Chandra Singh Garhwali

Chandra Singh Bhandari "Veer Chandra Garhwali"
BornDecember 25, 1891
Meason, Garhwal Kingdom
DiedOctober 1, 1979(1979-10-01) (aged 87)
OccupationsPolitician, Freedom Fighter
Political partyCommunist Party of India
MovementIndian Independence Movement

Chandra Singh Bhandari (25 December 1891 – 1 October 1979)[1] was a soldier and later in life a member of the Communist Party. On 23 April 1930, under the leadership of Bhandari, the soldiers of the Royal Garhwal Rifles refused to fire on unarmed Pathans fighting for India's independence in an incident that would later come to be known as the "Peshawar Kaand".[2] He lived with Mahatma Gandhi in Sabarmati Ashram for a short time.[3]

Personal life

Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali was born in Meason, Patti Chauthan.

On September 3, 1914, Chandra Singh arrived in Lansdowne to enlist in the army and was accepted. This was during the First World War. On August 1, 1915, Chandra Singh, along with other Garhwali soldiers, was sent to France by the British. He returned to Lansdowne on February 1, 1916. During the First World War, Chandra Singh participated in the Battle of Baghdad in 1918.

After the First World War ended, the British began dismissing many soldiers, reducing the ranks of those who had been promoted during the war. Chandra Singh was among them. He was demoted from a Havildar to a Soldier. Consequently, he considered leaving the army. However, senior officers convinced him that his promotion would be taken care of and granted him some time off. During this time, Chandra Singh came into contact with Mahatma Gandhi.

Garhwali also introduced Sri Dev Suman to Gandhi in Wardha. After his conversation with Gandhi Suman asked Garhwali what his dream for the people of Garhwal was. On this, Chandra Singh Garhwali narrated his dream to Shridev Suman and said, 'I imagine an independent Garhwal in independent India. Like India will be a federation of many independent unions. An independent Garhwal under the same federation.". Garhwali shared his dream of an independent Garhwal no longer politically and socially divided by the Ganges. He also emphasized a future with a classless and post-untouchability society with no capitalists and no landlords.[4]

After some time, he was sent to Baziristan with his battalion in 1920, after which he was promoted again. After returning from there, he spent much time with Arya Samaj workers, and a sense of patriotism developed within him. However, the British did not approve of this and sent him to the Khyber Pass. By this time, Chandra Singh had attained the rank of Major Havildar.

Peshawar Incident

On 20th April, 1930 Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan organized a civil disobedience movement in the North-West frontier and a Satyagrah was planned for 23rd April 1930 in Peshawar. Two platoons of the Garhwal Rifles regiment under Garhwali were deployed along with others. Garhwali refused to fire on the protestors. These soldiers tried for disobeying the British were represented by Barrister Mukundi Lal, who, after tireless efforts, had their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment. Chandra Singh Garhwali's entire property was confiscated, and his uniform was torn from his body.[4]

In 1930, Chandra Singh Garhwali was sent to Abbottabad jail (now in Pakistan) for 14 years of imprisonment . His sentence was reduced and after 11 years of imprisonment, he was released on 26 September 1941. But his entry to Garhwal was restricted due to which he had to keep wandering here and there and finally he went to Wardha to meet Gandhi, who was deeply impressed by him. In the Quit India Movement of 8 August 1942, he stayed in Allahabad and took active part in this movement and was again arrested for three years. He was released in 1945.

On December 22, 1946, Chandra Singh was able to re-enter Garhwal with the support of the Communists. In 1957, he contested the elections as a candidate of the Communist Party of India but was unsuccessful. Chandra Singh Garhwali died on October 1, 1979, after a prolonged illness.


Honors

In 1994, the Government of India issued a postage stamp in his honor. Several roads were also named after him.

References

  1. ^ a b "COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS" (PDF). India Post. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
  2. ^ "Architects of Modern India" (PDF). Press Information Bureau. p. 3.
  3. ^ Chandola, Anoop (2000). Discovering Brides. Writers Club Press. ISBN 978-0-595-09900-9.
  4. ^ a b Sāṅkṛtyāyana, Rāhula (2006). Vīr Candra Siṃha Gaḍhvālī (Prastut Saṃskaraṇ ed.). Ilāhābād: Kitāb Mahal. ISBN 978-81-225-0195-7.
  5. ^ "History". Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Government Institute of Medical Science and Research. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
  6. ^ "Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali". Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry.
  7. ^ "PESHAWAR KE MAHANAYAK VEER CHANDRA SINGH GARHWALI". National Book Trust.
  8. ^ "उत्तराखंड: एक अक्तूबर को पौड़ी आएंगे रक्षा मंत्री राजनाथ सिंह, वीर चंद्र सिंह गढ़वाली की प्रतिमा का करेंगे अनावरण". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 2022-11-29.
  9. ^ "Defense Minister Rajnath Singh today unveils statue of freedom fighter & Peshawar revolt hero Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali in Pauri". All India Radio. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
  10. ^ "Rajnath Singh attends statue unveiling ceremony of freedom fighter Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali". Yahoo News. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
  11. ^ "Garhwali's statue sought". The Tribune. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
  12. ^ "Application for loan / subsidy under Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Tourism Self Employment Scheme". Government of Uttrakhand. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
  13. ^ "About School | VCSG Library". VCSG Library. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
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