Latest news with #Ghadar
Time of India
7 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Declare July 23 as ‘Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day': Akal Takht jathedar
1 2 3 Bathinda/Amritsar: Officiating jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj, has called upon Sikh institutions and the central and Punjab govt to officially declare July 23 as 'Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day'. This date coincides with the forced return of passengers on the Guru Nanak Jahaz (Komagata Maru) from Vancouver in Canada on July 23, 1914. The Canadian city of Surrey has proclaimed July 23 as Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day. Earlier, the city of Vancouver declared Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day on May 23, when 376 passengers aboard the vessel arrived in Vancouver. Jathedar Gargaj said that on this day in 1914, under the leadership of Ghadar revolutionary Baba Gurdit Singh, a large group of Punjabis — mostly Sikhs — seeking a better future arrived in Canada. However, they were forcibly turned away, which was a grave violation of human rights. He stated that this episode is now officially recognised in Canadian cities such as Surrey and Vancouver as Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day, which he hailed as a significant step towards acknowledging historical truth. This day commemorates a major struggle against racism and in defence of human rights, led by Baba Gurdit Singh, who in 1914 founded the Guru Nanak Steamship Company. He chartered a Japanese vessel from Komagata Maru Company, renamed it Guru Nanak Jahaz, and challenged Canada's then-racist immigration laws. Jathedar Gargaj emphasised that historical sources clearly show that the journey from Hong Kong to Canada was deeply spiritual, marked by the presence of Guru Granth Sahib, Akand Panth Sahib, and the Nishan Sahib (Sikh flag) on board, embodying the values of Sri Guru Nanak Dev. He expressed regret that in India, history books still refer to the ship as Komagata Maru, despite Baba Gurdit Singh naming it Guru Nanak Jahaz, a fact verified in his autobiographical book, Guru Nanak Jahaz. He appealed to universities, academic institutions, and gurdwara management bodies across India to do justice to this history by adopting the correct name — Guru Nanak Jahaz — in textbooks and curricula. Teaching this name instead of Komagata Maru would be both historically accurate and morally just, he said. Such efforts, he added, would present true history and serve as a source of spiritual inspiration for future generations. Jathedar Gargaj said this event played a crucial role in the early 20th-century freedom movement and helped awaken the spirit of independence in the country. Baba Gurdit Singh, he added, must always be remembered among the great heroes of India's freedom struggle. He expressed gratitude to the city councils of Vancouver and Surrey for recognising July 23 not as Komagata Maru Day, but as Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day.
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Veterinarian Rana Preet Gill revives memories of the Ghadar movement in her new book
When veterinary officer with Punjab government, Rana Preet Gill went on a vacation to the Andamans in 2019, she saw a statue of Pt Ram Rakha Bali in the park outside the Cellular Jail. What hit her most was how little she knew about the man associated with the Mandalay conspiracy case, wherein members of the Ghadar Party were accused of conspiring to incite rebellion against British rule in India, among troops in Mandalay and other parts of Burma, in a series of trials in 1916 and 1917. 'I felt ashamed; I hail from Hoshiarpur, the same village as Bali in Punjab and hardly had any knowledge about the contribution of this Ghadar revolutionary,' she says. After returning home, Rana Preet began researching and seamlessly it led her on a journey to write The Ghadar Movement: A Forgotten Struggle, published by Penguin Viking. Several lesser-known revolutionaries of the Ghadar Movement find mention in the book, replete with rich anecdotes and in-depth research. 'I was intrigued by Ram Rakha, who went on a hunger strike and sacrificed his life. It aroused my curiosity about the Mandalay Conspiracy and I met many historians and gathered information. The research led me to the Ghadar Movement and the book was born out of my love for the martyrs. The library in Jalandhar, built by the Gadharites, is invaluable,' says Rana Preet. There were few books on members of the Ghadar Party,including a few by Bhagat Singh. Rana Preet decided to make the stories accessible. 'A majority of the literature available is academic and out of bounds for common readers,' she says. Her experience of writing two novels earlier motivated her to attempt this complex subject. . It took Rana Preet five years to complete the manuscript. The 38-chapter narrative, spanning 244 pages, is lucid, beginning with Bombay, Bengal, and Punjab under British Rule. It sets the tone with tales of bravery and transitions to the exodus of the Punjab peasantry to far-flung places including Burma, Malaya, Singapore, China, Iran, Egypt, and East Africa before exploring Canada and America. Stories about Sohan Singh Bhakna and Pandit Kanshi Ram are well constructed. Rana Preet is at her best when writing about the revolutionaries in exile- Shyamaji Krishnavarma, who owned the India House at 9, Queen's Wood, Highgate; Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Madam Bhikaji Rustom Cama, Ramnath Puri, a bank clerk from Lahore; Taraknath Das, who went abroad to master the art of revolution; Guru Dutt Kumar, who operated from Canada; Pandurang Khankhoje and Abdul Hafiz Mohammed Barakatullah `Bhopali', who was proficient in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Turkish, English, German and Japanese. Barakatullah travelled to England, America, Japan and was said to be a great advocate of Hindu-Muslim unity. Rana Preet highlights the allure and appeal of studying abroad during those times. Jawala Singh Thatthiyan, a 'prosperous potato farmer' near California, was at the forefront, offering scholarships to meritorious students. The scholarships began in 1912 and provided a monthly stipend of $ 50 in addition to study materials and travel expenses. The chapter on Lala Har Dayal, described as the Face of Ghadar, is one the most engaging. Inspired by the `Lion of Punjab', Lala Lajpat Rai, Lala Har Dayal left for England on a British Government scholarship in 1905 at the age of 21 and returned to India in 1908. 'After India attained independence, the Ghadar Party was officially disbanded. The premises on 5 Wood Street was handed over to the government of India marking the end of an era of revolution. But the spirit of Ghadar stayed alive. A living, breathing, formless, fiery spirit with a heart and soul,' says Rana Preet.
Indian Express
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Bunch of fake revolutionaries': Arora under Oppn fire for ‘not knowing Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha'
In the rup-up to Ludhiana West by-election slated for June 19, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate-cum-Rajya Sabha member Sanjeev Arora came under fire from the Opposition parties Sunday for 'not knowing' Ghadar movement hero and revolutionary freedom fighter Shaheed Kartar Singh Sabha. AAP had organized a public meeting Saturday in Ludhiana's Sarabha Nagar, an upscale residential cum commercial hub named after the Ghadar revolutionary. The shopkeepers in the colony have been demanding for a long time that their market should also be renamed after Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha. The meeting was also attended by CM Bhagwant Mann. However, in major embarrassment for AAP, Arora, during his address, failed to name the late revolutionary who was hanged by the British when he was just 19. Sarabha was the idol of Bhagat Singh. During the address, a video of which went viral on social media, Arora: 'People are demanding that the market here should be named after Shaheed Sarabha Singh..' As he fails to recall the full name and looks at others for cue, he is corrected and told that the name is Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha. Arora says: 'I am sure CM saab will announce it soon and Sarabha's statue has already been ordered. It will be installed soon.' Launching a scathing attack on Mann and Arora, Congress's senior MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira wrote on X: 'I stand vindicated on my charge that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is a bunch of fake revolutionaries! Below AAP candidate for Ludhiana bypoll Sanjeev Arora doesn't know who Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha is! Leaders like Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann are only misusing the names of our martyrs and have nothing to do with their ideology.' Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) also launched an attack on Arora. 'In the presence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and the entire high command, Sanjeev Arora's disrespect towards Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha during his election campaign is extremely shameful and condemnable,' said Harjinder Singh Bobby Garcha, president, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha Foundation and chief spokesperson, SAD. 'A candidate brought in by AAP from Gurgaon has insulted our martyr… Arora did not even remember the name of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha. Someone who doesn't even know the names of our martyrs cannot safeguard their legacy. How can such a person work for the welfare of Punjab and Punjabi culture?,' said Garcha. He warned that if Arora does not apologize soon, the Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha Foundation will not only oppose the election campaign but will also stage a protest against him. Garcha stated that they want to inform the city residents and the people of the state that 'AAP has brought in outsiders who have no knowledge of Punjab's culture or martyrs, and they don't even understand our Punjabi heritage'. 'Instead, the Aam Aadmi Party has fielded candidates in Punjab's electoral arena who mock Punjab and Punjabi culture, and it is essential to expose their true nature,' said Garcha.
Hindustan Times
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana West bypoll: Arora faces criticism for forgetting name of freedom fighter
As campaigning continues for the Ludhiana West byelection that to be held on June 19, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate and Rajya Sabha member Sanjeev Arora is facing strong criticism from opposition parties for not remembering the full name of freedom fighter Kartar Singh Sarabha during a public speech. The incident happened on Saturday during an AAP public meeting held in Sarabha Nagar, a prominent area in Ludhiana named after Ghadar movement hero Kartar Singh Sarabha. Shopkeepers in the area have long demanded that the local market should be renamed in his honour. During an event, in which chief minister Bhagwant Mann was also present, MP Arora in his speech referred to the revolutionary as 'Shaheed Sarabha Singh', forgetting his full name — Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha — who was executed by the British at just 19 and admired by Bhagat Singh. A video of the speech has gone viral, showing MP Arora struggling to recall the name and being corrected by others on stage. MP Arora then said, 'I am sure CM saab will announce it soon and Sarabha's statue has already been ordered. It will be installed soon.' Following the video, opposition leaders sharply attacked the AAP. Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira posted on X (formerly Twitter), 'This proves AAP is full of fake revolutionaries. Their candidate doesn't even know who Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha is. Leaders like Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann are using our martyrs' names for politics.' The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) also expressed outrage. Harjinder Singh Bobby Garcha, president of the Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha Foundation and SAD spokesperson, called it 'extremely shameful'. He said, 'How can someone who doesn't even know our martyrs protect their legacy or serve Punjab and Punjabi culture?' Garcha further warned that if MP Arora does not apologise publicly, the foundation will protest his campaign. He also claimed AAP is bringing outsiders into Punjab who have no knowledge or respect for the state's culture and history. 'This shows the real face of AAP. They are insulting Punjab's martyrs and traditions,' Garcha added.
Indian Express
26-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
‘There was only one religion in Ghadar Movement: religion of freedom'
Written by Serena Gujral In an age of global connectedness, local histories often fade into the margins. In The Ghadar Movement, Dr Rana Preet Gill, a veterinarian by profession, turns to one such forgotten chapter—an audacious, transnational fight for freedom led by Indian immigrants in North America in the early 20th century. What inspired you to write about the Ghadar Movement, and how is your book different from earlier accounts? It began during a 2019 family vacation to the Andaman Islands. While visiting the Cellular Jail, I posted a photo online and a senior colleague told me his grandfather's brother, Ram Rakha Baali, had a statue facing the jail. I was living in Hoshiarpur then—Baali's hometown—and had never heard of him or the Mandalay Conspiracy he was part of. That sparked a deeper interest and led me to the Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall in Jalandhar. What struck me was how inaccessible the material was—mostly in academic English or Punjabi. I haven't unearthed new facts; instead, I've tried to make the story more accessible. My book is written in a conversational voice for readers like me. Why do you think the Ghadar Movement remains so little known in mainstream accounts of the freedom struggle? Timing is one reason. The movement peaked between 1913 and 1918, long before the more recognised phases of the freedom struggle. It also didn't yield immediate, tangible outcomes. There were lapses in planning, British informants infiltrated the group, and many Ghadarites were executed or jailed. Those who survived were older by 1947, and their stories slipped through the cracks. Of all the revolutionaries, whose story stayed with you most? Kartar Singh Sarabha's courage at just 19 is unforgettable, but the story that hit closest to home was that of Pyara Singh Langheri, from my hometown Hoshiarpur. He was so fearless that even the police were afraid of him. After his arrest, people gathered just to see him. His story made the movement real for me. How did religion factor into the movement? It didn't—at least not in the way we usually think. The Ghadarites had only one religion: the religion of freedom. In a deeply divided India, they made a conscious choice to rise above religious, caste, and linguistic lines. Their unity and secular vision were revolutionary in themselves. Were there women in the Ghadar Movement whose contributions have been overlooked? Absolutely. Gulab Kaur's story stands out—her husband backed out, but she stayed. She returned to India, helped revolutionaries rent homes under false identities, and turned her own home into a safehouse. Agnes Smedley, though American, was a powerful ally who supported Lala Har Dayal and raised international awareness. Then there were countless unnamed women who held families together while the men were in jail. Bhai Parmanand's wife, for instance, showed remarkable resilience when their property was confiscated. What did the Ghadar flag symbolise? The flag, designed at Yugantar Ashram in San Francisco, had red, yellow, and green stripes. Red symbolised revolution and represented Hindus, yellow stood for courage and valour among Sikhs, and green symbolised progress and was linked to Muslims. It reflected a united, secular India long before independence. What were the biggest challenges in researching this forgotten history? I began seriously in early 2020, just as the pandemic hit. Access to archives like the Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall was cut off. When things reopened, the staff were incredibly supportive—they let me photocopy materials and even lent me books. But since no Ghadarites were alive by then, I had to rely solely on written sources—many in old Punjabi or formal Hindi. Understanding and translating terms like 'wiploo' required not just language skills but context. It was painstaking but rewarding work. Do you see any modern parallels between the Ghadar Movement and today's diaspora activism? Honestly, no. The Ghadarites were unique. They left India to earn a living but ended up sacrificing everything for a cause. They acted with what I call 'foolish bravery'—making impulsive yet profound decisions. Even in jail, they fought for fellow prisoners. Today's activism is more structured and cautious. That raw passion and selflessness are hard to replicate.
