A highly regarded Principle of my school. Though he was there much earlier than we entered the school, his influence could be felt even when we were there (15-20 years after he retired). Such was his love and dedication to his students that he used to take round of the villages from where his students came during night time to see that senior students were studying and not sleeping (perhaps because of poor commuting facilities he used to stay in my village). Such was his influence that he could punish students even in there own houses if found sleeping before 11.00 in the night. Students from far distance, including Haryana villages, preferred to study in his school. He could make any sacrifice to make his students successful. There are several instances when he helped his students financially, out of his own pocket so that their education was not interrupted for want of money. He inspired them to work hard and succeed in life. I have no hesitation in admitting, though being good student myself, we were no match to his students. His hard work yielded results and several of his students rose to high positions in IPS, Army and civil services and teaching profession. Not a single student of his remained unemployed. Even 20 years after his retirement he visited our school to see how the students were doing in the school from where he had retired when I had the fortune of meeting him and receiving his invaluable advice.
I remember when I was still a junior student (perhaps in 7th standard) when the senior stuents of our school went on strike against the unreasonable behaviour of the then Principle. The strike went on for about 10 days and no solution could be worked out even after the mediation of village elders and higher authorities from education department, village elders went to Ch. Hoshiyar Singh to mediate. He came the running same day and I vaguely remember him addressing the students and admonishing the Principle (who too happened to be his own student), teachers and parents. As soon as he finished his address, all students went to their classes as if no strike had taken place. Such was his aura and respect.
When he started the school in Bankner (near Narela) a few students from our village went to study there only because of Ch. Hoshyar Singh. Apart from what the news items says, he was a true jat who loved his community from the bottom of his heart. He was always there when the jat community needed him. He was a regular at jat panchayats and was also present at the World Jat Mahasabha in Delhi. I can say without hesitation that the schools where Hoshiyar Singh remained Principal were far far better than the present public schools and we must be grateful to him that he chose rural schools as his 'karamsthali'.
It was my love and respect for this great teacher that his name readily came to my mind while naming a few great jats on this very Jatland.com a few months back.
I bow my head to you, Sir. Thanks for everything you did for jats in general and for your students in particular. Be in piece wherever you are, Sir.
(His age in the news item is not given correctly. Most of his students have already retired. How he could be only 76. He must have been 96 and not 76, a typographical error perhaps or wrong supply of data to the press).