Darshan Lal Jain: A Synonym for Selfless and Social Service

A man who served society selflessly all his life, veteran swayamsevak Darshan Lal Jain ji left for heavenly abode Monday. He was 93.

From participating in Quit India Movement at the age of 15 to going to jail for opposing the Emergency in 1975, there was not one occasion when Darshan ji was not available to serve Ma Bharati. A shy person, he always refused to be recognised for his work.

The Government of India awarded him the third-highest civilian honour, Padma Bhushan, in 2019 for his selfless service to the society.

Way back in 1954, when the Jan Sangh offered him an MLC seat, he politely declined. The then Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee wanted to send him to a Raj Bhawan. Again, he politely declined.

He always felt more comfortable working for the various social causes without getting involved in active politics.

River Saraswati was very close to his heart. He established the River Saraswati Research Institute to deeply look into the ways to resuscitate the river.

Education is the most powerful tool to transform society. Guided by this principle, he was associated with many educational institutes, not only in Haryana but all over the country.

He was the founding secretary of the Women’s DAV College in Yamuna Nagar in 1957. That was the only women’s college in the region at the time. In 1954, he founded Saraswati Vidya Mandir in Jagdhari to take care of the educational needs of the children.

Geeta Niketan Residential School, Nand Lal Geeta Vidya Mandir, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram etc are few other institutes he founded.

Always a publicity-shy person, masses took notice of him when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Yamuna Nagar and touched his feet on the stage.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar recalled his long association with Darshan ji, “It’s a very emotional moment for us. His thoughts and dedication will keep inspiring us.” His last rites were performed in the presence of chief minister with full state honours.