Chander Singh Duhan

Ch. Chander Singh ( चौ०. चन्द्र सिंह ) (1935-2001) was a Civil Servant belonging to the Haryana Civil Services (H.C.S.). He was recruited as Naib Tehsildar in 1955. He served with dedication and hard work for a long period of 38 years and proved his administrative skills while serving the people of the State of Haryana in different capacities.

Birth: he was born on September 6, 1935 in Village Katwal, District Sonipat Haryana in Duhan Gotra in a Hindu Jat family. His father Ch. Risal Singh was a respectable farmer.

Early Education: He had started his education at a very early age of three and a half years. At that time the school was not in his village and he had to go to the nearby village Bhainswal Kalan to attend the school till 6th standard. His keen interest in the studies forced his father to admit him in the Jat H.M.A.S. High School, Rohtak for further education. As a student he was very bright in all subject, he passed middle with high credits and in Matric, he passed in the first division and secured 72% marks. He was highly admired by the then Principal Ch. Dhaja Ram and Ch. Har Nand Rai. During school days he was a NCC cadet (1948-50).

College Education (1950-54): In 1954 he passed his B. Sc with an additional subject of URDU from Govt. College, Rohtak. Being a quick learner he gained proficiency in many languages like English, Urdu and Hindi. During his stay in hostel he was Common Room Secretary as well as a member of the hostel committee (1953). He was very good at sports, a player of basket ball and was an expert horse rider and well versed in horse riding.

Career: In 1954 after completing his B.Sc. from Rohtak Ch. Chander Singh wanted to move to Delhi for his higher education. He went there and meet Dr. Sarup Singh the then Vice-Principal of Kirori Mal College. There was a session of advice. The topics included were job prospects after M. Sc. from Delhi University, area of Interest, circumstances and economic condition of the family and above all the need of making a career was appropriately emphasized. The words of advice by Dr Sarup Singh had a tremendous impact on Ch. Chander Singh's mind. He set his sights high and dropped the idea of M.Sc. from Delhi University and settled down to work hard for a rewarding future in the state services of Haryana. Meanwhile he joined as school teacher to earn some pocket money. He rendered District Board Service by teaching Science and Mathematics at Sir Chhotu Ram Memorial D.B. High School at village Birohar of Rohtak (from Dec 1954 - July 1955).

The brightness was perhaps waiting to shine and only application for some polish was needed. An opportunity was providentially provided by Ch. Chander Singh himself by clearing the State SSC examination for the post of Naib Tehsildar. This opened new horizons for him. On October 1st 1955 he joined as Naib Tehsildar in Joint Punjab. In 1968 he was promoted as Tehsildar. Later in 1974 he was nominated into HCS. On September 30th 1993 he was retired from the post of SDM from Pehowa District Kurukshetra after a remarkable service of 38 years.

He had known for his enthusiasm, unique style of administration, razor-sharp efficiency and transparency in implementing developmental schemes during his entire service. The salient feature of his working style was his easy accessibility and availability which makes him very popular among common man.

Postings: During his long stint of government service started as Naib Tahsildar (1955) in Joint Punjab (It comprises of Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh before 1966) and retired as HCS Officer of Haryana (1993).

In the beginning he served as Naib Tahsildar at Ambala, Bhiwani, Dabwali, Fathebad, Kandaghat (now in Himachal Pradesh), Palwal, Rewari, Sirsa & Tohana and as Tehsildar he served at Bhiwani, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Kharar (now in Punjab) & Panipat.

After he was nominated in to HCS in 1974, he had held many important assignments and served with distinction to prove his administrative skills in the service of the people and the State of Haryana. He served as Executive Magistrate at Sirsa, as L.A.O. at Ambala, as City Magistrate & Special Colloctor at Jind. He served as General Manager Haryana Roadways at various stations like Hisar, Karnal, Gurgaon & Rohtak. He had held assignment in the sector of Urban Local Bodies as Administrator of the municipal committee in various districts like Rohtak, Ambala, Kaithal, Kurukshetra and Jind. During the course of his service career he had headed as many as 7 Sub Divisions as Sub Divisional Magistrate, he served as such in the Districts and Sub Divisions of Fatehabad, Sirsa, Gurgaon, Narwana, Firojpur Jhirka, Bahadurgarh & Pehowa in Haryana. He had also been the Asst. Director of Consolidation and Land Records Haryana.

He was been posted at least once to almost all the districts of Haryana in his long carrier.

His Family: Being the eldest son of Ch. Risal Singh and Smt. Manbhari Devi he performed his duties very well. As early marriage was normal practice in those days his parents got him married when he was just 12 years old (in 1947). His wife Smt. Bhagwani Devi was from village Sitawali, District Sonipat. At a very early age of 23 his father expired and all the responsibilities came on his shoulders now. He provide a conducive environment to all his brothers and sisters. He did everything for them, which was the requirement of the hour, starting from their education, careers and their marriages and what not. He enhanced the family land holdings and build a common family house at village Jamni, District Hisar Haryana. He uplifted the whole family like a father figure. His wife Smt. Bhagwani Devi was expired in 1982. She left behind three daughters and one son.

Social Work: After his retirement in 1993, he had shifted to Rohtak. There, he started participating in many social works and causes. Despite a busy life in social activities, he always took interest in agriculture, village life and education in rural areas. He emphasized on education (especially girls education) and was of the firm opinion that education is the key to all success.

Death: He breathed his last on May 25, 2001.

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