Wednesday, September 21, 2005

A distinguished social worker honored

NP Upadhyaya

Some are born great. Some pose to be great. Some acquire greatness in their lifetime and the society wherein he or she lives makes his or her great on the evaluation of his or her contributions made to the society.

The third process of acquiring greatness is not an easy path. One has to sacrifice immensely in order to acquire a standing in the society. This needs courage, stamina and a strong will to serve the society.

Dead is the man who in his lifetime has not served his or her society. Lifeless is the person who in his lifetime has not donated or done some thing that is in favor of the society. No body talks of those who take birth and die a natural death. Remembered are those who take birth and serve the society in whatever manner they can and according to one's capacity.

A person who hates his own society and the one, who forgets what the society did for him, is a dead person albeit with breathing capabilities.

This has no meaning at all in societal terms.

The personality about whom we have ventured to talk today is Mr. Tola Ram Dugar-one of the few businessmen or industrialists of the country who provided or contributed in giving a shape to the Nepali economy.

His tireless efforts that he made in his youthful days for the expansion and extension of his business not only in his hometown, Biratnagar, but in various remote areas of the country not only provided him with name and fame but in the process he served the nation in a befitting manner.

Thanks that this man at 75 now is still vibrant and energetic and nurtures a strong desire in his heart to serve the nation yet in a more dynamic way.

The other day, this senior Dugar turned 75 and the entire Marwari community to which he basically belongs celebrated his 75 th birthday ceremony in a manner that provided an impression that Mr. Dugar have had a sea of friends and all of his friends belonging to various castes and creed converged at Hyatt as if they were celebrating their own birth-day party.

A fantastic union of all the community. This means that Mr. Dugar has his friendship an all embracing one.

The gathering at Hyatt in effect enhanced the communal harmony that so happily existed in between different communities in Nepal. The scene was simply marvelous and exceptional. Others would do well if they copied this trend and culture.

With the Dugars, my family in Biratnagar have had ties since decades and decades. I was told by my late father that Mr. Dugar was a very close frined of him. So I have personal friendship with senior Dugar's younger brother, Mr. Moti Lal Dugar. Let me admit that this senior Dugar's son, Mal Chand Dugar, behaves with me as if I am were his own uncle. So nice of you junior Dugar!

Tola Ram Dugar has so many social contributions to his credit.

I think that a sizeable chunk/percentage of what senior Dugar earned in the process of his business activities, it appears that he has made it a habit of utilizing those amounts in the service of the poor and thus of the nation.

Not so many people have this habit. But this Dugar has. I am myself the witness of his social contributions. The entire Biratnagar community is witness of his encouraging social contributions that he has been making since decades and decades.

What should I say of him? And of his tremendous contributions made to the society?

Long live Mr. Dugar. I wish you all the best. Keep the traditions alive!