Recreations Continues...

Raja Baldev Singh of Guler, the descendant of the leading Katoch ruling family of Kangra District, is still living a retired, religious life. He was a young man when I met him in Dharamsala in 1912. His father was alive and he was then known as Tika Baldev Singh. He was learning his magisterial work here and was going to be an honorary extra assistant commissioner. We were great chums and I occasionally acted as his tutor in law, as he had no legal learning himself. The honorary magistrates generally were members of the aristocracy and were usually innocent of any legal knowledge. They just picked up law while deciding the fate of the litigants before them- very often at the litigants’ cost.

Raja Bhuri Singh of Chamba was a great friend of father and I came to know him well. He was a tall, impressive man like Raja Jai Chand of Lambagaon. I developed a great liking for him and he showed me much affection whenever I met him, off and on, at Lahore. He sent his nephew, Mian Nihal Singh to live with us at Dharamsala. Father asked me to put some law in his head. I think I was to some extent successful in doing so. He became a Magistrate and worked in Chamba for a long time. We have been friends since 1912.

Raja Gaggan Singh of Nurpur in whose domain is situated my home village, Tika Nagrota, was another impressive figure. I knew him when he was a fellow student with me in the Nurpur school. He was very much attached to father and always took his advice in all matters. Our ancestral house is situated on the land gifted by his grandfather to my grandfather. He was an honorary sub-judge and magistrate. He was a very intelligent judge and; though he did not know much law, he had a sound judgment and plenty of common sense. He commanded great respect in the Ilaqa. I appeared half a dozen times before him and always came out successful.

to be continued...

( This account is maintained by Har Anand Publication)