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Seth Chhaju Ram (Hindi:सेठ सर छाजूराम) (1861-1943) was a leading Jat from Haryana, India who made fortune in Calcutta during colonial raj. A philanthropist, he undertook many socially relevant projects. Financed higher studies of Sir Chhotu Ram.

He was born at village Alakhpura, tehsil-Bawanikhera in Bhiwani district in Haryana in the family of Chaudhary Salig Ram of Lamba gotra Hindu Jat in year 1861. His father had migrated from village Gothra in Sikar district in Rajasthan. He completed primary education from village Bawanikhera and High School from Rewadi in Haryana. He could not continue his higher education due to weak financial position.

He got married twice. His first wife was from village Dohaka who died due to Cholera. He had no son from his first wife. Then he married with Lakshmi Devi of village Vilawal in Bhiwani district and got children from her.

Chhaju Ram , At the age of 20-22, came in contact with Arya Samajist , Engineer Raisaheb Shivnath Rai of Bhiwani, who was very much influenced by the talents and sincerity of Chhaju Ram. He took him to Kolkata. For some time he did couching of Raisaheb’s children. Meanwhile he came in contact with businessman from Rajgarh. He taught his children also.

The market in Kolkata during those days was dominated by Marwaris. Chhaju Ram who had a good knowledge of Hindi and English, did correspondence work for the Seths and came to be known as munshiji. He was a talented person. During the process of correspondence with trading-firms, got sufficient knowledge about trade. He got the trade secrets of dalali business. He started first the trade of old bags and later on shifted to new bags trade. He was, by this time, counted as a known dalal of Kolkata.

He earned a huge wealth due to hard work and polite behavior. He purchased shares in Companies. Later he also took in hand the trade of Jute and became popular as Jute King. He was a strong believer in God. He spent a lot of money in social welfare works. He started many hostels, libraries and dharamshalas. He floated scholarships for financially weak and needy students. He financed higher studies of Sir Chhotu Ram. He was known as Bhamasah of kshatriya caste. The British Government had awarded him the title of ‘Sir’.

He died on 7 April 1943.

• Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudee, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar: Ādhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998, Page 310-311

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