Sir Chhotu Ram Jayanti in 2024

When is Sir Chhotu Ram Jayanti?

Sir Chhotu Ram Jayanti is a regional public holiday in the Indian state of Haryana on the fifth day of the traditional Indian calendar month of Magha.

This holiday always falls on the same day as Basant Panchmi, also observed as a public holiday in Haryana.

History of Sir Chhotu Ram Jayanti

Unveiling a statue of Sir Chhotu Ram in October 2018, Prime minister Modi described him as a social reformer, "Kisano ki awaaj" (voice of farmers), "Kisano Ka Masiha" (messiah of peasants) and "Rehbar-e-azam" (great leader). He said there is a need to make more efforts to realise the dreams of Chhotu Ram.

To be a politician and have a statue erected and unveiled by the Prime Minister 73 years after your death speaks volumes about the regard in which Sir Chhotu Ram is held in his native state of Punjab and in the nearby state of Haryana.

Chhotu Ram was born as Ram Richpal in a Jat family in a village in Punjab Province in November 1881. He was given the nickname Chhotu Ram as he was the youngest of his brothers.

Chhotu Ram became a prominent politician in British India's Punjab Province, who championed the interests of the oppressed communities of the Indian subcontinent. For this work, he was knighted in 1937. 

Ram was a co-founder of the National Unionist Party which ruled the United Panjab Province in pre-independent India. He was also the driving force behind the Bhakra Dam, which has improved the lives of many farmers in northern India.

Ram died in Lahore on January 9th 1945.