Ch. Roop Chand Dalal

Dada Roop Chand, Presenter’s grandfather was born in 1866 in the village Mehandipur Dabodha Klan, tehsil Jhajjar and district Rohtak.  He was the only son of Chaudhary Rampat and was much loved and cared for from his cradle days by his parents.  He was well nourished and brought up in most congenial environment.  He grew as a healthy and strong young-man with great qualities of head and heart as he was brought up under strict discipline of his father coupled with gentleness and kind heartedness of his mother.  Dada Roop Chand was brought up with proper affection and was the product of a good heritance.  He was not sent to any school for proper education but was imparted training at home in Hindi (Devnagri script) and Lundhi[1] for keeping accounts and maintaining Bahis[2] of soft loans advanced to needy farmers.

He was married to Shrimati Rukmani Devi of Gulia Gotra resident of village Yaqoobpur near Badli in Jhajjar tehsil.  She was from a progressive agriculturist family and was very intelligent and hardworking lady, well versed in performing domestic jobs as well as field operations.  She was expert in tailoring, embroidery and cooking.  In fact, she was a born artist.  Unfortunately, her father and many other family members from her side died within a year and by grace of God only a young son and an old lady survived.  Her father had lot of agricultural land and was very keen to transfer 100 bighas of good land by mutation in the name of eldest son of Dada Roop Chand but Chaudhary Rampat and Dada Roop Chand both declined such offer.

Dada Roop Chand was a very kind-hearted, noble and polite human-being in all respects.  He used to help the needy farmers and other weaker sections of the society by providing financial assistance by advancing cash loan on nominal rate of interest and also gave grains on Jinsi terms[3].  He being the only son was not put to hard field tasks for which two permanent manual labourers were employed to handle ploughing and other odd farm operations.  Dada Roop Chand used to help them twice during busiest season of sowing and harvesting of crops and that, too, for a short while only in the early hours and not during hot and harsh sunny days.

Lala Ghisa Ram of village Mandothi was tutor of Dada Roop Chand, who taught him the procedure of maintaining accounts.  Soon he became a family adviser to him in all the domestic affairs.  He used to visit our village almost on every alternate day and when he could not come, Dada Roop Chand used to go to Mandhothi to meet him.  They used to discuss all sorts of our family affairs and various account transactions for hours together sitting in a room or a pacca manger[4] in the Nauhra[5].  Lala Ghisa Ram was very much honoured and respected by each member of the family and was as good as a part of the family.

The wheat crop yields were quite high with adequate availability of irrigation water from two percolation wells, which worked only in winter season. During the year 1911-12 (ik-sakhia year), about 800 monnds[6] of gram and 100 monnds of wheat were produced, which was a record harvest in a year.  During the famine years, which were very common and frequent, Dada Roop Chand used to provide interest free cash loan and fodder for livestock to the needy farmers and grains on Jinsi terms.  Such timely help made him quite popular in the area.  Infact, his mother Shrimati Nanhi Devi imparted him training for such noble deeds right from his childhood.

One morning when Dada Roop Chand and Lala Ghisa Ram were discussing the sale of surplus grain at the higher rates, Lala Ghisa Ram advised him not to sell his stock at exorbitant rates but should wait for coming down to a reasonable level (say 1.25 times the purchase price).  Lala Ghisa Ram was heard saying that “Sawaya Dhan”[7] that is 25% profit was always more long lasting than the excessive 3-4 times profit.  Such noble and great teachings of Lala Ghisa Ram inspired Dada Roop Chand to desist from profiteering throughout his life and earned   big reputation in the area.  There was never any defaulter or bad debt in his life time.  However, if at all there was any, Dada Roop Chand never thought of dragging such cases to the court of law to recover the debt. Infact, he always disliked litigation, rather he was abhorrent to such an idea.

Dada Roop Chand was a man of great far-sightedness.  He was blessed with seven sons out of whom five survived as adult and also one daughter and thus he thought to make provision for more buildings for adequate accommodation.  He purchased over half an acre of land just in the vicinity of the village abadi[8] from Chaudhary Neti Ram at exorbitant price and constructed a pacca boundary wall around the land.  Subsequently, a big magnificent ‘Nauhara’ was erected which was more than sufficient for his sons.

Dada Roop Chand was also a great animal-lover, especially the cows.  He never abused the bullocks.  He fed and maintained them very well.  At the time of yoking for ploughing in the early morning, he most lovingly addressed them uttering ‘Ram Nama’.  The two of the four bullocks – one ‘Harlalwala’ purchased at a young age from Pandit Harlal, a brahmin family of the village and the other ‘Mailewala’ (subsequently replaced by Khundanwala after the latter’s death) were very powerful, and full of vigour & energy and always carried very heavy loads.  When the elder of them – ‘the Mailewala’ became very old and was about to die, Dada Roop Chand brought a Parant[9] full of Halwa[10] and put it in front of the dying beast.  The bullock ate a small quantity and soon expired.  Dada Roop Chand was heard breathing a sigh and uttering, “Lo, the great land master has gone”.

Dada Roop Chand was thorough gentle in nature and had adopted good habits.  He always addressed others very respectfully and paid due respect to the elders including Harijans and other lower caste persons. He would never call them by names but would always address as chacha / tau / dada with a smile.  As such, he became very well-known figure and liked by everyone in all respect.  He imparted similar etiquettes to his children and grandchildren.  Any time if, one was caught addressing an elderly person by name, he would scold with a warning not to repeat such bad manner in future.  He used to strictly carry out the decisions of “Sarva Khap Panchayat” held at village Gandhra and made others also to seriously observe the same.

He was a man of high moral values, which is evident from an interesting incident. One day in hot summer season, the Presenter’s father was sent by his mother to village Ishepur to meet his only daughter and to give her Rs.5/- on the occasion of Teej festival.  He visited the village, gave the required amount to his sister Hardyee and returned home next day by noon. When his father came to know about it he said that the amount was very small and it should have been doubled. He further asked as to how much was given to Sharbati daughter of the family’s sweeperess (Mrs. Bhunde), it was replied that he had not visited her house.  Dada Roop Chand felt very bad and was annoyed that Sharbati was also his sister and he should have visited her house and given her Rs.5/-. Consequently, he was asked to immediately rush back to Ishepur to amend his mistake.

The incident had an everlasting impression on the mind of the son, Ch. Hardwari Lal. It so happened that while in service as Chief Superintendent, G.L.F. Hisar, the presenter’s father was going to Delhi for an official assignment in Planning Commission. Abruptly he realized that his sister Hardeyee and Bhateri daughter of Sweeperess (Mrs. Bhunde) should also be visited.  He remembered the old incident and gave Rs.10/- to Bhateri first and the same amount to Hardeyee later.  The effect of Dada Roop Chand’s advice given to his son could not leave the impression in the mind even after forty years.  Such social order was in existence during those days.

Dada Roop Chand possessed a high degree of discipline.  He always made it very clear to his children that they should behave properly and pay respect to all the elders irrespective of caste and creed. Once one of his sons had acted in an undesirable manner for which he was admonished and asked to join the Army. Such was the high standard of discipline and general behaviour in the village.

Dada Roop Chand commanded great influence and respect not only in the village but also in the adjoining areas.  He was very peace loving who never liked controversies and disputes to arise.  If at all there was any such issue, he always tried to settle it amicably.  Once there was a serious dispute amongst the people of our village and that of Dabodha Khurd village.  The youths of both the villages thought of settling it by using muscle force.  They challenged each other at the common border line of the two villages, equipped with ‘lathis’[11] and ‘gandasas’,[12].  Dada Roop Chand reached there before they could start fighting and advised them to desist from adopting such wrong course of action.  On hearing him, the warring parties obeyed the advice and left the place quietly to their respective villages.  Such was the influence of Dada Roop Chand’s magnetic personality.

Chaudhary Chhotu Ram accompanied by Captain Dalpat Singh of village Deghal, Raisahib Kanhaya Lal of Matan Hail, Rai Bahadur Daryao Singh of Mokhra, Chaudhary Tika Ram of Mandora and Dada Ghasi Ram of Ahulana used to visit Dada Roop Chand very frequently  for his support during the election days. Dada Roop Chand was a great supporter of Chaudhary Chhotu Ram, who used to visit his house to discuss politics.  The villagers of the nearby areas used to assemble in his ‘Haveli’ in connection with election of Chaudhary Chhotu Ram and to decide in favour of their Great Leader.  Chaudhary Chhotu Ram won the election with a big margin and became a Minister in the Punjab Cabinet for the first time during pre-independence period.

Dada Roop Chand as a father had great affection towards his children.  He fulfilled most of their genuine demands and watched that they get good food and develop good habits. He possessed an ardent desire to motivate them for higher education.  The elder son could not be sent for education because of lack of education facilities in the villages during those days.  The education in the family started from the presenter’s father Ch Hardwari Lal, who after passing Matriculation Examination went to Punjab Agriculture College, Lyallpur (now in Pakistan) on the advice of Chaudhary Mansa Ram of village Bhalot. Subsequently, chacha Jai Lal and eldest cousin brother Bhai Udai Singh followed and studied in that prestigious Agriculture College. Layallpur.

Chaudhary Hari Singh, a close cousin of Dada Roop Chand was of very wasteful habits and had developed many vicious habits through bad company.  He did not take any interest in adopting better farming practices to improve economic condition.  Ultimately, he mortgaged his 55 bighas of agricultural land to Dada Roop Chand.  He continued spending lavishly and one day decided to alienate the land permanently in favour of Dada Roop Chand to square up his loan.  This highlighted portion above in blue has been revised Dada Roop Chand probably considered this as an injustice to his cousin. He had taken it to heart and was under great mental stress. So might have decided to go for meditation and be a free sadhu in Haridwar.

On a very hot and dusty day during the month of June, 1931, when his two elder sons had gone to Bahadurgarh Mandi for sale of grains and purchase of some commodities, Dada Roop Chand thought of slipping away from home.  My father, Ch. Hardwari Lal was on a long summer vacation and used to accompany Dada Roop Chand to the jungle for answering the call of nature every day in the morning. One day, he directed my father to remain seated on the corner-stone of our ‘Nauhra’ with bowl of water and wait. He will call soon on return to get water from him. It took long time but he did not return. Thereafter despite thorough search of the area he was untraceable.  A party was also sent to Haridwar and that, too, came back empty handed.

One day, Shri Kude, a Khati[13] of village Dabodha Khurd came to our house and told that he had seen Dada Roop Chand in the garb[14] of a Sadhu at Haridwar.  Tau Hari Ram visited Haridwar and searched every Ashram but returned disappointed. There had been a great gloom on the entire family.  His younger sister Shrimati Siryan Devi was very dear to Dada Roop Chand and on her advice he took most of domestic affairs and money transactions, she was the greatest sufferer. She could not forget her brother and died in his absence after a few years.

After many years, Chaudhary Shiv Singh, a relation of our village went to Haridwar and found Dada Roop Chand having become very old, poor in health and stick to bed in an Ashram.  Shiv Singh remained by his bedside for a few days, after which Dada Roop Chand expired and he performed last rites at Haridwar.

Thus, the story of long life of a great noble soul ended.  It was so destined to be the abrupt end of a man’s domestic life and changed his mind to lead a lonely life of an ascetic.  His life story will serve as an example and proud heritage for the next generations.  The family should not allow his great name and fame to sink in the oblivion of neglect but to carry on his teachings in form of a relay race from generation to generation.

[1] A script used to write account matter during old days by money lenders

[2] The note-book for maintaining accounts related issues for records of loans/credit etc.

[3] Returnable with 25 percent additional value

[4] A floor made up of cement or  bricks

[5] A spacious covered sitting place, generally used by elderly male persons and gusts

[6] One monnd weighted 40 seers (now termed as kilogram)

[7] 1.25 times value of original money

[8] population

[9] big open utensil made up of metal

[10] A sweat dish made up of wheat flour

[11] Big wooden sticks made up of bamboo plant

[12] Big sharp iron weapons used for chopping green fodder for animals

[13]  Carpenter by profession

[14] Disguise