Singh: New mission

Ranchi, May 3: Pan Singh, father of Ranchi Rambo Mahendra Singh Dhoni, has a new role.

He has become the president of a society working for the revival of the culture of Uttaranchal in the state.

A meeting discussing the society?s role, which includes organising picnics and cultural programmes, was held at Dhoni?s residence in Mecon yesterday.

The club?s new president could not be reached for comment.

Joint secretary of the society Ajay Kukreti said Singh?s appointment had nothing to do with Dhoni?s rise to fame.

?Dhoni wasn?t even discussed in the meeting. Pan Singh was chosen because he?s from Uttaranchal and has been living in the city for a while,? said Kukreti.

The Uttaranchal cultural society is being revived after a period of decline.

There were 120 families from the state 15 years ago, but today there are just 45.

Most people from Uttaranchal, who came to Ranchi 15 years ago, were employees of Heavy Engineering Corporation Limited as well as Mecon. But with the passage of time, some left the city, while others died and the society became less functional.

The joint secretary said there were many families whose children had never seen Uttaranchal and were not aware of its culture.

The society plans to bring in dance and drama troupes from the state to educate the children.

Pan Singh is from Loali village in Almora district of Uttaranchal. He came to Ranchi in 1964 looking for a job. Singh got a temporary job in Mecon and later married Devki Devi.