HIRD Director, Dr. Virender Singh Chauhan proposes ‘Nilokheri Utsav’ to Revive the Glorious History of Nilokheri

Nilokheri, April 26, 2026: With the objective of reviving Nilokheri's historical heritage and providing direction to future plans based on its glorious past, Dr. Virender Singh Chauhan, Director of the Haryana Institute of Rural Development (HIRD), has proposed organizing an annual 'Nilokheri Utsav'.

While holding consultations at his residence with Municipal Council Chairperson Sanmeet Kaur Ahuja and other prominent citizens, Dr. Chauhan said that the Nilokheri Project has been a unique experiment in community development within the country, originally established for the rehabilitation of displaced persons arriving from West Punjab.

Citing the book ‘Nilokheri’, authored by Engineer S.K. Dey, Dr. Chauhan explained that the work of establishing this new township began on approximately 550 acres of marshy and forested land, utilizing an initial grant of ₹5 lakh received from the Government of India. As the town developed, the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru took a special interest in it and affectionately referred to it as his "daughter."

Dr. Chauhan noted that, in its initial phase, Nilokheri not only garnered widespread attention across the country but also gained international recognition as a successful model of rural development. He added that this initiative would also undertake a review to determine the reasons why this experiment—founded on the principles of cooperation, co-existence, and community development—lost momentum over time. Furthermore, drawing lessons from past experiences, a new framework for future development will be formulated.

He specifically highlighted that, during the 1950s, Nilokheri's renown had grown to such an extent that articles about it were published in prestigious international newspapers such as The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Dr. Chauhan recounted that the project was launched in July 1948, when the displaced persons—who would go on to build this town—first set foot near the 45th milestone of the Sher Shah Suri Marg. Keeping this historical context in mind, it would be appropriate to organize the ‘Nilokheri Utsav’ during the second or third week of July. He said that, through this event, the developmental journey of Nilokheri—spanning from its visionary, S.K. Dey, to the present day—will be showcased through a variety of programs.

Describing this proposal as an excellent and visionary initiative, Municipal Council President Sanmeet Kaur Ahuja affirmed that the Municipal Council would extend every possible support to ensure its success.

Dr. Chauhan informed that, in this regard, detailed discussions would soon be held with the MLA from Nilokheri, Bhagwandas Kabirpanthi; furthermore, the final format of the festival would be determined in consultation with the Municipal Council and various social organizations. He expressed confidence that this festival would not only revive the glorious history of Nilokheri but also inspire the new generation and chart a new course for future development.

Present on the occasion were Satnam Singh Ahuja, BJP Mandal Vice President Lovely Kukreja, Nominated Councilor Advocate Rajesh Sharma, Rajesh Sharma, Kapil Bakshi, Gurmeet Singh, Councilors Mukesh Shirshwal and Rahul Rana, BJP IT Cell In-charge Balkar Singh Saini, Dr. Wazir Singh, and other dignitaries.