New book challenges prevalent freedom struggle narrative, carries first ever comprehensive list of Punjabi freedom fighters sent to Kalapani

 

 

 

New book challenges prevalent freedom struggle narrative, carries first ever comprehensive list of Punjabi freedom fighters sent to Kalapani

Ground Zero

Jagtar Singh

 

The very objective of creation of Ghadr Party in 1913 was to liberate India from British slavery by an armed revolution and as such, this was then first call for complete freedom rather than the 1929 resolution of the All India Congress Committee adopted at its Lahore session.

Credit must be given to where it belongs for raising this slogan to end this distortion.

Baba Chattar Singh and several other activists of the Ghadr Party suffered the worst in Cellular Jail that was Living Hell in Andaman. Baba Chattar Singh Singh was remained confined to a cage inn his cell for more than three years. However, going by the prevalent narrative, V D Savarkar was the one who suffered and his cell has been earmarked.

This distortion too must go.

Victoria Cross awardee Braveheart soldiers have been part of the Republic Day parade. However, their bravery was for defending the British Raj.

On the other hand, there were soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country as Ghadr Party activists. Many of them were sentenced to Kalapani. Their sacrifice must be recognized and their mention must be made in their regimental history.

Tricolor was unfurled by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at Port Blair, Andaman, on December 30, 1943 and these islands then under occupation of Japan were declared the first free Indian territory. Azad Hind government was set up there, though symbolically.

Dr. Diwan Singh Kalepani attained martyrdom on January 14, 1944 to become first martyr after unfurling of tricolor.

These are some of the issues that have been dealt with in this new book KALAPANI: Role of Punjabis’ in Freedom Struggle written by me (Jagtar Singh) with Gurdarshan Singh Bahia as the co-author.

Contesting the prevalent account of freedom struggle, this book published by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and released by its president Harjinder Singh Dhami in Chandigarh on June 10, not only calls for due recognition to the role of Punjabis but also carries the first ever comprehensive list of Punjabi freedom fighters who were sentenced to  transportation (Kalapani) and detained in Cellular Jail, Andaman suffering brutal torture that came to be known as the Living Hell.

The number of Punjabi political prisoners in Cellular Jail on this penal settlement was not only the highest at one stage, but these Babas from the Ghadr Party successfully struggled hard to end the tortuous hard labour that this jail was notorious for. Baba Chattar Singh was confined to a cage in his cell for more than three years. Several other freedom fighters died in this struggle in the jail.

The book points out that while Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 is treated as the First War of Independence, it was Bhai Maharaj Singh who was the first to confront the colonial rulers in 1849 itself when the Sikh Empire was annexed after the Second Anglo-Sikh War.

Published by The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the book has been penned by journalist and author Jagtar Singh and researcher Gurdarshan Singh Bahia.

A number of Punjabi soldiers rebelled against the British Raj from time to time till 1940 and several of them were hanged. The book demands that they must be declared as freedom fighters and their valiant struggle for freedom must be recorded in the annals of their regiments for the posterity to draw inspiration from them. It has been pointed out that while the contribution of these freedom fighters remains neglected, the loyalty to defend the British Raj symbolized by the highest bravery award that is Victoria Cross is hailed.

Ghadr Party was the first to give call for complete freedom in 1913, years before the Congress. The flag of the Ghadr party was the first to flutter on the Indian soil. Hundreds of Ghadr Party activists had returned to Punjab from abroad to organise rebellion. It was the Ghadr Party activists who changed the narrative of the notorious Cellular Jail in Andaman. Rather than the Congress, the credit for raising the slogan of complete freedom should go to the Ghadr Party.

The Cellular Jail narrative is an example as to how the contribution of Punjab has been overlooked. The focus even in the light and sound programme staged in the jail premises every evening is on Hindutva ideologue  V D Savarkar whose  cell is the only one that has been earmarked despite the fact that he wrote several apology letters to the colonial rulers from there. The issue is not focus on Savarkar but lack of due recognition to struggle by the Punjabi freedom fighters.

Master Chattar Singh being kept in a cage in his cell for more than three years was unprecedented in the history of this jail. That cell must be earmarked in case that block exists. The struggle of the Ghadrites in Cellular Jail must be highlighted.

There is another horror story. The atrocities during the Japanese occupation must be probed. The administration of these islands was with the Azad Hind Government headed by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose after December 1943, although formally from a few days later. Dr. Diwan Singh Kalepani attained martyrdom on January 14, 1944 days after unfurling of tricolour at Port Blair by Netaji on December 30. He was the first martyr after Andaman and Nicobar was declared the first free Indian territory after occupation by the Japanese and handed over to Azad Hind Government.

So far as the role of Punjab in the freedom struggle in the context of Cellular Jail is concerned, the history of that period must be re-written as the contribution of the Punjabis is not some myth but supported by hard facts. This glorious  role of Punjab must be recognised at the national level.

At least one island needs to be named after Dr. Diwan Singh Kalepani. Similarly, some roads must be named after freedom fighters from Punjab in Cellular Jail. Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna was president of the Ghadr Party. One of the roads in Port Blair should be named as Bhakna Marg.

The script of the Light and Sound programme should be re-written to balance the narrative.

Kaudianwali Street (Crawling street) in Amritsar associated with Jallianwala Bagh tragedy should be promoted as monument of freedom struggle. People had to crawl to cross this street.

The history of this valiant struggle by the Punjabis must be included in text books at various levels to make the younger generation aware of this glorious chapter of Punjab during colonial rule.