Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha while paying rich tributes to Baba Jitto described him as a universal symbol of public welfare, transcending sectarian divides.
Brave Baba Jitto was an honest and god fearing farmer born in a village by the name Ghar in the foothills of Trikuta hills, the abode of Mata Vaishno Devi. As per the legend Baba Jitto was a devotee of Mata Vaishno Devi and shifted to Shamachak village near Jammu, along with his daughter Bua Kori from Aghar village some 200 years ago.
As he was landless, he requested Mehta Bir Singh, a feudal lord to provide a piece of land for tilling. Mehta Bir Singh agreed on a condition that he will take one fourth of produce. Baba Jitto worked hard day and night and transformed the barren land into lush green fields with a luxuriant yield.
However, the latter Mehta Bir Singh wanted three fourth of the crops which was more than agreed and incensed at the injustice, Baba Jitto stabbed himself sitting on a heap of crop leaving grains drenched with his blood. Later his daughter Bua Kori lit a pyre and burnt herself with his father, thus making him immortal in local folklore. His story exposed the shameless subjugation of the poor by those at the helm.
At the Jhiri village near Shamachak situated some 22kms from Jammu city on Akhnoor Poonch road, a Jhiri mela is organised which is a fair based on folklore of the Dogra history. Followers from J&K, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, gather to pay tributes to the legendary former Baba Jitto at his Samadhi every year to honour and elaborate the memory of folklore Baba jitto. He laid down his life to defend the values of honesty and justice which is a testimony to the Dogra character of making supreme sacrifices.
As the people gathered to attend the annual Jihri Mela, LG Sinha reminded them about the values of truth, non-violence, and brotherhood to strengthen society and make the Mela a celebration of multiculturalism and social harmony.
He stated that the real tribute to Baba Jitto would be to ensure that benefits of government schemes reach every farmer.
The Lieutenant Governor called upon the people to take a pledge to embrace the path of selfless- service and work towards a just and equal society as envisioned by Baba Jitto. |
