Tara Chand

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Tara Chand Saharan (ताराचन्द सहारण) (born 6 June 1913, death 12 March 1958) was an Indian Police Service officer from Hanumangarh district in Rajasthan. He was born in a poor family in village Makkasar in Hanumangarh district. His father had died prior to his birth. When child became of 5 years, one famous social worker of the area named Sant Swami Mansanath took away him from his mother and got admitted in a newly opened school in Sangaria.

Contents

Education

He could complete his fourth class with great difficulty but there was no money for studying further. His bhabhi (brother’s wife) was kind enough to help him in fifth class by offering two and half rupees for purchase of books. Next year he worked on a canal digging soil and got money for his school expenditure. Third year fortunately he got a scholarship from Birla-house and completed his middle school. His further regular studies were not possible due to poor financial conditions. So he completed high school as a private student from Punjab Education Board.

Career

In 1930 he joined service in Jodhpur state as a sepoy in Sardar Infantry, but left this job due to unfavourable conditions. Later in 1935 he joined Bikaner state police. He was directly appointed as a sub-Inspector due to his talents. In 1944 he was promoted to rank of Inspector and further promoted as Dy.S.P. in 1947. He became S.P. in 1951. He was awarded IPS in 1957. He was a dead-honest officer. When he died there was a saving of only Rs. 139 in his account. He spent most of his savings in helping poor and needy students.

Marriage

After Tara Chand got job, there were number of offers of marriage. There were proposals of dowry as well. Meanwhile a social worker and educationist from the area named Chaudhary Harish Chandra Vakil sent a proposal of marriage with his elder brother’s daughter as per strict Arya Samaji system without any dowry. Tara Chand readily accepted this offer and married without taking any dowry.

Achievements

After independence there were Hindi-Muslim tensions. It so happened that The Maharaja of Bikaner wanted to bring two Hindu Sindhi lady doctors from Bahawalpur in Pakistan, so he asked for a brave police officer. It was a very tough and risky job. Tara Chand opted to go there with his team. The Muslim crowd when saw the Indian Police in Bahawalpur, they first attacked the police but when came to know that it was led by Tara Chand they became soft and courteous. They had so much of faith in the honesty and sincerity of Tara Chand that they not only sent the two lady doctors with him but also offered them a great welcome dinner. They all came to boarder to see them off. This was the result of his good reputation.

He was generally posted in dacoit affected areas. In 1953 he suited a dacoit Shivnath for which he was awarded “Indian Police Gallantry award” in 1954. Pali district was badly affected by dacoit menace during those days. In 1954 he traveled 400 miles on foot in the remote areas in search of dacoits and spent 200 days continuously out of his house. The state Home Minister on 23 January 1958 called meeting of police officers regarding eradication of gang of dacoit Kalyan Singh. Tara Chand assured the minister that either he will catch the dacoit or he will dye. The dacoits were very afraid of Tara Chand. It was first event in the history of police in India that Tara Chand IPS and SP Jodhpur was martyred in encounter with dacoit Kalyan Singh after eradicating the gang of Kalyan Singh on 12 March 1958. He was awarded posthumously the “President Police and Fire Medal for Gallantry” on 2 October 1959. He had received 81 appreciation letters from his seniors during his service.

Tara Chand Memorials

References

  • Jatbandhu, Agra, 25 March 2007
  • Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudee, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar: Ādhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998, p.351
  • Jat Samaj Smarika Sangaria-2006, p.13

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