Seth Bindraban Sondhi was the son of elder brother of Lala Devraj ji and you have made a lifetime contribution to the work of his holy uncle’s school and other social work. You had a special place in the social life of the city. Due to your service and donation, you were interested in almost all the social functions of the city.
In the words of Acharya, you were the President of the Department of Public Relations of the institution. You used to contact the new government officials coming to the city so that they could get help in any work of the college when the time comes. Due to the weakness of your eyes, you used to spend in the May-June summer months in Dalhousie and there also your home was the centre of hospitality for government officials who came there in summer and public goodwill.
Due to poor eyesight in childhood, you could not study further than some earlier classes and got into business work. You had a shop in the market and you held the agencies of kerosene oil etc. When the school was in the city then it was your responsibility to look at the needs of the hostel’s kitchen. When the college went out of the city, it was often your responsibility to buy and supply the material for the hostel’s kitchen.
Charity was your special quality. You spent less on your comfort, but donated with an open heart. You could keep the car, but did not keep it from the idea of economics. Once in winters you wore your old coat after washing instead of making a new one and one fellow brought your attention towards this. You said, “If I increase the personal expenditure in this way, then you do not ask me to pay for social work.”
Around 1915, the college’s teacher Pundita Savitri Devi was offered a proposal to send her to Mussoorai due to illness, and for this, it was a matter of expenditure that you enjoyed this burden. When the institution’s managing director- Sabha decided to establish the Doaba College, you determined not to take a step in your house until you deposit one lakh rupees for it and deposited the amount soon. For this, you gave yourself a good amount too.
Your house was famous for hospitality. The guests of the Arya Samaj used to come and go. Special guests visiting the Arya Samaj used to stay at your house. Swami Satyanand was often your guest. When President Rajendra Prasad came to Vidyalaya, you had said, “There should be no shortage in the hospitality of those who come. Do not worry about finance.
You were also interested in match-making with your known families and you were also skilled in this work.
You have seldom been seen standing up in small meeting and speaking rarely. Your interest was in work and you used to be quietly engaged in the work.
*Source: “Uttar-Paschim Bharat main Stri-Shakti-Jagran ka Moort Roop Kanya Mahavidyalaya” written by Sh. Shadhi Ram Joshi, Former Principal, Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Jalandhar
*Translated By: Ms. Ambika, Assistant Prof., Dept. of English, Doaba College, Jalandhar
