rs. 51 Lacs for drought stricken victims of Gujarat and other state was presented to the Prime Minister of India Sh. Atal Behari Vajpayee. The total amount of Rs. 16993717 was collected at that time which was spent for the relief of victims of earthquake.
  • Mass Marriages of poor Girls : Women had equal status with men in all fields of life in ancient India. They had the right to education in Vedic Period, but in Medieval Period, the status of woman began to decline and they lost the freedom as well as rights. Sati system, child marriages, pradah system, devdasi etc were a few among the superstitions. Swami Dayanand started a movement for the equal status of women. Inspite of efforts of Arya Samaj and social reformers, the conditions of women is not good in the country. Female foeticide is the example of discrimination between man and woman in society. Arya Pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha took campaing through through its school and colleges. Sh. G.P. Chopra, then President of Arya Pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha revived the youth organization of Arya Samaj and reconstituted it under he name of “Arya Yuva Samaj”. A committee was constituted in 2001 consisting og five members named Sh. G.P. Chopra as patron, Sh. Yashvir Arya. An awareness campaign was started throughout the country under the banner of Arya Yuva Samaj. They started working on “woman empowerment, female foeticide, drowy system, social abuses etc.”. Its first function was organized at haridwar to revive the movement under the shadow of “Pakhand Khandini Pataka” raised by Swami Dayanand Saraswati. Arya Yuva Samaj, Haryana took the lead in the field of social reforms and started organizing mass marriages for poor and needy girls. The first programme of mass marriages was organized at Kurukshetra in which marriage of 101 girls was solemnized in Feb. 2003. Another programme was organized at Jind in April 2003 in which marriage of 125 girls was solemnized. A subcommittee under the Chairmainship of Dr. D. Vidyarthi was constituted by the president Arya Pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha. Dr. D. Vidyarthi visited more than 200 villages and traced out the girls of poor families. These families could not bear the expenditure of marriage of their girls. The selection of poor marriageable girls was on the basic of means and merit. A committee consisting of three lawers was constituted for verification of ages of the age of the girls. All work was done in consultation with District Administration and Sh, Pinam Suru the Chairman of Arya Yuva Samaj. Donations were collected from philanthropists it was instructed by the office of Arya Pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha that wall work might be done with donations and not a single penny would be spent from school funds. People of area donated generously in shape of kind and cash. It was decided that all the items of daily need will be provided to them so 31 utensils, 5 ladies suits, 2 saries, 2 gents suits one big box, one fan, 5 jwellary items, one sewing machine, 2 bed and 2 beddings, 2 chairs costing Rs. 20,000/- were to each couple. The function was attended by more than 10,000/- people. It was so popular and attractive that the Chief Minister of Haryana Sh. O.P. Chautala who was crossing Jind could not stop himself to attend the function without proper invitation. Dignitories from Arya Pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha and other Social religious organization attended the function the function and donated generously.

    In 2005, a mass marriage for 180 poor girls was solemnized in Jind under the leadership of Sh. Punam Suri. Dr. D. Vidyarthi was the convenor of this programme. Mrs. Asha Hooda w/o Sh. B.S. Hooda Hon’ble Chief Minister Haryana along with several MPs and minister of the State attended the programme. Sh. G.P. Chopra the then President Arya Pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha along with other office bearers blessed the couples at that time.

    In 2007, a similar programme of Mass marriages for 265 girls was organized at Panipat under the leadership of Sh. Punam Suri. The programme was attended by more than 30,000 people from all over Haryana. Sh. G.P. Chopra the then President Arya Pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha was the chief guest along with the office bearers of Arya Pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha and DAVCMC. All the programmes were highly appreciated in all section of society. The programme Sh. Dr. D. Vidyarthi was awarded with RED and WHITE Bravery Award for this cause of social courage.