Nostalgic trip for minister

HISAR, Dec 14: It was a trip down the memory lane for Mauritian Minister of State for Defence Dhanpat Lal Bhima when he landed here after...

HISAR, Dec 14: It was a trip down the memory lane for Mauritian Minister of State for Defence Dhanpat Lal Bhima when he landed here after about 36 years to remember his nostalgic moments during his school and college days spent in Hisar in 1950 s.

8220;It was like a homecoming. Nostalgic moments of my village,school and college life in Adampur and Hisar are still fresh in my mind8221;, he was heard saying at his native village Adampur, about 50 km from here. Born in 1935 in Mauritius, Dhanpat lal came to Adampur in late 40s and did his schooling here at the local D.A.V. High school and later graduated from D.N. College here.

His sudden visit to D.N. College here yesterday was nothing less than a historic moment for the college management. According to principal subhash Sharma, Dhanpat was the captain of football and basket ball teams of the college in 1957. Overpowered by sentiments, the Mauritian Minister was heard saying, 8220;I consider myself a gift to Mauritius from this institution. I feel proud in saying that I am a student of this college8221;, he added.

After spending some hours at Adampur, where he was given a heroic 8220;son-of-the-soil8221; welcome, Bhima stole some moments to meet his uncle Ramchander Kaliravna and other relatives. A large number of villagers came to see him at the PWD rest house at Adampur, where he was accompanied by senior military and civil officers, led by SDM Balraj Singh. However, not many residents knew that Bhima is a native of Adampur and holding such a high position abroad. Interacting with his relatives at Adampur, Dhanpat told them that his 98-year-old father, too was willing to come to Adampur. 8220;His old age does not permit him to travel down here, though the village, relatives and old people are very much fresh in his mind8221;, he added. Dhanpat8217;s father was a jailer in one of the prisons in Mauritius.

After setting up in Mauritius, Dhanpat started business in sugarcane before finally joining politics in 1995. Elected to Mauritian Parliament in 1997 , Dhanpat was appointed Defence Minister in the same year.

He came to India a couple of days back to have discussions with defence ministry officials at Delhi about forming joint mutual defence strategy between the two countries.

Tempatation to visit his native village and to refresh his nostalgic moments overpowered him to visit both the places. He also went to a room near the double railway crossing here on the Jat college road, where he used to stay as a tenant while studying in the college. The particular house has now been converted into a dhaba. 8220;Every inch of land strikes nostalgic moments in me8221;, he is stated to have said sentimentally.