I
have been writing about the dalit contemporary heroes in my blog. Today, I will
write about yet another hero, my friend Malkiat Singh of villager Balan in
Jalandhar. Malkiat is also an alumnus of
DAV College Jalandhar like me. I came to know Malkiat quite late through my
friend Ram Lal Kainth who did his Master’s in Political Science along with Malkiat.
Malkiat also happened to be the neighbor of my brother in law (husband of my
sister Kamla) DC Kumar in their village Balan (famous for Dera Sachkhand
Balan). Malkiat belonged to an ordinary
but enlightened family. His parents must be the real Karamjogis who made their
children study and work hard, in spite of considerable socio-economic
difficulties, and get settled in life in a dignified way.
Malkiat
did his MA in Political Science from DAV College, Jalandhar in early 70s. His
teachers, Prof. KC Mohindru and Prof. KK Ghai, who were my teachers also, later
in personal conversations spoke very high of Malkiat as an intelligent student
and were proud of him. With total dedication and hard work, Malkiat passed the
Indian Civil Services examination and became an IPS officer in 1975-76 in the
UP Cadre. During his long service as a police officer, Malkiat manned and
occupied important positions in the UP police establishment. He rose to highest
position in his career and worked as Additional DGP of the State under the
stewardship of Chief Minister Mayawati. He earned good reputation and goodwill
in his career. On retirement in around year 2010, he was selected and appointed
to yet another coveted constitutional position as Chairman of UP Public Service
Commission. It was an additional feather in his cap. Now on completion of his
assignment at the Commission, Malkiat is back to his roots in Jalandhar to be
with the society. I wish him all the very best in the years to come.
The
immediate provocation for writing this piece is that Malkiat Singh invited me
on the death anniversary of his father Shri Munshi Ram on August 27 at Balan.
It was an honour for me. They observe the occasion as an annual ritual to
honour and recognize good students of the village Balan and nearby villages
under the aegis of Shri Munshi Ram Charitable Trust which the family has floated
in the memory of their father. The Trust is doing a good job which is
appreciated not only by the beneficiary young students but also by the
community at large. I take this opportunity to congratulate Malkiat Singh, his
brother Master Bhagat Ram and other Trustees of Shri Munshi Ram Charitable
Trust and wish them further success in their appreciable efforts to encourage
the students of the rural areas to complete their educational careers with
flying colours.
अपना मुकदर आप बनाते हैं अहले दिल;
हम वोह नहीं जिने जमाना बना गया !
