I told Harish Rawat to declare Gairsain as the Capital to become ITIHAAS PURUSH OF UTTARAKHAND but he could’nt do it, reveals Pradeep Tamta, MP

I had told the then chief minister of Uttarakhand and my undisputed leader Harish Rawat while he was the chief minister of Uttarakhand that’s it’s the most opportune time for him to register his name in the history of Uttarakhand by declaring Gairsain as the permanent capital of Uttarakhand.

But unfortunately he did’nt or could not do it inspite of the fact that it was within his discretionery purview. These were the words of the Rajya Sabha MP from Uttarakhand and Uttarakhand’s former CM Harish Rawat’s junior n political colleague Pradeep Tamta who was addressing the audience at Malviya Smriti Bhawan at Deendayal Upadhyay Marg, ITO in New Delhi in a function organised by a magazine Alaknanda to commemorate its founding publisher and editor late Swaroop Dhaundiyal’s 84th Birth anniversary.

Late Swaroop Dhaundiyal was a prominent story writer, literateur, thinker, publisher editor of 4 editions of Mini Uttarakhand and author of popular drams viz. Adalat and Mangtu Baaulya etc. He had more than 300 stories to his credit. The latest edition dedicated on the life and actions/ literary works was also released on this ocassion. Prominent amongst the chief guests and special guests of honour present on this ocassion were the Rajya Sabha MP Pradeep Tamta, the DG of Indian Coast Guard Rajendra Singh Bisht, Delhi’s deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, legend literateur n veteran writer Ballab Dobhal, former provident fund commissioner and social activist V. N. Sharma, former additional DG of Foreign trade, GOI,AAP’s councillor Geeta Rawat etc.

The guests on the dias were felicitated with bouquets and momentoes bearing the picture of late Swaroop Dhaundiyal as a mark of honour to all of them. Member of Parliament and a former socio political activist Pradeep Tamta said had Uttarakhand be declared as the capital of the hill state during the tenure of Rawat as chief minister not only would have he registered his name in the glorious hitory of Uttarakhand but would also have contributed towards the overall decentralised socio economic development of the state but inspite best efforys he could’nt make it.

He added that when requested Harish Rawat for declaring Gairsain as the state’s capital not only was I under the suspicion of my partymen n Harish Rawat being politically hostile but was dubbed as anti party leader as well. But I publicly said that Harish Rawat is my undisputed leader and as a worker I have every right to portray n raise my views independently and democratically.

He spoke against the big dams in Uttarakhand and the country and said that about 1000 big n medium range dams are being demolished world over. The Rajya Sabha MP said its out misfortune that huge Dams like Pancheshwar will badly displace about 31 thousand families leaving them of no where except compelling them to lead a miserable life. Tamta lauded the efforts of late Swarup Dhaundiyal for being highly instrumental in bringing four important editions of Mini Uttarakhand in Delhi, Mumbai n other parts of the country in a bid to unite the pravasy Uttarakhandies and felt the need to carry forward his work.

The Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia announced that the Delhi government of AAP has fulfilled the long pending demand of the Uttarakhandies in Delhi by establishing the Garhwali and Kumaoni Academies which no government has so far aspired to do despite a long pending demand. He said this fulfillment was as a sequel to the aspirations of late Swaroop Dhaundiyal who did his best for the preservation n promotion of Hindi and the Garhwali, Kumaoni languages through his dramas n literary works.

The director general of Coast guard Rajinder Singh Bisht lauded the efforts of late Swaroop Dhaundiyal and his editor son of Alaknanda magazine for incessantly publishing the magazine and contributing immensely to the society by their literary works n writings and assured him of all possible help in the near future.

He catagorically said that on the one hand we talk of the existence of 22 lakh Uttarakhandies in Delhi but on the other hand we don’t contribute and support our writers, journalists and publishers involved in noble works of bringing out literary n news oriented magazines like Alaknanda which accquaints us of the socio cultural, political and different facets of Uttarakhand.

The president of Uttarakhand Journalists Forum Sunil Negi while hailing late Swaroop Dhaundiyal for his outstanding contribution to the state of Uttarakhand and the country reiterated the need to carry on his good works, ideals and principles ahead so as to accord him the fittest tributes. Others who spoke on the occassion were senior journalist and editorial advisor of Alaknanda Charu Tiwari, Vyomesh Jugran, Dev Singh Rawat, senior Advocate n activist Avtar Rawat, Dr. Satish Kaleshwari, young n aspiring poet Neeraj Bawari, former ACP Satish Naudiyal etc.

The Sangeet Sahitya Academy honour recipient and prominent singer of Uttarakhand sang a melodious song on Hill migration lauded by one and all present there. The vote of thanks were delivered by the former DG foreign trade Mahesh Chandra. The event was most ably compered by renowned literateur and writer Mrs ( Dr. Hema Uniyal).

It may recalled that Alaknanda magazine highlighting the soci cultural, economic, environmental and political aspects of Uttarakhand is being incessantly published for the last five decades with its present editor publisher being Vinod Dhaundiyal.