Amar Shaheed Babu Hit Abhilashi : Story of selfless service

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DATE OF BIRTH: 8 April 1923
YEARS ACTIVE: 1951 – 1988
LOCATION – STATE/DISTRICT –
Budhlada, Punjab and Chandigarh

Amar Shaheed Babu Hit Abhilash Ji came in contact with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at the age of 16 years, and in 1945 received one month’s training at the Officers Training Camp (O.T.C), Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, eventually becoming the youngest Sangh Chalak of that time. Later, post his graduation, he shifted from Moga to Budhlada in Bathinda district of Punjab to serve the people. Very soon, he became ‘BABUJI’ to the people of whole Malwa region and princely states of PEPSU.

He remained the most popular President of Budhlada Municipality for 14 years continuously. During his tenure, Budhlada municipality was regarded as the best throughout Punjab in serving the residents. In 1966, he was assigned the

He remained the most popular President of Budhlada Municipality for 14 years continuously. During his tenure, Budhlada municipality was regarded as the best throughout Punjab in serving the residents. In 1966, he was assigned the responsibility of organizing and creating the Jana Sangh cadre in Punjab

responsibility of organizing and creating the Jana Sangh cadre in Punjab. He toured the state multiple times and established a close relationship with the party cadre while serving the party in various capacities including being the state unit’s General Secretary for many years before being elevated to the post of state unit President which he served till Jan Sangh transformed into present BJP. He was elected to Punjab Vidhan Parishad in 1967 for the first time and served on many committees and sub-committees of the house.

During this period, the party also gave him the charge of looking after two newspapers Pradeep and Janpradeep. In 1975 Smt. Indira Gandhi, then India’s Prime Minister, imposed emergency in the country and imprisoned a large number of opposition political leaders. In those days, Babuji, a fighter for democracy, was also imprisoned under MISA. He remained behind the bars for 19 months in various jails in Punjab. Post-emergency, he was elected to Punjab Vidhan Sabha as M.L.A. in 1977 representing the Bathinda constituency, and even joining the Cabinet. In 1988, he was given the responsibility to steer the Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party as its President. At that time, the selfish and mindless policies of Congress had pushed Punjab into the dark era of terrorism. It became essential to keep the people together and to maintain Hindu-Sikh unity. Hit Abhilashi ji came forward and travelled the state continues to ensure peace. He was continuously under threat but he spoke fearlessly against terrorism and the killing of the innocent in the state and country. As a result, he was seen as the biggest obstacle in the ways of separatists and Pakistani agents who decided to eliminate him.

On 19th September 1988 at around 11.00 a.m as he was driving down to Punjab Raj Bhawan from his party office in Sector 11, Chandigarh to get a job done for one of the party workers he was ambushed by the terrorists and assassinated. True to training as Swayam Sevak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh he laid down his life serving the people till his last breath. Besides being a great statesman and political leader Babuji was an eminent educationist, a distinguished social reformer and above all a humanitarian par excellence. Education was his field of interest, he was a founder member of Sarvhitkari Education Society, founder Chairman of Dev Samaj College for Women, Chandigarh, founder Chairman of Nehru Memorial College, Mansa and founder member of Guru Gobind Singh Foundation.

He was involved with the creation of Punjabi University and also the Guru Nanak Dev University and Punjab Agriculture University. Education was his passion, and he spent every moment he could spare towards it. Mother India needs such worthy sons, who will give up their lives, but not the cause.