Songda ashram was centre of faith for Chandrashekhar

Pathhalgaon, Chhattisgarh, July 8 (UNI) Few people may be aware that famous Songda ashram near Manora in Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh has been a centre of faith for former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar.

It is a mere coincidence that a month after a religious ceremony at the ashram, Mr Chandrashekhar became the 11th Prime Minister of the country.

A week after taking oath as Prime Minister on November 11, 1990, Mr Chandrashekhar visited the ashram and again performed a religious ceremony.

After announcing several sops for Jashpur's development, he returned to New Delhi.

A pall of gloom descended in Jashpur today on receiving the news of Mr Chandrashekhar's demise. Several people had spent time with the former Prime Minister and discussed personal matters and residents are in a state of shock.

Before becoming Prime Minister, Mr Chandrashekhar had said during a meeting here that public gave full support if truth was conveyed to them In the 1990s, Jashpur lacked various things, including roads, telecommunications, health and education facilities.

Before becoming Prime Minister, Mr Chandrashekhar had viewed these conditions here closely for four days.

He got Subscribers Trunk Dialling (STD) started in the district, improved health services and generated new employment opportunities in the area after he became the Prime Minister.

During his four-day stay at the ashram before becoming the PM, Mr Chandrashekhar developed a fondness for 'rabri' of Jashpur. He visited a hotel with some journalist friends and had 'rabri'.

Jashpur-based journalists Vinod Jain, Sanjeev Sharma and Om Sharma remembered time spent with him and paid him tributes.

Jashpur's prominent businessman Vinod Jain said an era came to end with Mr Chandrashekhar's demise.

UNI