Chhotu Ram

Ram Richpal Ohlyan (born 24 November 1881 – 9 January 1945), better known as Sir Chhotu Ram, was a prominent Indian agrarian reformer, politician and ideologue in Punjab Province during pre independent India. He was known for his advocacy for the rights of farmers and oppressed rural communities. A co-founder of the National Unionist Party, he played a pivotal role in shaping agrarian policies that protected peasants from exploitative moneylenders and promoted agricultural development in pre-independent India. Chhotu Ram is popularly known as "Deenbandhu", "Rahbar-e-Azam" and "Kisano ke Maseeha", as he championed a secular, cross-communal alliance of Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh agriculturists, countering the rising influence of the Indian National Congress and Muslim League in Punjab.

His legislative reforms, including the Punjab Restitution of Mortgage Land Act and the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, laid the foundation for modern agricultural market systems and farmer protections, earning him a knighthood in 1937 and the title of Rao Bahadur. He is widely regarded as father of Bakhra Dam. He co-founded the Jat Mahasabha and started a weekly newspaper, Jat Gazette.

Ram Richpal Ohlyan was born on 24 November 1881, in Garhi Sampla, Rohtak district (then Punjab, now Haryana) in a Jat family to Chaudhary Sukhi Ram Singh and Sarla Devi. Nicknamed Chhotu Ram as he was youngest of his brothers, he grew up amidst agrarian distress caused by British colonial policies. At age 12, he attended middle school in Rohtak. In 1897, he joined Christian Mission School in Delhi, mastering English, a key skill in colonial India. He earned scholarships and enrolled at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1905. During his studies, he emerged as a student leader, organising a strike against the hostel warden to protest poor living conditions and advocate for better facilities. His leadership in subsequent agitations earned him the nickname “General Robert” for his commanding presence.

Parts of his education were funded by philanthropist Seth Chhaju Ram Lamba. He wored as a personal secretary and superintendent of education department in Kalakankar State of Raja Rampal Singh. He then shifted to Agra and pursued his degree in law from Law College, Agra in 1911 and practised law firstly at Agra and then at Rohtak. He was also influenced by the Arya Samaj and joined the Indian National Congress in 1916 and was president of district congress committee of Rohtak from 1917 to 1920. He severed his relations with the Congress party due to differences with the leadership over the Non-cooperation movement in 1920. He was around eleven years of age, when he married Giano Devi. He had at least one daughter, Bhagwani Devi, whose son, Birender Singh, became a politician. Chhotu Ram lived simply, maintaining his Jat roots, dressing traditionally, and prioritising public service over personal leisure. His empathy for farmers earned him the title Deenbandhu (Friend of the Poor).

Chhotu Ram’s political career was defined by his commitment to the agrarian community and his pragmatic approach to navigating the complexities of colonial politics. His entry into politics began in 1916 when he joined the Indian National Congress, serving as the president of the Rohtak District Congress from 1917 to 1920. However, his tenure with the Congress was short-lived, because he perceived that Mahatma Gandhi neglected the issues of farmers during Non-cooperation movement.

In 1920, Chhotu Ram co-founded the Zamindaran Party, which later became the Unionist Party alongside Fazl-i-Hussain and Sikandar Hayat Khan. Unionist Party was a cross-communal political organisation that sought to represent the interests of Punjab’s agrarian communities, and had the support of Hindus, Muslim Jats, and Sikh Jats. The party’s ideology was rooted in agrarianism, advocating for policies that protected farmers from exploitative moneylenders, ensured fair land revenue systems, and promoted rural development.

In the 1937 provincial elections in Punjab, his Unionist party emerged victorious and Chhotu Ram became revenue minister on 1 April 1937, and held this position till his death in January 1945. Chhotu Ram was the driving force behind the Bhakra Dam project, a vision to transform the Sutlej River into a lifeline for farmers through irrigation and power. He signed an agreement with the Raja of Bilaspur in November 1944, finalised on 8 January 1945 and due to this reason he was regarded as father of Bakhra Dam.

Chhotu Ram’s political views were shaped by his belief that the economic empowerment of farmers was essential for India’s progress. He argued that the british colonial system disproportionately burdened small farmers, who were trapped in cycles of debt and poverty. His advocacy for agrarian reforms was revolutionary for its time, as it challenged the entrenched power of moneylenders and urban elites. He also emphasised inter-community harmony, recognising that Punjab’s diverse population—comprising Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs. The Muslim Jats fondly called him Rehbar-i-Azam, while Hindus called him Deenbandhu, due to his advocacy for farmers.