Prem Nath Dogra
Prem Nath Dogra (Dogri: प्रेम नाथ डोगरा) was a leader from Jammu and Kashmir who worked for total integration of the state with India. He formed Praja Parishad party in 1947 along with Balraj Madhok and opposed policies of Shaikh Abdullah. He died on 20 March 1972. He was elected to the legislative Assembly of Jammu & Kashmir many number of times. Duggar land has its own brilliant and unique history. It has given to veterans, academicians, social workers, philanthropists and leaders of calibre. Prominent among them has been Pt. Prem Nath Dogra. He was born in village Smailpur on 24 October 1884 in a Brahmin family. He after schooling in a high school, graduated from Foreman College Lahore in 1908. Besides his academics he was prominent athlete also and won many prizes sports field. He served the state government, after joining as a Tehsildar, in various capacities and was even given the post of Lent Officer Incharge Bhaderwah Jagir of Maharaja and later because the Wazir Wazarat (Deputy Commissioner). He was very principled person and acted judiciously in dealing the problems, but on the accusation of not having dealt with Muslim Agitation in Kashmir valley severely, Though there was violence in other district of Kashmir valley when Muzaffarabad under control of Pt. Prem Nath Dogra remained free from any sort of agitation and people lived cordially. The vested interest then manipulated for his premature retirement. His retirement was a born to him as he got ample time to interact with the masses to know the issues and problems. On social side he founded Harijan Sewa Mandal to help upliftment of Harijans, but orthodoxies were irked atthis point of act dauntingly on march he then gave birth to BRAHMAN MYKHYA MANDAL to help eradicate social evils in Brahman society. Besides he emerged leading member of Dogra Sadar Sabha, was elected member of Jammu Municipality and its vice president for a decade till 1949. All this gave him promiance and in 1945 elections he was elected to the Assembly (Praja Sabha). He during 1963-64 was the Sangchalak of RSS for J&K. Under the stewardship as RSS Sangchalak he lead to carry out herculine jobs for the organizing of the relief camps for the refugees from West Pakistan and uprooted people due to Pak invasion during 1947. His services and help to clearance operation by forces added colours to his feather and he was and our popular personality amongst masses. The then Prime Minister of J & K State, Sheikh Mohd Abdullah, jealous of his popularity arrested him in 1949 on concocted blames but Jammuites agitation forced release. All efforts failed of the government to help Sheikh Mohd Abdullah to dominate and contain that Pt. Dogra was not elected President of J&K Praja Parishad (1950-1964) and also remained President after its merger with Jana Sangh till 1967 then got himself relieved from there. He was staunch believer of democracy in real sense and fought for uniformity all round the country under the slogan “Ek Nishan; Ek Vidhan; Ek Pradhan” and to give full unquestionable integrity to the country. The agitation to achieve above motives attracted jail for him for nine months. Though detained in Kashmir he was elected member Assembly in 1957, then also in 1962 and 1967 from Jammu city, North. He proved to be a great parliamentarian and earned praises of his opponents like then Chief Minister Ghulam Mohd, Bakshi and G. M Sadiq. He even rose to the level to hold the President Post of All India Jana Sangh for the year 1955-56. He lead the Jana Sangh Group in the legislative Assembly. To sum up Mr. Dogra has proved to be true and faithfully soldier of the soil and every one is proud of him. His era ultimately came to an end on 20 March 1972.