HIRD Director Dr. Virender Singh Chauhan Calls upon students to internalize the Indian knowledge tradition and contribute to nation-building

Nilokheri, June 8, 2026: To understand India's civilization and culture, we must study the ideas of great political thinkers ranging from Acharya Chanakya and Maharaj Manu to Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi, and Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. Their principles continue to provide guidance in society, administration, and personal life today. Dr. Virender Singh Chauhan, Director of the Haryana Institute of Rural Development (HIRD), expressed these views while addressing participants of a thirty-day internship program organized for students of Dyal Singh College, Karnal. He urged the students to internalize the Indian knowledge tradition and contribute to nation-building.

Dr. Chauhan acquainted the students with the historic journey of Nilokheri, explaining that following the partition of the country, camps were initially established in Kurukshetra to rehabilitate displaced persons. In 1948, heavy rains created severe challenges for the people living in these camps. At that time, the responsibility for rehabilitation lay with S.K. Dey, an engineer originally from Bengal. After consulting with the central government, he planned the establishment of a new town; he founded Nilokheri in a densely forested area, simultaneously linking the people to employment opportunities.

He noted that in its initial phase, the project was known as 'Mazdoor Manzil' (Laborer's Destination). Over time, it evolved into a model rehabilitation and community development project for the country. Impressed by its success, the then Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru visited Nilokheri himself; he later praised the Nilokheri model in Parliament and emphasized the need to establish ten thousand such towns across the country.

Dr. Chauhan mentioned that S.K. Dey later became India's first Minister of Panchayati Raj and made significant contributions to rural development. He stated that a 'Nilokheri Festival' would be organized in the near future, during which students would meet senior citizens and elders of the town to compile memories and accounts related to Nilokheri's history and development. A documentary film based on interviews conducted by students and video footage will be produced.

Dr. Virender Singh Chauhan stated that the establishment of Nilokheri—driven by a specific purpose and visionary outlook—represented a unique development project for its time. However, due to various subsequent challenges and circumstances, many aspirations associated with this model remained unfulfilled. He emphasized the need for a collective effort to realize that unfulfilled dream. Taking the initiative in this direction, the HIRD will work to convey Nilokheri’s historical legacy, developmental journey, and core spirit to the new generation, aiming to make Nilokheri a source of inspiration for the nation once again.

Also present on the occasion were Gurbinder Singh (Consultant, National Institute of Rural Development), Dr. Sushil Mehta, Sandeep Kumar, and other officials and staff members of HIRD, along with students from Dyal Singh College, Karnal, who are currently undergoing internships.