Diaspora campaigns for Sir Chhotu Ram’s statue in London

CHANDIGARH: In a first, Indians in UK have launched a campaign to demand a statue of pre-Independence peasants' leader Sir Chhotu Ram in

London

.

On a call by ‘Haryana In UK', an association of

Haryanavi

diaspora in

England

, boxer Vijender Singh, Haryanvi folk singer

Mahabir Guddu

and a legislator from

Uchana Kalan

(

Jind

),

Prem Lata

, had reached London by Saturday as part of the campaign and to attend an international conference on Chhotu Ram's contributions. This is the first time that so many Haryanavis have gathered in London in the memory of the Jat leader. Speaking to TOI from London, association president

Kuldeep Ahlawat

said some UK MPs of Indian origin would also attend the conference. He said that demand for Chhotu Ram's statue is significant because the British Empire had knighted him and awarded him the title of ‘Sir'. He added that Haryanavi

diaspora

in the UK was overwhelmed with Haryana entering its 50th year of formation.

"Haryana has been an agrarian hinterland predominantly inhabited by the farming community. Therefore, the celebration would be incomplete without remembering the great son of Haryana (formerly Punjab), Sir

Chaudhary Chhotu Ram

," said Ahlawat.

"We are organizing this event so that non-resident Indians (NRIs) and their children know about his work, and of how he proved himself as an ideologue of the peasantry and a champion of the common man's interests," said

Sajjan Deshwal

, vice-president of the association.

Haryanavi cultural programmes would also be organized on the sidelines of the event, Deshwal said. These events would include a special poetic and dance presentation by folksinger Mahabir Guddu and folk dances by Parveen Rani, Rinki Saini and

Nidhi Chhillar

, said the organizers. They said

Union

minister

Birender Singh

, who is the grandson of Sir Chhotu Ram, will be the chief guest.