SHRI ANAND RAJ SURANA

SHRI ANAND RAJ SURANA
Born on 15th September, 1891 at Jodhpur Shri Anand Raj Surana inherited Ahimsa and love for animals as his priceless heritage from his highly cultured father Seth Chandmal Surana, a pioneer of indigenous public movements and Honorary Supervisor of a large Pinjrapole (Animals' home).

Shri Surana entered Railway service in Bikaner from where he was exiled by Maharaja Bikaner in 1923 for his participation in political activities. He gave up service to use his business talents in building up the big printing press machines entrerprise 'Indo Europa Trading Co.' of which he is the Managing Director and which has its offices in Calcutta, Bombay, Delhi and Madras. He is also Chairman of Asian Chemicals Ltd- He applied his fortune liberally and readily for the animal welfare, to help the widows and needy and for various other good causes.

A crusader against cruelty upon animals in all its forms he offered satyagraha at the Jodhpur palace to save thousands of animals from slaughter and succeeded in getting the export of female animals prohibited by the Jodhpur State in 1925. During famine of 1938-39 in Hissar he started cattle camps which saved 12,000 cattle from death by starvation. He succeeded in prevailing upon the Delhi Municipal Corporation to close slaughter houses on important religious and festival days and to stop auctioning of stray impounded animals and took them over for permanent protection in animals' homes. He collected large sums for the relief of men and animals during the famine in Bihar in 1965 and in Rajasthan and Kutch in 1968-69.

Unsparing in his efforts to convert people to harmless vegetarian way he found alternative employment for hundreds of butchers who gave up that profession.

Shri Surana was closely associated with the freedom movement and senior political leaders and suffered imprisonment. During his membership of Delhi State Legislative Assembly between 1952-57 he introduced many measures for betterment of the condition of animals.

To celebrate 2500th Nirwan Anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavir in a practical way he took a vow to save 2500 cows from butchers knives and organised this work on countrywide basis wherein the cows have been purchased from the villages, which otherwise would have been sold to the butchers, and kept them in Go-Sadans. He has also been able in getting a land sanctioned by Delhi Admn. in Nazafgarh Block to construct a Go-Sadan and veterinary hospital.

A bold and courageous speaker throughout his life Shri Surana is actively associated with various social, religious and educational organisations in the following capacities :

Patron, Bombay Humanitarian League ; General Secretary and Trustee, All India S.S. Jain Conference (for about 25 years); President, Bapu Adarsh New Delhi, Geeta Shishu Vihar New Delhi, Surana Vishva Bandhutwa Trust Delhi; Vice-President, Indian Vegetarian Congress; Treasurer, Bharat Go- sewak Samaj, Delhi, and Working President Vishva Ahimsa Sangh, New Delhi.

The President of India honoured him with the title of 'Prani Mitra' in October, 1970 for his outstanding services to the cause of animals and with 'Padma Shri, in October, 1971. Residence : 41, Sunder Nagar, New Delhi, Phone 618862, Phone Off. 264307.