History of Indian Sub-Continent-Freedom struggle, Partition and Post-independence

[johnee]

Johnee, brother a very good post please continue with like this.

Regards

Pintu

Thanx for the encouragement Pintuda.

 

[Pintu]

Johnee this is a beautiful video on Gandhiji ,

YouTube - Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

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[Pintu]

Historic Dandi March by Gandhiji

YouTube - Mahatma Gandhi's historic Dandi march

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[Pintu]

Gandhji and Jinnah's meet in Bombay(Mumbai)

YouTube - Gandhi and Jinnah in Bombay 1944


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[Pintu]

Gandhiji in Simla in 1931

YouTube - Gandhi Speaks, Simla 1931


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[Pintu]

A tribute to The legend Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

YouTube - Shaheed Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose ko Shradhhanjli - shubhAM

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[johnee]

Indira Gandhi defending India's intervenation in East-Pakistan in an Interview with BBC:

YouTube - indira

 

[johnee]

Dalai Lama Greeted By Nehru, Tibet 1959/4/30

YouTube - Dalai Lama Greeted By Nehru, Tibet 1959/4/30

Tibet 1959

YouTube - Tibet 1959

 

[Pintu]

Battle of Longewala:

YouTube - Battle of Longewala 1971 India Pakistan war

Regards

 

[johnee]

Now, I am posting an article about the life of the legendary revolutionary leader of Indian Freedom Struggle: Chandrashekhar Azad.

History

Chandrashekhar Azad, often called, Pandit ji was the founder of Garam Dal. He was the first to start the revolutionary struggle with arms against the oppressive Britishers. Chandershekhar a devout brahmin believed that his dharma was to fight for others.

Chandrashekhar said a soldier never relinquishes his weapon. Hence Chandrashekhar died with his weapon in his hand fighting with British.

Involved in Kakori Train Robbery (1926), the attempt to blow up the Viceroy’s train (1926), and the shooting of Saunders at Lahore (1928) to avenge the killing of Lala Lajpatrai He formed Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. He was the guru for revolutionaries such as Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Batukeshwar Dutt, and Rajguru

Chandra Shekhar’s parents were Pandit Sitaram Tiwari and Jagarani Devi. He received his early schooling in Bhavra villages in Jhabua District, Madhya Pradesh. For higher studies he went to the Sanskrit Pathashala at Varanasi. He was an ardent follower of Hanuman and once disguised himself as a priest in a Hanuman temple to escape the dragnet of British police.

Chandrashekhar Azad was deeply troubled by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar in 1919. In 1921, when Mahatma Gandhi launched Non-Cooperation movement, Chandrasekhar Azad actively participated in revolutionary activities. He received his first punishment at the age of fifteen. Chandra Shekhar was caught while indulging in revolutionary activities. When the magistrate asked him his name, he said "Azad" (meaning free). Chandrashekhar Azad was sentenced to fifteen lashes. With each stroke of the whip the young Chandrasekhar shouted "Bharat Mata Ki Jai"["Hail The Motherland!"] and "Gandhi ki Jai" ["Hail Gandhi!"] From then on Chandrashekhar assumed the title of Azad and came to known as Chandrashekhar Azad. Chandrashekhar Azad vowed that he would never be arrested by the British police and would die as free man.

After the suspension of non-cooperation movement Chandrashekhar Azad was attracted towards more aggressive and revolutionary ideals. He committed himself to complete independence by any means. Chandrashekhar Azad and his compatriots would target British officials known for their oppressive actions against ordinary people and freedom fighters. Chandrashekhar Azad was involved in Kakori Train Robbery (1926), the attempt to blow up the Viceroy’s train (1926), and the shooting of Saunders at Lahore (1928) to avenge the killing of Lala Lajpatrai.

Along with Bhagat Singh and other compatriots like Sukhdev and Rajguru, Chandrashekhar Azad formed the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HRSA). HRSA was committed to complete Indian independence and socialist principles for India’s future progress.

Chandrashekhar Azad was a terror for British police. He was on their hit list and the British police badly wanted to capture him dead or alive. On February 27, 1931 Chandrashekhar Azad met two of his comrades at the Alfred Park Allahabad. He was betrayed by an informer who had informed the British police. The police surrounded the park and ordered Chandrashekhar Azad to surrender. Chandrashekhar Azad fought alone valiantly and killed three policemen. But finding himself surrounded and seeing no route for escape, Chandrashekhar Azad shot himself. Thus he kept his pledge of not being caught alive.


Revolutionary

Chandrashekar Azad’s dead body kept on public display by the British to serve as a warning message for other revolutionaries.

Young Azad was one of the young generation of Indians when Mahatma Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement. But many were disillusioned with Gandhi’s suspension of the struggle in 1922 due to the Chauri Chaura massacre of 22 policemen. Although Gandhi was appalled by the brutal violence, Azad did not feel that violence was unacceptable in the struggle, especially in view of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of 1919, when the British Army units killed hundreds of unarmed civilians and wounded thousands in Amritsar which deeply influenced the young Azad and his contemporaries.

At one point he was arrested while a teenager. When asked his name by the police, he replied Azad, which means "free" in Urdu. He once claimed that, while named "Azad," he would never be taken alive by police. Azad and others had committed themselves to absolute independence by any means. He was most famous for the Kakori train robbery in 1925 and the assassination of the assistant superintendent of police, John Poyantz Saunders, in 1928. Azad and his compatriots would target British officials known for their oppressive actions against ordinary people, or for beating and torturing arrested revolutionaries.

Azad was also a believer in socialism as the basis for India’s future.

 

[johnee]

Some Historical Pictures:

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose with Gandhiji, at Haripura Congress in 1938. One of the most prominent leaders of the Independence against the British rule, Netaji was twice elected President of the Indian National Congress but had to resign because of ideological conflicts with Gandhi.

Netaji and Jinnah.

Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Nehru.

C Rajagopalachari, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Subhas Bose and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in late 1930s

Congress president Subhas Chandra Bose flanked by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in 1938.

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Hitler. Bose befriended the Japanese and met Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini in the lead up to Provincial Government that was recognised by the Axis powers and their Southeast Asian allies on October 21, 1943. Bose's tactics were criticised because he was seen associating with dictators. But Bose felt that his enemy's enemies were natural allies. Bose, however, was disillusioned with Hitler when he realised that the latter was not keen enough to take interest in India’s freedom struggle.

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose with the officers of the Indian National Army, in 1943. On his left is Dr. (Capt) Laxmi Sehgal. The Indian National Army (INA) or the Azad Hind Fauj was formed by Rash Behari Bose. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose later took over and put together an army from World War II POWs and plantation workers

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and his brother Sarat Chandra Bose with poet laureate Rabindranath Tagore at the foundation laying ceremony of Mahajati Sadan i Kolkata in 1939. Tagore is credited with writing the National Anthem-Jana Gana Mana.

Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Gandhiji and Pandit Nehru.

Abdul Ghafar Khan, Pandit Nehru and Sardar Patel.

 

[johnee]

Jawaharlal Nehru.

Gandhi, Patel and Maulana Azad.

Extreme right is 'Lokmanya' Tilak.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak

The three extremists Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal who believed that Independence is not a gift, we have to earn it.

Ramprasad Bismil.

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

Bhagat Singh

Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru.

Chandrashekar Azad.

 

[johnee]

Dr Rajendra Prasad, Sarvepalli Radhakrishna and Nehru.

Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, Prime Minister Congratulates the President of the Constitutent Assembly, Dr. Rajendra Prasad on the passing of the New Constitution of the Indian Republic by the Constitutent Assembly.

Mahatma Gandhi with Mountbatten

Gandhi's Funeral Procession

Mahatma

Pandit Nehru with Lady Mountbatten.

Panditji, Lord Mountbatten and his wife.

Gandhiji with Indira Gandhi

Jinnah and Mahatma Gandhi.

Rabindranath Tagore and M.K. Gandhi

 

[johnee]

Dr Rajendra Prasad, Sarvepalli Radhakrishna and Nehru.

Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, Prime Minister Congratulates the President of the Constitutent Assembly, Dr. Rajendra Prasad on the passing of the New Constitution of the Indian Republic by the Constitutent Assembly.

Mahatma Gandhi with Mountbatten

Gandhi's Funeral Procession

Mahatma

Pandit Nehru with Lady Mountbatten.

Panditji, Lord Mountbatten and his wife.

Gandhiji with Indira Gandhi

Jinnah and Mahatma Gandhi.

Rabindranath Tagore and M.K. Gandhi

 

[johnee]

Nehru.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

Gandhi and Nehru.

Rabindranath Tagore and Albert Einstein

 

[Pintu]

Indian Revolutionaries, they made the Supreme Sacrifice to make our motherland free.





Benoy Basu ,1908-1930(Image : Wikipedia)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benoy_Basu

Benoy Krishna Basu or Benoy Basu or Benoy Bose (1908-1930) was an Bengali Indian revolutionary and freedom fighter.



Early Life :

Basu was born on 11 September 1908, in the village Rohitbhog in the Munshiganj District, now in Bangladesh. His father, Rebatimohan Basu was an engineer.

After passing the Matriculation Examination in Dhaka, Benoy enrolled into the Mitford Medical School (now Sir Salimullah Medical College).Under the influence of Hemchandra Ghosh, a revolutionary of Dhaka ,Benoy joined the 'Mukti Sangha', a secret society closely connected with the Jugantar Party. He could not complete medical studies due to his association with revolutionary activities.

Revolutionary activities

Basu and his peer revolutionaries joined Bengal Volunteers - a group organised by Subhas Chandra Bose in 1928 , at the occasion of Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress.Soon Benoy started a local unit of the organisation in Dhaka , named Bengal Volunteers in Dacca .Later, the Bengal Volunteers became a more active revolutionary association and prepared a plan of "Operation Freedom" against the police repression in Bengal , especially against the inhuman conduct with the political prisoners in different jails.

In August 1930, the revolutionary group planned to kill Lowman, the Inspector General of Police who was due to present in the Medical School Hospital to see an ailing senior police official undergoing treatment.On 29 August 1930, Benoy casually clad in a traditional Bengali attire breached the security and fired at close range. Lowman died instantly and Hodson, the Superintendent of police, was grievously injured.

His identity was never a secret. A copy of his photo was taken out of college magazine and pasted all over. A reward of Rs. 10,000/- was announced. But Binoy was far from helping someone receiving it. He was ultimately caught only to die at the Medical College Hospital in Kolkata, after the Battle of the Verandah. In August, there are torrential rains in East Bengal. One such morning two Muslim villagers, with tatters covering their bare bodies were seen wading through knee-deep water. The nearest railway station, Dolaiganj, was their destination. They entered the platform which was swarming with policemen. Binoy's photo was pasted all around. The train from Dhaka to Narayanganj arrived. Every compartment was searched thoroughly. Binoy and his companion got into a third class compartment which was already over-crowded. When the train reached Narayanganj, the police searched not only the train but had instructions to search the boats also. A river had to be crossed before one could reach Kolkata. Binoy came to know of it through his own sources. When the train slowed near a flag station, he began to walk towards the Ghat for a boat. They had to hire one to cross the turbulent Meghna. They changed their address, from Muslim beggars in tatters to one of a Zamindar with a servant. For a while they had to travel by a steamer. The whole episode was like a scene from a film. The name of the companion was Supati Roy. On reaching the city, they avoided Sealdah, the terminus, and got down at Dum Dum, a small way-side station. The journey from there to the slum area of No. 7, Waliullah lane in Central Kolkata, was somewhat uneventful. But a long stay for unknown persons might arouse suspicion. Binoy shifted to a Colliery at Katras Garh and from there to a peaceful place in North Kolkata. But he always had the premonition that the police would soon find him out. His fear proved correct and the police chief, Sir Charles Tegart, arrived there with a posse of policemen. But the bird had flown out of the cage. A clever boy Binoy proved to be a step more intelligent

The last battle

The next target was Col NS Simpson,The Inspector General of Prisons, who was infamous for the brutal oppression on the prisoners in the jails. The revolutionaries decided not only to murder him, but also to strike a terror in the British official circles by launching an attack on the Secretariat Building - the Writers' Building in the Dalhousie square in Kolkata.

On 8 December 1930, Benoy along with Dinesh chandra Gupta and Badal Gupta, dressed in European costume, entered the Writers' Building and shot dead Simpson.

British police started firing.What ensued was a brief gunfight between the 3 young revolutionaries and the police.Some other officers like Twynam, Prentice and Nelson suffered injuries during the shooting.

Soon police overpowered them.However, the three did not wish to be arrested.Badal took Potassium cyanide, while Benoy and Dinesh shot themselves with their own revolvers.Benoy was taken to the hospital where he died on 13 December 1930.

Significance

The martyrdome and self-sacrifice of Benoy,Badal and Dinesh inspired further revolutionary activities in Bengal,in particular and India,in general.

After Indian independence, the Dalhousie square was named B.B.D. Bagh - after the Benoy-Badal-Dinesh trio.

(Wikipedia)

 

[Pintu]

2. Badal Gupta (1912-1930) Image : Wikipedia

Badal Gupta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Badal Gupta (1912-1930) was a Bengali Indian freedom fighter and revolutionary.

Badal Gupta was born Sudhir Gupta in the village Purba Shimulia (West Shimulia) in the Bikrampur region of Dhaka, now in Munshiganj District, Bangladesh . Badal was greatly inspired towards patriotism by Nikunja Sen, a teacher of the Banaripara School of Bikrampur. Badal joined the Bengal Volunteers (BV) as a member.

he battle at Writers' Building

Bengal Volunteers targeted Col NS Simpson,The Inspector General of Prisons, who was infamous for the brutal oppression on the prisoners in the jails. The revolutionaries decided not only to murder him, but also to strike a terror in the British official circles by launching an attack on the Secretariat Building - the Writers' Building in the Dalhousie square in Kolkata.

On 8 December 1930, Badal along with Dinesh chandra Gupta and Benoy, dressed in European costume, entered the Writers' Building and shot dead Simpson. Badal Gupta was also influenced by the revolutionary activities of his two paternal uncles Late Dharani Nath Gupta and Nagendra Nath Gupta who were victims of famous Alipore Bomb Case and were imprisoned along with Rishi Aurobindo Ghosh.

British police started firing. What ensued was a brief gunfight between the 3 young revolutionaries and the police. Some other officers like Twynam, Prentice and Nelson suffered injuries during the shooting.

Soon police overpowered them. However, the three did not wish to be arrested. Badal took Potassium cyanide, while Benoy and Dinesh shot themselves with their own revolvers. Badal died on the spot.

( Wikipedia)

 

[Pintu]

3. Dinesh Chandra Gupta ( Image : Wikipedia)

Dinesh Gupta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dinesh Chandra Gupta or Dinesh Gupta (1911-1931) was a Bengali Indian freedom fighter and revolutionary.

Early activities

Dinesh Gupta was born on 6 December 1911 in the village of Josholong in Munshiganj District, now in Bangladesh. While he was studying in Dhaka College, Dinesh joined Bengal Volunteers - a group organised by Subhas Chandra Bose in 1928 , at the occasion of Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress. Soon the Bengal Volunteers transformed itself to a more active revolutionary association and planned to liquidate infamous British police officers. For a short while, Dinesh Gupta was in Midnapore training local revolutionaries in the use of firearms. Revolutionaries trained by him were responsible for the assassination of three District Magistrates in succession, Douglas, Burge, and Peddy.

The battle of Writers' Building

The association targeted Col NS Simpson, the Inspector General of Prisons, who was infamous for the brutal oppression on the prisoners in the jails. The revolutionaries decided not only to murder him, but also to strike a terror in the British official circles by launching an attack on the Secretariat Building - the Writers' Building in the Dalhousie Square in Kolkata.

On 8 December 1930, Dinesh along with Benoy Basu and Badal Gupta, dressed in European costume, entered the Writers' Building and shot dead Simpson.

British police started firing. What ensued was a brief gunfight between the 3 young revolutionaries and the police.Some other officers like Twynam, Prentice and Nelson suffered injuries during the shooting.

Soon police overpowered them. However, the three did not wish to be arrested. Badal Gupta took Potassium cyanide, while Benoy and Dinesh shot themselves with their own revolvers. Benoy was taken to the hospital where he died on 13 December 1930.

The trial and hanging

However, Dinesh survived the near-fatal injury. He was convicted and the verdict of the trial was death by hanging for anti-government activities and murder. While awaiting execution, Dinesh wrote a number of letters from his prison cell on the heroism of the revolutionaries and his belief in the greatness of self-sacrifice.

Dinesh Chandra Gupta was 19 when he was hanged on 7 July 1931 at Alipore Jail.

(Wikipedia)

 

[Pintu]

Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil (1897-1927) Image : Wikipedia

Ram Prasad Bismil - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil (1897-1927) was one of the great Indian independence fighters, who also participated in the Kakori train robbery. Bismil was his pen name. He was a member of the Arya Samaj and also of the Hindustan Republican Association. He was a great poet and several inspiring patriotic verses are attributed him, of which Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna is the most well known.

Early Life

Pandit Ramprasad was born in the year 1897 at Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. His ancestors hailed from the state of Gwalior. His father Muralidhar was with the municipality of Shahjahanpur. He was the second of two siblings. Recent researches also have shown that he could continue his education only till eighth standard due to financial problems. Undefeated by such obstacles, Bismil continued with poetry.

Revolutionary Activities and Execution

Ram Prasad Bismil joined the revolutionary organization Hindustan Republican Association in his youth and came in contact with other revolutionaries including, among others, Premkishan Khanna, Ashfaqulla Khan, Chandrasekhar Azad, Thakur Roshan Singh, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Bhagawati Charan, Rajguru Rai Ram Narain and Govind Prasad great grand son of Raja Tikait Rai Wazir Nawab of Oudh Awadh. Along with nine revolutionary colleagues, Bismil executed a meticulous plan for the looting of the government treasury carried in a train at Kakori. This happened on August 9, 1925 and is known as the Kakori Train Robbery. The incident created great upheavel in British India. The retribution was severe when the revolutionaries were caught. In a long drawn case, Ram prasad, Ashfaqullah, Roshan Singh and Rajendra Lahiri were sentenced to death. Ram Prasad Bismil was hanged by the British authorities on December 18, 1927 in Gorakhpur (located in the present Indian state of Uttar Pradesh), while Rai Ram Narain was jailed for life.

Literary Works

Ram Prasad Bismil was known for his inspiring poems that acted as motivation for his fellow revolutionaries. Among them, Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna is the most well-known, although the authorship of this particular poem is often disputed.

A deep and passionate love for the motherland and an urge to sacrifice for the nation was the hallmark of Bismil's works. In one poem he prays: "Even if I have to face death a thousand times for the sake of my Motherland, I shall not be sorry. Oh Lord! Grant me a hundred births in Bharath. But grant me this, too, that each time I may give up my life in the service of the Mother land."

In another poem written just before going to the gallows, he prays: "Oh Lord! Thy will be done. You are unique. Neither my tears nor I will endure. Grant me this boon, that to my last breath and the last drop of my blood, I may think of you and be immersed in your work."

Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil wrote his autobiography while he was at Gorakhpur jail, days before he was hanged to death.

(Wikipedia)

 

[johnee]

1857 Army of Nana Saheb and Tatya Tope:

Indian Soldiers being hanged by the British following their victory in the war of 1857.

Life is easy for a British Official in India:

Victims of the Madras Famine of 1877 one of the terrible famines that occurred in India during the nineteenth century. Hard to believe that famines such as this were happening in India just 70 years ago within living memory.

The last Mughal Emperor before his exile to Rangoon.

Scene in Lucknow after the capture of the city by British forces in about 1858. The remains in the courtyard are those of Indians who died in the War of 1857. The photographer was Felice Beato.