Derailed Goal of Indian Equality.

Derailed Goal of Indian Equality.                                              

                                           ( Revisiting Constitution on the 70^th Republic Day falling on  26-01-2019)   

                                                                                                                                                             By:-  Er.H.R.Phonsa    

         The nature has bestowed India with abundant natural resources. It has also enjoyed the title of Sonney Ki Chirya (Golden Sparrow) for the excellence vision of our ancestors. We rightly claim to be the oldest civilization of the world. Despite all this the distribution of National resources among all sections of society have been unfair from centuries with distinction of continuing this even after attaining freedom seven decades ago. In ever selfish  human world colour and economic disparities continues. But India in addition to  the colour and economic disparities ,the caste hate and division disparities are followed. The colour and economic disparities can be won over but not caste hate among Hindus. Efforts of  caste reformists have had little success.  On attaining  freedom from the foreign ruler in 1947, India adopted  on 26^th January 1950 Our constitution with basic ideals as  SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation.                                                                                                                                            

Despite all round progress since 1947 a larger chunk of population still feels it is not equally cared. The constitution guarantee of EQUALITY of status and of OPPORTUNITY   is sever casualties as also  many other Fundamental Rights. Even after attaining freedom country has mutually witnessed India slipping into two Bharats Rich or Elite and Poor or Deprived Bharat having hardly anything as equality social, economic, caste unification meeting point. Even in the all-round country progress the condition of Deprived Bhartiyas have changed but little. It looks as if  India is being run as a business house by Elite Bhartiya and not a welfare state as per the canons of Constitution creating all pleasures for the Elite Bhartiyas at the cost of discomforts to the other.                                                                                                                                            Global Wealth Report 2016 places India as the second most unequal country worldwide   ( the Credit Suisse Research Institute). A study by a Berlin-based NGO pegs India as ‘Most Corrupt Country in Asia-Pacific Region. Records say that  since 1951-2018   nearly  207 scams took place involving enormous money  . In nine shamefully top scams (2003-2018) Rs 6,71,420 crores were pilfer- aged by  corrupt politicians, business persons including  their relations and  henchmen.  Elite India is for Bullet Train and the other is for increasing trains frequency and increase of bogies to make them climb down from train roof tops into bogies. We are a home of 21% of world’s poor. As of 2014 showing 58% of the total Indian population were living on less than $3.10 per day. Economic gap between Elite and Deprived Bhartiyas is widening with every passing day. Elite Bharat boosts of 121 billionaires (2018)  where as in poverty ridden  Bharatiyas  from 1998 to 2018 as many as 3, 00,000 farmers committed suicides( (Wikipedia). If effected farm labourers are added this figure may shoot up many times.

Indian economic capital Mumbai has $410 billion ( Rs 27.88 lakh crores) GDP, over 6 % of National GDP  ( 2018-19 estimated).  But Maharashtra sadly witnessed suicides of poor Bhartiyas farmers as large as 70,000 (1995-2017). Mumbai red light areas, bars, brothels  have over 1,00,000 prostitutes, (sex workers) out of  their country wide  estimated population of  6,57,829 (Nov.2016 UNAIDS). Underage population of prostitutes is estimated at 12 Lakhs .  All these unfortunate ladies come  from deprived Indians with compulsions of bread earning. The “The Quint, Jan. 2018” quotes that Indian top one per cent of the population  is owning nearly 73% of the total  National wealth generated showing that their wealth increased  by over Rs 20.9 lakh crores during  2017 , an amount nearly equivalent to Union budget 2017-18  pegged at Rs 21.47 Lakh Crores. However 67 crores unfortunate deprived Bhartiyas, making half of India, saw their wealth rise by just  01 per cent. 

Unfortunate among poor Bharat 454 million ( 38. 2%) of total population lived below poverty line ( Rangarajan committee report 2014). India houses 1/3 of world’s hungry and nearly 20 crores go hungry daily. The undernourished Indian population is as high as 14.5% with, Children below 5years age accounting for 30.7%. These unfortunates are non but Deprived free Bhartiyas.  Defective planning manned mostly by Elite Bhartiyas 67 million tons of food grains worth Rs92,000 cores go waste annually ( Clean India, May 12,2018) where as 7000 daily die of hunger. Recently World Bank reported that 60% of food subsidies do not reach poor and are siphoned off by middleman say Elite Bharat. Late Rajiv Gandhi Indian Prime Ministers said, in 1985, that out of Rupee One spent by government only 15 paise reach the intended downtrodden beneficiary. After 33 years again Indian PM  , N.Modi accepted it  with a little modifications telling Government development schemes initialed in the name of  poor, are enriching non poor.

 Unfortunately so claimed progressing Bharat had in 2011 over 32 crores illiterates (26% of population), 60 million children of 6- 14 years of age are out of schools, large numbers of  school drop outs, 90% of those who attend schools read very little. Despite this there is a total divide in imparting education for Elite and Deprived Bhartiyas ,  a basic need and Fundamental Right of every Indian child. In Deprived Bharat many schools are run from under the tree shades with human needs infrastructures missing, student teacher ratio is as poor as 42:1 in many govt.run schools.Poor Bhartiya Children have right to go to school not quality education .

The Elite Bharat lives in palatial buildings with large lawns, ultramodern gadgets fitted. Where as in deprived unfortunate Bharat living in slums has increased from 5.20 crores in 2001 to 12.8 crores in 2017. Four metropolitans Indian citieshave slum population varies from 15% 42% and Chennai 28%. One richest Indian has 27 storey house in4532 m²  plot in valued over $2billion. VVIP leader samadhies in  Delhi occupy   245 hectors excluding Atal Behari Bajpai Samadhi. Where as  Carpet area of a house in EWS, LIG in Govt scheme house for poor is 30m²and 60m² respectively.

Tricks of Elite to swindle money include NPA. In March 2018 NPA of   26 PSU Banks stood at 10.25 Lakh Crores . As per CBI’s report disclosed in Indian Parliament Elite but unprincipled Bhartiya illegally hold US$500 billions in Switzerland Banks.  In Panama leaks Panama leaks (Estimated Rs 1140 crores) show names of high placed politicians including their relatives, business persons and many bureaucrats.

Despite  clear cut Laws to evict land encroachers  ,large chunk of government  lands are under illegal encroachments by  influential  persons .In J&K State alone 18,00,000 Kanals or 90000 Hectare government land is illegally encroached ( Daily Excelsior 24/07/2018  . 

The chances of reduction of gap between influential and deprived Bhartiyas seem little in the near future. The possibility of change lies faithfully implementing the constitution provisions of share of deprived Bhartiyas in all the four wings of democracy viz:  political, administrative, judiciary and media. But the elected representative too comes from the Elite Bhartiyas their concern for the left over Indian lot has been seen as lack lust. In the 16^th Lok Sabha we have 449 crorepaties MP’s. The Rajya Sabha has 90% MP’s crorepaties  The Chief Election Commissioner has shown inability to  check abuse of  black money in elections . The SC has also left this matter  of check criminalization of politics to parliament,which has as many as 186 Mps,s with criminal case and  have 112  pending serious  criminal cases against them( 16^th Lok Sabha).

The infamous caste-class-power nexus, renders most program implementation vulnerable to hijack through the unholy conspiracy among the rural /urban Elite to the detriment of the rural poor and finally, lax oversight and soft mechanisms to check and to correct inappropriate program implementation.

Of late the Constitution burning incidents are taking place besides open talks by ruling dispensation members to change the Constitution are no healthy signs for the country.

Elite Indians has created a world of their own with fencing so high and strong that hardly any person from the poverty ridden Deprived  Bhartiyas can penetrate in their domain.  Elite Bhartiyas move by daily rise or fall of census while poor by the daily market cost of Dal ( pulses) and  Atta (flour).

 Continuity of these trends are signs to lead country towards civil war, so need iron hands  free of caste prejudices to check  For better future of India ,let us listen seriously to Soami  Vivekananda  “A distribution of pain and pleasure is better, than always the same persons having pains and pleasure” .

Words 1452                                                                    Er.H.R.Phonsa

HARDAS, BABU LAXMARIRAO NAGRARE (1904-1939)

HARDAS, BABU LAXMARIRAO NAGRARE (1904-1939)

 (Rememering on his 115^th B Day falling today the 6^th Jan.2019,the man who Gave Jai Bhim Salutaion)

Shri Hardas Laxmarirao Nagrare, a Mahar by caste was a great believer in the philosophy of Dr. Ambedkar.He was also a committed follower of B.R. Ambedkar. Shri Hardas was born on 6th January, 1904 at Kamathi, Nagpur in Maharashtra. His father Shri Laxmarirao Nagrare was a clerk in the Railway Department. Shri Babu Hardas had sharp intellect and passed his matriculation in 1920 from Patwardhan High School at Nagpur. Shri Hardas gained nearness to Swami Brahmanand of Arya Samaj Nagpur who taught him Sanskrit. Shri Hardas had also gained proficiency in the Marathi language. He was pained to see deplorable conditions of untouchables of his locality. Accordingly he decided to work for their all round development. He achieved a great success in his desired goals in 1921 when he started a

weekly Maharatha from Nagpur for spreading social awakenings among the Dalits.

Babu Hardas met Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in 1928 for the first time. Though he had started his social activities long back, his political career got a push with this meeting. In the same year, Dr. Ambedkar requested him to give his witness in front of Simon Commission. Later in year 1930-31, with regards to the Second Round Table Conference, when question arouse about the real leadership of untouchables, Babu Hardas sent a telegram to Ramsay MacDonald, then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, that Dr. Ambedkar is the real leader of untouchables and not Mahatma Gandhi. He also created an opinion about this in different parts of the country He managed to send a total of 32 telegrams to Mr. McDonald by various untouchable leaders from different states. Both Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Babu Hardas wanted greater participation of the depressed classes in the legislative assemblies. A meeting of Depressed Classes of CPand Berar was organized on 29^th March, 1929 at Jalgaon-Jamod. Dr. Ambedkar presided over this important meeting. Babu Hardas started the practice of exchanging the greeting Jai Bhim as a mark of friendly gesture in the year 1937.This showed his love and commitment to the ideals of his leader Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar.

Shri Hardas Laxmarirao Nagrare observed that the Bidi (a thin, Indian cigarette filled with tobacco flake and wrapped in a tendu or possibly even Bauhinia racemosa leaf tied with a string at one end.) workers were the most exploited lot in the un-organized sector. Majority of Bidi workers were Dalits including women and children. So he started the bidi work on cooperative basis. His idea became a great successful. Presently over 3 million Indians are employed in the manufacture of beedies. He founded in 1930 Madhaya Pradesh Bidi Mazdoor Sangh for the welfare of Bidi workers. He was elected its Secretary and Shri Ramachandra Phule (M.L.C) as President.

Shri Hardas was convinced that women are back bone of the successful nation and to train them shall benefit the whole society. So he opened a Mahila Ashram (Women Home) at Nagpur to impart training to Dalit women in household activities. He thought that emancipation of the Dalits from the man made discriminately lies in their unity to challenge the perpetrators of atrocities. Consistent with the social customs of that time, he married at a very early age of 16 with Shahubai. They got married in 1920.

Babu Shri Hardas founded the Mahar Samaj organization in 1922 to rally Dalits communities under one banner. He was Secretary of organization. He also knew that to maintain discipline in the Dalits a disciplined youth wing was needed. Therefore he formed Mahar Sevak Pathak to organize the decentralized youth force to protect the Dalits against atrocities and to maintain discipline in the society. It was to act as volunteer corps. Shri Hardas was convinced that sub Castes concept among Dalits was working against their unity. In the caste concept every caste thinks it superior to the other castes. This was causing a hindrance in Dalit unity, whereas all their social, education, economic problems are in common. He was convinced that the solution to their miseries lies in Dalit unity. Therefore he sincerely endeavored to remove the sub-caste barrier from the Depressed Classes. He used to invite the members of all sub-castes among the Depressed Classes to the community dinner arranged on the occasion of death anniversary of the great saint Shri Chokhamela. This was arranged in the temple of revered Dalit Saint Chokhamela at Nagpur. Saint Chokhamela was a great 14th century saint from Mahar community. The Depressed people normally gave a very nice response to the same but it needed great deal of persuasions. During all these years, Babu Hardas kept himself informed with the movements elsewhere in the country being organized for the betterment of Dalits and to get them all civil rights as per global norms.

Since Babu Shri Hardas was of the opinion that Depressed Classes people need to get political power to bring them in the main stream. So in 1923 he appealed to the Governor of CP and Berar to nominate members from the Depressed Classes to the Legislative Council, District Local Boards and Municipalities. The Governor, however, assured that he would consider the demands sympathetically.

He was convinced that all the irrational, immoral and superstitious habits of the Hindu society have ruined the depressed classes of their vision and well being. Therefore to arouse the opinion of the people against the evils of the society he wrote a book named Maridai Mahatme in October 1924. He distributed the copies of the book free of cost among the Dalits. It proved to be very effective. After reading the contents of the book, the Dalit women and men who used to go to witness obscene Krishna Leela abandoned this practice.

Shri Hardas Laxmarirao Nagrare's next welfare step was to provide educational facilities to Dalit students. So he started the Mahar Samaj night schools at Bail Bazaar, Kamsari Bazaar and Naya Bazaar Kamathi. These schools marched towards the desired goal and in 1924 as many as 86 boys and 22 girls were enrolled in these schools. At the same time he opened one Saint Chokhamela library at Kamathi to provide reading material to the students.

Since he had association with Arya Samaj, Mahatma Shri Swami Brahmanand of Nagpur. So he had clear vision about fruitless worship of idols and wanted to spread this message among his depressed classes' people. Shri Hardas organized a meeting of Dalits at Ramtek near Nagpur In 1927 under the presidentship of Kisan Faguji Bansod. Shri Babu Hardas forcefully exhorted Dalits to stop worshipping at the steps of the temple at Ramtek and to stop bathing in the dirty Ambada tank. Since Depressed class people were not allowed to enter the temple, so these people worshiped at the steps from a distance. These people were allowed

only to bathe in the out flow of the tank water which used to be full of filth.

Meanwhile he wrote a play named Veer Balak (Brave Boy) The Veer Balak Act performance helped to bring a new awareness among the people. The play proved to be very effective in giving the desired message. He wrote and published Songs of the Market and Songs of the Hearth. His articles were also published in Weekly Janta, edited by Dr. Ambedkar. Babu Hardas organized a meeting at Paturda in District Akola under the chainmanship of Dr. Ambedkar. In this conference a resolution was passed in support of religious conversion in support of the public declaration of Dr. Ambedkar's (13^th October 1935 at Yeola Distt Nasik) to leave Hindu religion as it was immune to reforms. The Depressed Class peoples under Hindu fold continued suffering from man made agony of irrational Laws. The Hindus shall never agree to grant Human Rights to the Depressed Classes people. Babu Hardas was a front runner in organizing these meeting which had blessing and participation of Dr. Ambedkar to spread his message to Dalit masses.

Shri Hardas was deadly against idol worship taking it as futile practice. However, he sent a group of Dalits under the leadership of Shri Shankar Mukunda Bele to participate in the Kalaram Temple Entry Satyagraha at Nasik. This Satyagraha started on 3^rd March, 1930 under the leadership of Dada Sahib B.K. Gaikwad and was led by Dr.Ambedkar.

Shri Babu Hardas was one of the main organizers of the Conference of the Depressed Classes at Nagpur on 8th August, 1930. It was presided over by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The conference resolved to have separate electorate for the Depressed Classes. The conference formed the All India Depressed Classes Federation under the president ship of Rao Sahib Muniswamy Piliai (Madras). Babu Shri Hardas was elected as its Joint Secretary.

The second conference of the All India Depressed Classes was held at Kamathi on 7^th May, 1932, under the president ship of Shri Muniswamy Pillai. Babu Hardasji was President of the reception committee. On 8th May, 1932 the national executive body of the All India Depressed Classes Federation was elected, which included Muniswamy Pillai (Madras) as President, M.B. Mullick (Bengal) as Vice-president, Shri L.N. Hardas as Secretary besides Shri Swami Achutanand (Ad-Dharma Hero of Lucknow) as its Joint Secretary. The Independent Labour Party (ILP) was launched by B.R. Ambedkar on 15^th August, 1936 under his President ship and treasurer ship. Babu Hardas L.N was entrusted with the responsibilities of being the Secretary of the CP and Berar branch of ILP in 1936.

Babu Hardas L.N contested the assembly election in 1937 from Nagpur-Karnathi (R) constituency and got elected. He was nominated President of the CP and Berar branch of ILP in 1938.

In 1939, he fell sick of tuberculosis and his political career came to an abrupt end. Babu Shri Hardas Laxmarirao Nagrare shed his mortal body frames on 12th January, 1939 at the early age of 35. His services were very urgently needed when he shed his body frame .He shall be long remembered as a faithful solider of the Dalit empowerment movement in India under the able leadership of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The contributions of Babu Hardas for the Dalit empowerment were much more to his age span.

Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Udham Singh killer of Sir Michael O' Dwyer

Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Udham Singh killer of Sir Michael O' Dwyer was born on 26th December1899 at village Sunam (now Sunam Udham Singh Wala) Distt Sangroor of Patiala Princely State. His parents Sardar Tehal Singh & Sardarni Harnam Kour were convert to Sikhism on the initiation of Sardar Dhanna Singh Ji an overseer in irrigation Department. Before baptismal( Amritpan) Sardar Tehal and sardarni Harnam Kour were named as Shri Chuhar Ram and Shrimati Narayana Devi . They are reported to be residents of village Patiali of Etta Nagar in Utter Pradesh. One author has written that Chuhar Ram was resident of Kanpur Janpad in UP. Shri Chuhar Ram came from Jammu (Jammu clan is of Kamboj lineage in Chamars) Chamars are of an important shudra ( Untouchable or Ati Shudra) caste having religious linkage with Guru Ravi Das. Guru Ravi Dass (1414-1540AD) born near Banaras, a highest religious seat of Hindus and was a saint of highest spiritual order. The Chuhar Ram couple was from seasonal migratory labour class. They used to come to Punjab as poor labourers along with others to work inagriculture farms and for brick kiln owners. In 1880 Chuhar Ram migrated from village Patiali (UP) to Sunam in Patiala State of Punjab. Shri Chuhar Ram and Shrimati Narayana Devi worked at Neelowal 3 miles (5 Kms) from Sunam with Irrigation Canal Overseer Sardar Dhanna Singh. Shri Chuhar Ram and his wife a pious couple worked with great zeal, dedication and honesty, so Sardar Dhanna Singh himself a devout religious person developed affection for them. This religious attachment of theirs influenced Shri Chuhar Ram’s to become a devoted(Shajdhari) Sikh. When Sh. Chuhar Ram couple again came to Sunam for work, they were received with affection by Sardar Dhanna Singh , his wife Sardarni Maan Kour and their daughter Maya Kour. Shri Chuhar Ram his wife took Amrit & become regular Sikhs with new names as Sardar Tehal Singh & Sardarni Harnam Kour. Kind hearted Sardar Dhanna Singh through his relation Sardar Chanchal Singh Sunami got engaged Sardar Tehal Singh as a Railway Gateman at Uppali Railway Station, 5 miles from Sunam. So Sardar Tehal Singh started living at Sunam in a small house where Shaheed Udham Singh was born as second male to Sardar Tehal Singh & Sardarni Harnam Kour. Their elder son was Mukha Singh. Their second son was named as Sher Singh, whowas later renamed as Udham Singh. As ill luck both Sardarni Harnam Kour & Sardar Tehal Singh died with in a span of one year leaving both their sons aged 10 & 5 years as orphans. Sardar Chanchal Singh looked after both boys for 2 years & then got them admitted in Central Khalsa Ram Bagh Orphanage near Putligarh Amritsar on24th October, 1907. Sardar Sohan Singh in charge of this orphanage was son-in-law of Sardar Dhanna Singh. So Mukha Singh & Sher Singh newly admitted boys got homely care under Sardarni Maya Kour ( S. Dhana Singh’s daughter) and her orphanage in charge husband. The boys were given new names Mukha singh as Sadhu Singh & Sher Singh as Udham Singh. Pandit Jai Chand a cook of orphanage a revolutionary himself, taught the children of orphanage how to become revolutionary and this teaching influenced the young mind of Udham Singh too. Simplicity, hard work, truthfulness and bravery of Udham influenced Smt. Kamla Rani the wife of Pandit Jai Chand & Sardarni Maya Kour, so both ladies gave him motherly affection. In about 1913 Sadhu Singh went with Sadhus never to return again, so left Udham Singh alone in this world. Sadhu Singh is reported to have died in 1917. Udham Singh passed his matriculation Examination in 1919 and left the orphanage there after. By then he had gained expertise in furniture making, driving, wrestling and music . He won many wrestling matches from important wrestlers. By the side of the orphanage he started working in a shop as furniture making worker. This shop was a secret centre for planning revolutionary activities by the then known Karantikaries( Revolutionary Freedom fighter) Here Udham Singh met main revolutionary leaders Sardar Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru, and Sukhdev. The Rowlatt Act 1914 gave many powers to colonial government including arresting and detaining any body without trial. This was widely opposed in India. On April 13, 1919, over twenty thousand unarmed Indians, mainly Dalit and Dalit Sikhs, peacefully assembled in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, to listen to several prominent local leaders speak out against British colonial rule in India and against the arrest and deportation of Dr. Satya Pal, Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew, and few others under this unpopular Rowlatt Act. Udham Singh and his mates from the orphanage were serving water to the crowd on a warm summer afternoon. A band of 90 soldiers armed with rifles and Kukries or Khukhris (short swords) marched to the park accompanied by two armored cars with mounted machine guns. The vehicles were unable to enter the Bagh owing to the narrow entrance. Brigadier-General Reginald Edward Harry Dyer was in command of 45th Infantry Brigade at Jalandhar, arrived in Amritsar. He immediately established file facto army rule, though the official proclamation to this effect was not made until 15 April. The troops at his disposal included 475 British and 710 Indian soldiers. On 12 April he issued an order prohibiting all meetings and gatherings. On 13 April which marked the Baisakhi festival, a large number of people, mostly Sikhs, had poured into the city from the surrounding villages. Local leaders called upon the people to assemble for a meeting in the Jallianwala Bagh at 4.30 in the evening. The troops had entered the Bagh by about 5:15 PM. With no warning to the crowd to disperse, Dyer ordered his troops to open fire, concentrating especially on the areas where the crowd was thickest Among the gathering were three brave Dalits namelly Bhudha Singh,Mangil Singh & Dhulia Singh Dhobies (Washer men) challenged General Dyer to shoot them first, as they were not afraid of his bullets. General Dyer fired bullets which pierced through their chests. There after the attack lasted ten minutes. Since there was only one exit not barred by soldiers, people tried to climb the walls of the park. Some also jumped into a well inside the compound to escape the bullets. A plaque in the monument says that 120 bodies were plucked out of the well alone. By the time the smoke cleared, hundreds of people had been killed and thousands injured. Official estimates put the figures at 379 killed (337 men, 41 boys and a six week old baby) and 200 injured, but other reports estimated the deaths well over 1,000 and possibly 1,300. According to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and Lala Girdhari Lal, the deaths were more than 1,000. Swami Shardanand places the figure at more than 1,500Dr Smith, Civil Surgeon of Amritsar, gives an even larger number: 1,800 dead. The casualty figures were never fully ascertained for political reasons. The wounded could not be moved from where they had fallen, as a curfew had been declared. Debate about the actual figures continues to this day. Official figures say that 1,650 rounds of ammunition had been used. Udham Singh, an eye witness of this massacre saw it from a tree top, where he had climbed to listen the leaders. Udham Singh mainly held Michael O'Dwyer (1864-1940) then Punjab Governor, responsible for what came to be known as the Amritsar Massacre. New research supporting this fact reveals the massacre to have occurred with the Governor's full connivance "to teach the Indians a lesson, to make a wide impression and to strike terror through-out Punjab" The incident had greatly shaken young Udham Singh and proved a turning point in his life. After bathing in the holy Amritsar sarovar ( Religiously pool of nectar), Udham Singh took a silent vow and solemn pledge in front of the Golden Temple to wreak a vengeance on the perpetrators of the crime and to restore honour to what he saw as a humiliated nation. Sardar Gurnam Singh Mukatsar (Writer Of Hindi Book Jhooth Na Bol Pande) writes at page 283 that it was the gathering of Dalit Sikhs devotees, whose Deg ( Cooked sweet food say Halwa) was not allowed to be distributed to devotees in Darbar Sahib Amritsar by Upper Caste converted Sikh Granthi Aroor Singh. These Dalit Sikhs along with Army Jawans( Soldiers) belonging to low Castes decided to gather in Jallianwala Bagh to protest against insult inflicted upon them by Granthi of their faith. This Aroor Singh instigated General Dyer telling him the Dalit were going to hold a big protest against British Crown there by creating Law and order problems. So General Dyer decided to teach lesson to the protestors. General Dyer was later presented a Saroopa (Honoring in a Sikhism Religious Style to a person for some highly praise worthy work). Also KambojSociety.com, #640, Sector: 69, S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali), Punjab - 160062, India claims that this incident of honouring General Dyer later resulted in formation of “The All India Sikh League as a representative body of the Panth for political action”. This ultimately culminated in formation of the Gurdwara Reform movement , 1920-25. Some Sikh servicemen, resenting the policy of non-violence adopted by the leaders of the Alkali movement, resigned from the army and constituted the nucleus of an anti-British terrorist group known as Babar Alkalis. Any way General Dyer was responsible for the massacre of innocent Indians. After the massacre Udham Singh found wailing Shrimati Rattana Devi to find the dead body of her husband who was killed in the shoot out. Udam Singh consoled Rattana Devi, got traced the dead body of her husband from the heap of dead persons and adopted Widow Smt Rattana Devi as his step sister. Udham Singh promised her to take revenge for death of her husband. He left Amritsar on 22 April 1919 and reached Baramula town of Kashmir State, where he worked in a furniture shop for some time & in October 1919 returned to his village Sunam. In sunam he killed a wild wolf, which had created terror in the area and had killed many animals besides a few children. Sunam Residents offered him shelter and help with requests to make Sunam his permanent abode, to which he denied, as he had different goals in his mind. In November 1919 he returned to Amritsar. At that time he joined a group of labourers and reached South Africa in November 1919 itself and engaged himself in organizing meeting to oppose British Crown of India. From here he set for America in a ship while serving as a coal Charge man to ship boiler and reached America in 1920. He met Lala Hardayal chief of Gaddar Party and learnt the art of making Bullets & got training in shooting. From here on the advice of Lala Hardayal he went to England with the sole objective of killing General Dyer, who had retired and had returned to London. But General Dyer died of paralysis in 1927. Governer Punjab Michael O'Dwyer was called back to London, which became the target of Uham Singh, to fulfill his vow to take revenge for Amritsar Massacre of 13th April,1919. In London Udham Singh met twice Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar in India Office Library and on the advise of Dr Ambedkar, Udham Singh joined Engineering courses. Dr Ambedkar advised Udham Singh to get equipped with higher education in London. In London Udham Singh met a German Lady Miss Merry, who promised him all help including financial help. When Dr. Ambedkar left for Bonn to study Sanskrit, Udham Singh returned to India in 1923 on call from Bhagat Singh, to whom Udham Singh called his Guru. Miss Merry also accompanied him and she was introduced to all known to Udham Singh. In India at Lahore he joined National College of Lala Lajpat Rai and passed his F.A ( now 10+2) in 1923 there after joined B.A. classes. This college was a training centre for the revolutionaries and Bhagat Singh too was a student there. He worked as teacher along with Sargar Bhagat singh in the National School Kher Aligarh. Udam Singh went to Kanpur, again to Lahore and then to London for the Second time. He along with Miss Merry traveled across the Globe and went to Russia, France, Abyssinia, Scylia, Charybdis, Egypt, Island of White, Vikar of Bay etc. where he kept himself engaged in Revolutionary activities. In 1927 he returned to Lahore again on message from Bhagat Singh. He was not prepared to return to India with out accomplishing his set goal, but Miss Merry convinished him by advancing argument that Bhagat Singh might have some plan to make Udham ‘s work easy or some more urgent job might had been set for him. Udham Singh brougt with him four persons, explosive material, some pistols and ammunition besides Miss Merry his most confident person. Udham Singh continued to work for the set goal and kept close contact with other revolutionary persons. He was caught with loaded pistol No 85869 and sentenced for five years from 28 Sept1928 to 23 Sept 1932 in central Jail Multan and Rawalpindi. Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru & Sukhdev to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai of shoot down JP Sanders and this news was received by Udham singh on 17 Dec.1928 in jail ,when he said “Brother, you have full filled your promise, where as my vow is yet unfulfilled, you are great” After releasing from Jail, he went to Peshawer, then to Sunam and also to Jammu. From Jammu he went to Kashmir on foot in the disguise of a sadhu. Here he came in contact with Sardar Swarn Singh, Justice Dan Singh and others and worked as labourer in the furniture shop of Faquiria. Udham Singh also went to Amar Nath as a Sadhu. In1933 he along with Miss Merry went to London and lived for some time in Shephard Bush Gurudwara. He worked as a taxi driver too for the taxi of Shephard Bush Gurudwara. Udham Singh worked as demestic driver to Sir Michael O'Dwyer in Devons Shire U.K. and used to carry Dyer’s daughter Miss Golde to college so he under stood all lanes and surroundings of Dyer’s house . Udham Singh had earned the confidence of Miss Golde & other family members, from whom he collected house secrets and circumstances which had prompted Sir Michael O’Dwyer to order firing inJalianwala Bagh. He left the service of driver to Sir Michael O' Dwyer but continued his revolutionary activities by meeting other revolutionaries. Golde is said to have tried to gained nearness to Udham Singh but timely reminding him, his solemn pledge by Miss Merry, he again started vigorously concentrating on his set goal On 12 th March 1940 Udham Singh got Laddos ( Indian Sweet,) from the Indian restaurant through Balbir Singh another revolutionary and distributed among his colleagues. Every body thought that Udham Singh has finalised his bride-to-be to marry her. On enquiry he said he has been already married to the cause of his mother land and every body shall know through news papers tomorrow the cause of his happiness.At last, the opportunity came on 13 March 1940, almost 21 years after the Jallianwala Bagh killings: After praying in Shephard Bush Gurudwara and taking Parsad from the Granthi, he came back to home and then reached Caxton Hall. A joint meeting of the East India Association and the Royal Central Asian Society was scheduled at Caxton Hall, and among the speakers was Michael O'Dwyer. Udham Singh concealed his revolver in a book specially cut for the purpose and managed to enter Caxton Hall. He took up his position against the wall. At the end of the meeting, the gathering stood up and O'Dwyer moved towards the platform to talk to Lord Zetland. Udham Singh pulled his revolver and fired. O'Dwyer was hit twice and died immediately. Again Udham Singh fired at Lord Zetland (1876-1961, then secretary of State for India), the Secretary of State for India, injuring him but not seriously. Incidentally, Sir Luis Dane was hit by one shot, which broke his radius bone and dropped him to the ground with serious injuries. A bullet also hit Lord Lamington(1896-1951), whose right hand was shattered. If planned earlier Udham Singh could have escaped but did not intend to escape. So he was arrested on the spot. Back in India, there was a strong reaction to this assassination. While the Congress-controlled English speaking press of India condemned Singh's action in general terms, independents like Amrit Bazar Patrika and New Statesman took different views. In its March 18, 1940 issue, Amrit Bazar Patrika wrote, "O'Dwyer's name is connected with Punjab incidents which India will never forget". The most telling reaction came from the common man on the street who hailed Udham Singh as a hero and patriot. Indians all over regarded Singh's action as justified and an important step in India's struggle to end British colonial rule in India As never expected but unfortunately, in a statement to the Press, Mahatama Gandhi had condemned the Caxton Hall shooting saying that "the outrage has caused me deep pain. I regard it as an act of insanity.I hope this will not be allowed to affect political judgment". A week later, Harijan, Gandhi’s newspaper further wrote: "We had our differences with Michael O'Dwyer but that should not prevent us from being grieved over his assassination. We have our grievances against Lord Zetland. We must fight his reactionary policies, but there should be no malice or vindictiveness in our resistance. The accused is intoxicated with thought of bravery Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru wrote in his National Herald: "Assassination is regretted but it is earnestly hoped that it will not have far-reaching repercussions on political future of India. Most of the press worldwide remembered the story of Jallianwala Bagh and held Michael O'Dwyer fully responsible for the events. Singh was called "fighter for freedom" by The Times, London, While in Police custody, Udham Singh remarked: "Is Zetland dead? He ought to be. I put two into him right there" indicating with his hand the pit of his stomach in left side. Udham Singh remained quiet for several minutes and then again said: "Only one dead eh'. I thought I could get more. I must have been too slow. There were a lot of women about, you know" Just after thirteen day of the Caxton Hall firing ,on 1 April 1940, Udham Singh was formally charged with the murder of Michael O'Dwyer. On 4 June 1940, he was committed to trial, at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, before Justice Atkinson. When the court asked about his name, he replied "Ram Mohammad Singh Azad", which Singh believed would demonstrate his transcendence of race, caste, creed, and religion. Singh explained his actions to the court at his trial:He did it because he had a grudge against him. He deserved it.Atkinson sentenced him to death. On 31st July 1940, Udham Singh was hanged at Pentonville Prison. As with other executed prisoners, he was buried later that afternoon within the prison grounds. In March 1940, Indian National Congress leaders, including Jawahar Lal Nehru and Mahatama Gandhi, condemned the action of Udham Singh as senseless, but in 1962, Nehru did an about-turn and applauded Singh with the following statement in the daily Partap: "I salute Shaheed-e-Azam Udham Singh with reverence who had kissed the noose so that we may be free.". In July 1974, Udham Singh's remains were exhumed and repatriated to India at the request of S. Sadhu Singh Thind an MLA from Sultanpur Lodhi at that time. He asked Indira Gandhi to force the then British Government to hand over Udham Singh's remains to India. Sadhu Singh Thind himself went to England as a special envoy of Indian Government and brought back the remains of the Shaheed. He was given a martyr's reception. Among those who received his casket at Delhi airport were Shankar Dayal Sharma, then president of the Congress Party, and Zail Singh, then chief minister of Punjab, both of whom later went on to become Presidents of India. Indira Gandhi, the prime minister, also laid a wreath. He was later cremated in his birthplace of Sunam in Punjab and his ashes were immersed in the Ganga river. References:-Savtantantra Sangram Ke Mahabalidani Udham Singh by Dr.Rajpal Singh Raj Rajlaxmi Prakashan Brahmpuri Delhi-53 1) www.serchsikhism.com 2) Wikipedia 3) KambojSociety.com, and 4. Jhooth Na Bol PandeHindi Book by Sardar Gurnam Singh Mukatsar Punjab