Raizada Bhagat Ram Sondhi was the younger brother of Lala Devraj ji. You were proud of the work of social service of your elder brother, Lala Devraj. Even if you did not come directly into this work, your interest in it has always been in this work. Being a few years younger than your elder brother, you were with him in childhood. Lala Ji has mentioned conversations about religious and social topics with you more than once in your daily diary and your valuable opinion on those topics. You had great respect for your service-oriented brother and you always kept in mind his work and his interests.
At the time of the distribution of family property, when some family members demanded more share then you threatened those people, “You people want to take share of this sadhu?”
Raizada Sahib practiced in Jalandhar after passing the barristership from England. You were the top lawyer of Punjab. Your ability to free a person from the gallows was well known.
Your way of living was English, but from heart you were a very devout, a devotee of Gandhi, and an Indian devotee. You had an equal respect in the public sector and in the government sector. You could talk to any big official of the government on the telephone. Even the British governor of Punjab believed in you. On the other hand when Sarojini Naidu first came to Jalandhar, you let her stay at your house. In 1920, you had organized the first political congress of Punjab, whose President was Lala Lajpat Rai. You had a great influence on Maharaja Kapurthala too.
On the annual festival of Kanya Maha Vidyalaya, despite your business, you used to come even if for some time. If there was any problem in the school, then you were ready for instant help. Once the schoolgirls were walking on the road in two and two lines. Some british soldiers, breaking the line, took their horses away through the lines. You immediately telephoned the governor and the area of commuting of the girls was made taboo area for the white soldiers. In the days of non-cooperation, due to the national activities of the Kanya Maha Vidalaya, there was talk that police is going to conduct a search of the institution. You said to the officers on the phone, “The school is very dear to me. For this, I can put all my stuff on the stake.” And that search did not go forward.
*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
