Dr. Shyam Lal Thapar Born on 24 October 1909 in a family of Freedom Fighters of Behan Satyawati of New Delhi and Martyr Sukhdev Thapar. His father Lala Telu Ram Thapar migrated from Ludhiana to Moga. He received his early education at M.D.A.S. High School, Moga. He was a leading scout of his school and he
gave up his studies for a year, when he was only in the sixth class, at the call of non-co-
operation given by Mahatma Gandhi, After a year, he resumed his studies. Under the guidance of DR. Mathra Das Pahwa, he joined the Medical College, Amritsar, In 1931 he started his Medical Practice in Moga. He soon became the most popular doctor of south Punjab. Ever smiling and gifted with a natural healing touch. He endeared himself to a large number of patients. He became a house hold word in Moga and the surrounding villages. However, the call of mother India was too great from him to resist. He plunged into the national movement in 1935. He took part in the individual Satyagrah started by Mahatma Gandhi in 1941 and was sent to jail for 15 months, In 1942 he took part in Quit India Movement, Disguised as an saint he went Ebtabad to meet frontier Gandhi Khan , Abdul Guffar Khan in 1942. He remained underground for six months. after his arrested he was sentence for 2.5 years under Quit India Movement. Dr. Thapar’s example inspired the youth of Moga to take active part in the national movement. His wife Smt. Shanti Devi and his entire family members stood by him and worked for the freedom struggle. After the Independence, Dr. Thapar took active interest in constructive & Social activities. He joined Sarvodaya movement under saint Vinova Bhavve for Bhoo Dhan & participated in Pad yatra. He dedicated his life to build a new society after he Sarvodaya ideology. Uplifting of Harijans was dearest to his political activites. He was elected to the Punjab Legislative Council in 1964 for a period of six yeaers. He was appointed Deputy Minister for Medical health, Food Supplies & taxation in the first Ministry after the re-organisation of Punjab on linguistic basis in 1966. Dr. Thapar was associated with a large number of non-political association. He was Persident of the Punjab Medical Association ( Thrice) & once Vice-president of All India Medical Association; President of Punjab Harijan Sewak Sangh; Associate Member of Servants of Peoples Society; Member of Lal Lajpat Rai Birth Memorial Committee; Member of the Moga Muncipal Committee; Member of the Punjab State Citizens
Council; Life Member of Indo-Soviet Cultural Society Etc. Never for a moment in his life, Dr. Thapar wavered from his basic faith in freedom, democracy, secularism, uplift of weaker sections and peaceful socialist transformation and Gandhian way of life, His house was always open to all social workers & secular & progressive political workers, members of weaker community particulary used to look up to him for getting their small and big problem s redressed. He untiringly worked for the betterment of the peoples of the area till the last day of his life. In recoginition of his selfless service to the nation, this disciplined soilder of the freedom movement was awarded TAMAR PATRA. His magnificent work. Commendable efforts and devotion to duties are really praise-worthy. Shared with Public
