BIKANER’S GREATEST

ROLE MODELS OF OUR

TIMES - WHO MISSED

MEDIA ATTENTION 1

Prof. (Dr. ) Trilok Kumar Jain

Dean, ISBM Suresh Gyan Vihar University

Jaipur 302017 Mobile : 9414430763 Jain.tk@gmail.com

1 The views expressed in this article are the personal views of the author. The author is open to criticism and is

willing to proceed further in the direction, but requires support. The likeminded persons are invited to join to work together to help the great philanthropists of our country. The author welcomes suggestions / support / ideas from the reader.

Bikaner is the land of social entrepreneurs, thinkers, innovators and

philanthropists. Many of these persons received media attention, but many

didn’t. those who didn’t get media attention, could not create impact and

could not replicate their work. Their great contribution will be forgotten in

the times to come. They had to face more struggle and more difficulties in

the work they they pursued. However, here is an attempt to write small

notes on some of them. These notes may not help them or their cause, but

may help us to think again and help such persons in future.

Jwalaprasad Shashtri : I wrote on him – “a student of 80 years” - the

person who spent his life in learning and in promoting learning. His

passion was reading books and writing poems. His two books were

published. He was a real role model in terms of self-less service. He taught

free of cost (no tution fees). He donated his huge property (worth crores) to

people for social cause and that too on a small sentence like this : “Shashtri

ji, if you will sell your land, where we will conduct our functions – we are

poor people” Shashtri ji donated entire land to the mohalla and the

moulvies (it was a muslim dominant mohalla). He was an expert on all

religions including muslim religion and authority in many laungauges

including Russian, Urdu, Parsi and Sanskrit. He was respected by people of

all communities for his simplicity, honesty, truth and knowledge.

Purshottam Dawra : This person organized one after another event for the

benefit of society. He used to organize bhajans at the homes of any person

who had suffered any death / calamity. He used to distribute pots which

could be used for putting waste material which can be eaten by Cows. Thus

he protected many cows of the city from plastic bags.

Gyan Mal Sewag : one of the greatest teachers of all times in Bikaner, he

used to present himself as an ideal person in and out of school. A

disciplinarian, linguist, geographer, and a perfectionist, he will always be

remembered by his students for his high values.

Dr. Nath Mal Dugar : He left Bikaner city to settle in his own village and to

serve his villagers. He is a role model for other doctors and public servants.

He served in villages and towns throughout his life. He is still approachable

to any villager

Gorishankar Soni “madhukar” : a satirist, a poet, and a person who always

spoke against the prevailing corruption. He travelled extensively to share

his satires and poems. He was also a role model in terms of his willingness

to help people and to raise thinking level of people. He always advocated

simple living high thinking.

Yogendra Kumar Rawal : he spread innovations in school education. His

initiatives were recognized by NCERT – but it was too late. He spent his life

trying to spread innovations. He tried in many schools, but he didn’t get the

kind of response that he deserved. His innovations were path-breaking and

truly innovative, but most of those innovations have now disappeared.

Dr. Vijay Bothra : one of the most humble and down to earth doctors in

Bikaner, he is always available for patients. He never says a no. he not only

treats patients, but helps them by providing medicines (all for free). For the

poor persons of Bikaner, he is the true Messiah.