Punjab has five rivers, but its 'Sixth River' was a person—a civil servant who contributed to the restoration of Punjab, the transformation of its agriculture, the formation of Chandigarh, and the preservation of its cultural heritage.
Born in Zira, Punjab, in 1909, Randhawa received a Master's degree in Botany from the Government College in Lahore. In 1934, he successfully passed the examination for the Indian Civil Service (ICS) and began a career spanning administration, agriculture, science, art, and urban planning.
In 1947, during one of the darkest periods in Indian history, Randhawa, serving as Deputy Commissioner of Delhi, worked amidst the violence and upheaval associated with the Partition.
Afterward, he returned to Punjab to help rehabilitate people displaced by the Partition. He introduced the Murabbandi system—an organized method of dividing land into larger plots, which increased farming efficiency and paved the way for the use of tractors and modern agriculture.
Randhawa's ambitions extended beyond mere resettlement; he aimed to revitalize Punjab's rural economy. He actively promoted the construction of water wells, the improvement of road networks, and the creation of larger, structured farms to boost productivity and improve village life.
He then took on a more complex task—ensuring India's food security. In 1955, Randhawa became Vice-President of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). His work helped transform Punjab into an agricultural powerhouse, for which he received the Padma Bhushan award in 1972.
In 1966, Randhawa became the first Chief Commissioner of the newly created Union Territory of Chandigarh. He collaborated with city architects, including Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret, to make greenery an integral part of its identity.
Randhawa actively supported the creation of gardens and flowering trees, such as Gulmohar and Jacaranda, as well as the famous Rose Garden, helping to integrate greenery into Chandigarh's design. However, perhaps his most unexpected contribution was in the field of art.
Randhawa traveled through Punjab and the mountains, documenting local art, folk traditions, and culture. He also participated in establishing cultural institutions in Chandigarh and preserving Pahari miniature painting. For him, progress meant preserving the past.
From aiding the post-Partition rehabilitation of Punjab to shaping Chandigarh, Randhawa's work went far beyond a single role. This is why he became known as 'Punjab Da Chevan Dariya'—the Sixth River of Punjab.