Dr Mehta Vasishtha Dev Mohan
Dr Mehta Vasishtha Dev Mohan was an Indian scholar of the Pāli & Sanskrit languages. He was a dedicated scholar and an academician. He was born on 28 Sep 1917 in Village Jafarwal District Shekhupura. & grew up in a middle-class hindu family. His father Mehta Gokul Chand Mohan, was a Senior officer and had served some kingdoms of British India. He served Bharatpur Kingdom as a Senior officer in Revenue Department and Mandi Kingdom as revenue minister. He served Sukait kingdom also as Revenue Minister.During 1926 to 1927, there was a rebellion in ” Sukait” kingdom in Himachal Pradesh. The King Laxman Sen had fled to safety and there was complete chao in the kingdom. The British Government appointed him as Chief Administrator in the kingdom to restore law & order. Understand the rules laid down by Mehta Gokul Chand Mohan for Communal harmony, were followed by people of Sukait for many decades since 1926.He was also considered for the post of Chief Executive of Jammu & kashmir but he could not join as his presence in sukait kingdom was important. During 1947 partition based on religion Mehta Gokul Chand Mohan and Smt Durga Devi Mohan, both parents of Dr M.V.D Mohan were murdered at Badomali Distt, Shekhupura along with his several relatives & community members by armed muslim mobs. Smt Durga Devi Mohan was a daughter of renowned Arya Samaj Missionary Mahashya Karmachand dutt of Jaffarwal Duttan, now in Pakistan. Dr Mehta Vasishtha Dev Mohan attended Gurukul Kangri with Sanskrit medium from 1925 to 1933 at Haridwar. He studied in Muslim High School, Badomali and qualified his Matriculation examination from Panjab University Lahore in the year 1936, obtaining high First Class. During 1939, He qualified intermediate examination from S D College, Panjab University Lahore. He was awarded Silver Medal & Merit Scholarship ( Understand that there was a policy of awarding silver medal to the topper of his subjects ie Gold medal was awarded to the toppers of English & Science subjects). During 1941, he appeared for Bachelor of Arts examination from the same College and was awarded Gold Medal and Merit scholarship. He was ranked First in the examination in Panjab University. Being a member of RSS, he was appointed as Pracharak of Lahore for a short period prior to partition. He actively participated in Arya Samaj social welfare activities also. During 1943, he was awarded Gold Medal as he stood first in MA Examination conducted by Panjab University Lahore. Immediately after his post graduation, he joined Royal Indian Navy and thereafter shifted to flying branch Royal Air Force, for a short period and later on he joined Government College Ludhiana as a Professor in Sanskrit and Hindi and taught students of Degree, Honors & Post Graduation classes. Consequent to his retirement after a brief tenure of two years as Principal at Government College Narnaul, he continued his teaching in Sanskrit & research work at Vishveshranand Research Institute (VVRI) at Hoshiarpur as a Senior most teacher in the Post Graduate Section of VVRI, Panjab University( 1972 to 1987). His contributions in the field of History as a fellow member of ICHR & as an academician, are well known. He was founder President of Bhartiya Vidya Vihar Mandir Trust & Society Ludhiana. He was a member of following Organizations 1. All India Oriental Conference 2. Authors Guild of India3. Indian History Congress4. Numismatic Society of India.
His Published work in Sanskrit & Indology include:
Books:A. The North West India covering the period 400 BC to 800 BC B. Indo Greek Coins C. Indian Inscriptions – Four Volumes (Second Century BC to Sixth Century AD) — Being PublishedResearch papersA. Monograms on Indo Greek Coins 1957 – All India Oriental Conference. The Ancient Geography of North West India. National Geographical Journal of India, Banaras Hindu University, Volume VIII pts 3-4 1962.C. Upanishadon Ka Rachanakala ( The Date of Upanishada) Vishawa Jyoti, Upanishad Memeber, 1973. VVRI HoshiarpurD. Dharmasaastron ke Vyakhyakara ( Vishwa Jyoti, Dharamsastra- 1974)E. Republican Polity of the uttarapatha. Read in the 1974 session of the All India Conference and published in the Vishveshrwanand Indological Journal, Panjab University. F. The mauryas after Ashoka: Read in Dharwar Session of All India Oriental Conference and published in the Vishveshrwanand Indological Journal, Panjab University.G. Review of Dr N.N. Kher’s “ Agrarian Fiscal Economy in the Mauryan & Post Mauryan periodH. The Age of the Upanishads – 1978 Pune Session of All India Oriental Conference- published in the Vishveshrwanand Indological Journal, Panjab University.
In addition to above works he translated works & papers ( Hindi) of some well-known Indian & foreign authors. Translations ( Hindi)
A. Our Fight for freedom through the Ages – By Prof R K Luthra.
B. Geography of Asia by Dr Trilochan Singh
C. A Study of History by Mr A J Toynbees
D. A Study of History by Mr L Mumfords
E. The Enigma in the Ancient Literature of India by Mr L Renou.
His Research work was highly appreciated by following historians of world fame.1. Dr A L Bhasham of London University opined as follows:
“This thesis is in my opinion, one of the finest from an Indian University that I have yet seen in what is now quit a lengthy period of acting as an external examiner. It is detailed, thorough and original and the author’s command of English is well above average standards of Indian University teachers at present time”
. Dr F.R. Allchin of Cambridge University opined as follows:
“This candidate has attained a very high level, both in collection and critically assessing historical materials. The candidates presentation of his work and Command of the English language arte also very satisfactory”
The script of ancient Indian Inscriptions was Brahmi & Kharoshthi. Students of Sanskrit & ancient history used to find it difficult to understand the subject in these scripts. Dr Mehta Vasishtha Dev Mohan was the first scholar to convert this script to Devnagri & Roman & there after translated the research work to Sanskrit Hindi & English. This work facilitated Students to understand the subject easily.
Dr Mehta Vasishtha Dev Mohan was a fellow member of “Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi from 1981 to 1984. He was founder president of “Bhartiya Vidya Mandir” Society & Trust Ludhiana. During the last phase of his academic career, he headed large Government College as ‘Principal”. During early 1984, the Chairman of DAV Managing iioCommittee, Professor Ved Vyas, appointed him as Professor & Joint Director in Dr Sternbuck Foundation in Delhi. On 30 Nov 1984, he met with a major accident and was bed ridden for a very long time due Cervical fracture. He continued his work till he died due Cancer on 12 Sep 2003. He was so much motivated to his profession that he continued his History research work during last years of his life, when he was bed ridden and a Cancer patient. Some of his Research Work could not be published due to his untimely death.
Bhagwat Gita