Chhotu Ram Biography 
Rai Bahadur Chhotu Ram was a prominent politician from Punjab during pre-independent period. He was the first Stephanian to be knighted in 1937. He along with Mian Fazl-i-Hussain laid foundation of Punjab Unionist Party in 1923. He is regarded as Messiah of peasants who laid the foundation of the 'Green Revolution' in India. He also worked for and introduced many reforms for the weaker sections of exploited peasants. Many of his reforms are relevant till now. He was popularly known as 'Deen Bandhu’ for his support and aid to poor peasants. Most recently in 2013 a new regional party was formed in Rajasthan, named National Unionist Zamindara Party as an honour to this great leader. It was founded by guar farmers to represent their interests. He started the Jat-Anglo Sanskrit School in Rohtak.
He was born on November 24, 1881 in Rohtak District, Haryana. He was known by the name Ramrichhpal in his childhood days. His school education was completed at Jhajjar, 12 miles away from his village. Later he graduated from St Stephen's College, Delhi in 1905. He also took LLB from Agra College in 1910 and started practising as a lawyer two years later. He joined National Congress in 1916 and served as Rohtak district president till 1920.
It was during this time when he got attached to peasant activities and decided to do something against the exploitations. He formed the Unionist Party in 1923 for the benefits of peasants and its people included both Hindu Jats and Muslim agriculturists. He also propagated the ideas of peasant brotherhood, irrespective of religion. He is credited to lay the foundation of the 'Green Revolution' in India during his tenure as Minister of Agriculture and Commerce. He wrote 16 articles in Urdu under the title of “Bechara Zimindar” in the Jat Gazatte, Rohtak. He got passed the Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1939, which is regarded as his most significant contribution. He also reduced the land revenue to nominal rates.
Published: N/A
Updated: June 16, 2014
