A woman' double role:''A woman plays a double role when she gets married. She is the one who creates the problems for her husband and the outstanding quality about her is she stands by him through thick and thin to help him go past the problems. Is it not a great attitude of a woman worthy of inspiration to other women?"******* The following tombstone epitaph (imaginative) may be quite interesting: John Moon; Born 1887 - Died 1847 ''Here lies beneath the earth John Moon who was eclipsed on 10 Feb 1947.''*****George Riddle: Born: 1811 - Died: 12 March 1900''Here lies George Riddle, the horse stud farm owner, He was on a horse's saddle one day.How he died is a riddle 12 March 1900.''*****Dr. Turn Ball MD : Born 21 Dec. 1910; kicked to eternity April 1966.''Here lies Dr. Turn Ball MD, a great diet doctor and connoisseur of French wine and through-bred women, Died in the stable kicked hard by one of the strongest; on Dec. 1910 evening around 6.35 pm kicked to the upper world.*****Martin Winter: Born: June 22 1900; Died Sept. 29 1970''Under the sod and under the shadow of the tree lie the mortal remains of Martin Winterwho breathed his last on a cold winter morning while sleeping!!''***** *****Joe Wily, the gun slinger and country music singer: Born January 20, 1815 Died: 11 Feb 1877.''Here below the lump of clay and trash lies in eternal peace my uncle Joe Wily, who liked six-shooter and six-packs,One slug from his enemy, two slugs from his concubine did not finish him, And one nice kick from his wife Donna that pushed him into a pit in the grave - the eternal world.''***** Sam Bone: Born: 12 Oct 1912; Choked on fish bone: 1 May 1960, 8 pm.''Under the shadow of the Lord taking eternal rest is Cousin Sam Bone, who died while dinning with his wife. A little fish bone was the culprit that clogged the food pipe.'' ******* A smart boy:
A 8th class school boy did a project on the earth and trees: ''Save the earth, so stop littering around,Save the soil and the ground, stop throwing plastics bags, etc around, Save the atmosphere, our land and air, so don't put out green gases in the atmosphere and warm up the earth,Save the precious trees and plants around us and make it greenery . Stop cutting trees and Say No to ''exams.'' *******Compatible couple: ''The purpose of marriage is two fold; Both husband and wife make sacrifices and compromises to get the marriage going. Husband goes to work and wife shops. After a a few years husband works like a slave on the farm because wife goes shopping frequently. Roughly six years later husband now works like a slave in the ship's galley because wife goes on a shopping spree after her 'Ladies' Club' social activities."******
↧
Preacher making a wrong sermon:
''A preacher at a service in a church said, ''Woman's mind is much cleaner than a man's because she changes it frequently''. Not realizing the preacher said it in a different context, an angry woman got up and said, " I'm going to change it right away''. Then she walked out. That woman happened to be Pastor's wife.''******Words with a punch: ''Why some people speak with sarcasm? Instead of physically throwing punches at them, you can do the same thing with words having nice punch''*****Marriage and box-canyon: ''Marriage is like a box canyon one way to get in and one way to get out. When you get in, desperation is less, but when you get out you will have more desperation accompanied by frustration and fear, etc.'' *******In the eye of a Wino: ''According to a Wino, he sees wisdom and wit in wine; freedom and fun in beer , sober and sensitivity in Whisky and boredom and bacteria in water.''*******To become a political leader: ''At a political meeting a man was telling prospective young politicians about how to take care of their enemies. ''There may be whistle-blowers, traitors, conspirators, double-crosser, et al. If you successfully manage them with skill and sit on the seat of power, hold your breath!, you may find a bomb underneath ticking away. If you still manege to diffuse it, then your are the emperor, the rest are puppets, including the gullible electorates"***** ** Menace of transvestite: ''The woman's taunt has arisen out of anger, frustration and indignation. What is the reason? The culprit who stole her garments from top to bottom was her husband. After 30 long years of marriage, he has become a transvestite preparing himself for a beauty contest for the people older than 50 years"********
↧
↧
Aadi Perukku is an auspicious festival of the Tamil Hindus living in the Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu, in particular, and it reminds us the beginning of a new cultivation cycle. Soon preparation will be in full swing for sowing, rooting and planting of seeds and vegetation. This year 2018, God has been kind to us and in almost many rivers of Tamil Nadu, you can see plenty of water flowing, infusing joy and happiness among the people living all along the river banks. In the past weather playing truant, Tamil Nadu did not get enough water to take care of its agricultural needs. This year the SW Monsoon that lashed the Western India brought in plenty of rain to meet the needs of the people and the farmers. Aadi, is the right time to raise nurseries in the agricultural fields and subsequently get them transferred to the other fields for sowing. After NE Retreating Monsoon the crop will be ready for harvest during Thai Pongal. Aadi’ corresponds to the months of mid-July to mid-August, as per the Gregorian calendar. Aadi Perukku is a celebration that emphasizes our indebtedness to the bountiful river and its life-sustaining properties of water. Normally rivers are Nature’s gifts to mankind and that is the reason why in Hinduism the worship of river is given due importance. Aadi Perukku is also called as ‘Padinettam Perukku’ (‘Padinettu’ in Tamil means ‘eighteen’ and ‘perukku’ implies ‘a rising’). It is a sort of ''Nature Worship''dedicated to goddesses associated with the rivers.Especially women in large number celebrate this festival. Another aspect of this festival is collective / common prayer by the people and family members for copious supply of rain in the ensuing NE Monsoon so that that would result in better harvest during the month of Thai (January- February). After taking a dip in the holy river water. devotees wear new clothes and perform some rituals at the bathing ghats along the Cauvery River. This is followed by ‘abhishekham’ of Kaveri Amman. Women devotees prepare a special lamp and place it on the mango leaf after adding a thin yellow thread, turmeric and flowers. They light the lamp and let it float down the river. They do it in the belief the Goddess will light up their lives with peace of mind and welfare. As for young girls this festival is a good opportunity to pray for a good, compatible husband, They offer prayer along with married women. Common belief is that if they make offerings of Kaapparisi (a sweet dish made from jaggery (in Tamil Vellam or Nattusakkarai)) and hand crushed rice), Karugamani (black colored beads) and Kaadholai (earrings carved out of palm leaves) shall be rewarded with a good husband. Newly wedded couples spend time during this festival time in the girls' house. In some families, on this day, a gold coin is added to their ‘Mangalsutra’ or ‘thali’. The purpose of this simple ritual is to pray for their longevity and prosperity of their line of generations. An odd aspect of Aadi month is normally, Hindus from various communities won't celebrate weddings or any other auspicious family functions in this month because this month is mostly dedicated to propitiating the powerful Goddesses for our protection and welfare. Even people avoid buying new properties or opening new business. At the bathing ghats of the river Cauvery at Srirangam, Thiruvaiyaru, Kumbakonam and other towns, people in thousands visited the banks today (Friday; 18th Aadi Maatham) to celebrate Aadi Perukku. They offered special prayers, to express their gratitude to the river which is the lifeline of the delta districts. The purpose of puja is to sustain prosperity in this region, as the people living here are dependent on agriculture. It is a sort of traditional thanksgiving festival celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil month of Aadi. The festival is celebrated to show gratitude to the Cauvery river for taking care of the needs of the common people and farmers. The river is the symbol of prosperity in the Delta region. The special celebration is, unlike previous years, this year the Cauvery and its tributaries have adequate water to meet the immediate needs of the people. On the last week end along with my family members I went to a temple near Kumbakonam and we crossed the small rivers Kudamuruty and Arasalaru and it was a pleasure watching the water flowing gently touching serene banks on either side. In the 1950s and 1960s, whenever I visited the near-by villages close to Kumbakonam, in particular Veepathur, my mother's native place, I could see copious flow of water in other tributaries of the Cauvery. In the last decade or so, the scenario in the upper delta region had changed and it was one of disappointment and desperation. The river beds were almost barren, not even pockets of water here and there. Anyway, this time seeing the small rivers full of water was a great sight that would linger in our heart for sometime. I wish the water would flow in these rivers year round and bring happiness and prosperity to this region which was once called ''the Granary of South India''.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/65254801.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
http://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2017/08/adi-perukku-festival-of-tamil-nadu-low.html https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Aadi-Perukku-celebrated/article16526588.ece
↧
In 1817 took place an armed rebellion against the British East India Company's rule in Odisha called the Paik Rebellion, also called the Paika Bidroha. Bakshi Jagabandhu, leader of the revolt, was a symbol of Odia unity a source of strength. The rebellion quickly gathered momentum across most of Odisha and finally it was put down by the English company with ruthless force. It was the first rebellion of the paika (soldiers of Odisha) with the support of common people against the East India Company's (Proxy government of the British Crown) misrule. The contentious land revenue policy of the British was the primary cause of the rebellion in 1817. Not only Paikas, but also zamindrs, farmers and many sections of the people took the cudgels against the mischievous British and their biased polices. This revolt took place 40 years before Indian Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.The Paikas of Odisha were the traditional warriors of that state in charge of security and protection during peacetime. They were fearless and aggressive in dealing with enemies. Among them there were three groups / ranks based on their occupation and the weapons they were sporting. These were the Pahari:, the bearers of shields and the khanda sword, the Banuas: they lead distant expeditions and use matchlocks and the Dhenkiyas: archers who also perform various duties in Odisha armies. The power and prestige of the Paikas declined when the English company in 1803 took over the control from the Raja of Khurda who was defeated by them. The attitude of the company toward the Paikas changed and they no longer needed their military services. Consequently they wanted to take over their land - rent free lands given to the Paikas for their military service to the state. The reason was: The EIC did not trust Paikas and their loyalty to them. The company wanted to treat them as common Ryots and as such land revenue and other taxes should be collected from them. It simply means they have to fore go their former Jagir lands and their legitimate rights over them. Now at stake was their livelihood, main source of income for their families. Being diabolical and shrewd as they were, the British 's strategy was they wanted to have a hold on the aggressive Paikas and their fighting nature by ruining their unity and economic status, roughly equal to removing the poisonous flanges and teeth from Cobras. It was in the interest of British survival in Odisha and they kept their police force on high alert. The Paika rebellion of Odisha had several social, economic and political ramifications. The very first step was systematic alienation of the Paiks by the British regime, who seized their hereditary rent-free lands granted to them after the conquest of Khurda.What infuriated the Paikas was they were subjected to extortion, intimidation tactics and out right oppression by the EIC officials. The unjust and unnecessary extortionist land revenue policy of the company affected the peasants and the zamindars alike. On top of it, they were asked to pay high taxes on common salt. The Proxy British government insisted that the taxes be paid in silver and not inCowrie currencywhich was in force earlier. Discontentment and disappointment were writ on the face of the entire Paika community and others. Their anger and frustration reached beyond the line of tolerance and in 1804, Raja of Khurda himself planned to stage a rebellion against the unjust and cunning British rulers. Soon, the British discovered the plot with the help of whistle-blowers plated by them and confiscated Raja's territory. The rebellion by Paiks were led by Bakshi Jagabandhu Mohapatra Bhramarabar Ray, the former bakshi or commander of the forces of the Raja of Khurda. In 1814, the British took over Jagabandhu's family estate of Killa Rorang reducing him to live in abject poverty. Once a rich and well-known commander now became a pan handler by the British No sooner the rebellion broke out in March 1817 under the leadership. Raja Mukunda Deva, the last King of Khurda, than across Odisha people from all walks of life right from feudal chiefs to Zamidars had given full support to the rebellion. Several Zamindars (land owners) joined the foray without any hesitation and the revolt, like a summer bush fire, started spreading from Banapur and Khurda to many parts parts of Odisha such as Puri, Pipili and Cuttack, etc. The Rajas of Kanika, Kujang, Nayagarh and Ghumusur aided Jagabandhu and Dalabehera Mirhaidar Alli of Jadupur was an important Muslim rebel.Embers of hatred and discontentment over the oppressive policy of the East India Company had been simmering for sometime and in March 1817 it began to over boil, A strong contingent of 400 highly spirited Kandhas crossed over into Khurda from the State of Ghumsur, openly declaring their revolt against the company's rule. The rebels became violent to let out their suppressed hatred for the British and their insulting treatment of them. Under Jagbandhu, the Paiks started looting and setting fire to the government properties at Banpur. The same story at Khurda where they did not spare native officials of the company and killed them.E. Impey, the magistrate at Cuttack, in charge of the company affairs, sent forces to Cuttack to put down the revolt where they met strong resistance resulting in heavy losses; the English commander was killed. At Puri, on the other hand, under Captain Wellington, they faced little opposition. Soon the British forces took control of Khurda and declared martial law in that territory.
Situation at Puri changed and the rebels led by Bakshi Jagabandhu took control over the town forced the English company to retreat to Cuttack by 18 April. Consequently Cuttack remained cut off from the now rebel-held portions of southern Odisha, The force's recapture of Khurda encouraged the commanding officer, Captain Le Fevere, to pursue the insurgents into Puri. This British forces had no difficulty this time to put down the 1000 strong rebels because they were ill-equipped. They captured the temple town of Puri and the Raja before his escape. With great difficulty the EIC reestablished their authority over the region and by May 1817 normalcy was returned to the region. The participating rebels who were hiding in many places were rounded up and the company appointed judges in May 1817 gave them severe punishment ranging from death to long term imprisonment. The EIC official between 1816 and 1826 combed the jungles and other remote places for the rebels, captured them and put them to death. As for Jagabandhu, the rebel leader, he surrounded to the British in 1825 and spent his time in jail till 1827. The Raja of Khurda refused any concession and died a British prisoner in November, 1817.The newly appointed Commissioner of Cuttack Robert Ker wanted some administrative changes to avoid recurrence of such a big rebellion. They were of no use. The Odisha region is a major transit point for the EIC between presidencies of Madras and Bengal. The British policies in Odisha were not people friendly and later freedom struggle by Tapanga in 1827 and the Banapur Rebellion of 1835 showed the continued repressive policy of the foreign rulers. They were more bent on exploiting the natural resources of Odisha than giving importance to the sentiments of the native people there and the love of their land. In October 2017, government of India recognized Paika revolt as the first war of independence prior to the famous Sepoy Mutiny of 1857that began in the barracks of Meerut city. Justifying the state government's request, Naveen Patnaik, CM said: "Paika (1817 AD) of Odisha, which took place 40 years before the Sepoy Mutiny (1857 AD), eminently qualifies to be called as the 'first war of Indian Independence' not simply because it took place four decades prior to the Sepoy Mutiny, but due to its very nature and characteristic features."
"The Paika rebellion was broad based and well organised plural struggle against the oppressive rule of British East India Company. It involved all sections of the people," Naveen said.https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170720/jsp/odisha/story_162765.jsp https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paika_Rebellion
T
↧
Surya Sen (22 March 1894 – 12 January 1934)was a school teacher turned revolutionary from Bengal. Born on 22 March 1894 in a Baidya family at Noapara, under Raozan Upazila in Chittagong. his father was Ramaniranjan Sen, a teacher. Educated at Behrampore College, Bengal his hatred for the British rulers and their subjugation of India led him to believe that violence was the only way to get the attention of the British as well as natives to see Free India.. He was a member of a revolutionary organization called Anushilan Samity. Earlier he was a Congress leader and later became President of Indian National Congrss, Chittagong branch.He was one among countless patriots who believed that Gandhiji's chosen path of non-violence as a tool to get freedom from the British won't work because they were aware that the British were a hard nut to crack. Further, the British shamelessly exploited the Indian lands and Indian people to improve their economy and standard of living. India being a cash cow, it is not that easy to get off the British yoke by following Satyagraha - non-cooperation. Surya Sen, having touch with other spirited patriots led the Chittagong Armory Raid in 1930 to prove that an armed uprising against the mighty British was a way to instill fear in them. Under his expert leadership and guidance, a group of sixty-four other revolutionaries captured the Police Armory at Chittagong (now in Bangladesh) and damaged the telephones and telegraph lines and dislocated the railway lines to and from Chittagong. They took the arms, but could not find the ammunition. The purpose of this raid was to isolate Chittagong from the rest of Bengal The uprising was so effective, the revolutionaries took control of Chittagong for a brief time. They went ahead and hoisted a tricolor Indian flag on the armory building . A large contingent of British forces overpowered the revolutionaries near the Jalalabad hills and in the fight, about 12 revolutionaries were killed and some were captured and the rest escaped from the scene and were at large. Surya Sen kept moving from place to place without being seen by the British forces. Sometime he moved around from place to place incognito. At last he took refuge in the house of Netra Sen who later betrayed him and informed the police who finally arrested him in 1933. Soon , a revolutionary entered the house of Netra Sen and killed him in cold blood for having blown the whistle on Sen. On 12 January 1934 Sen was hanged to death by the British for his revolutionary activities. He was barely 39 years of age at the time of his death. Before death his letter to his friend is as follows: ............. "Death is knocking at my door. My mind is flying away towards eternity ...At such a pleasant, at such a grave, at such a solemn moment, what shall I leave behind you? Only one thing, that is my dream, a golden dream-the dream of Free India... Never forget the 18th of April,1930, the day of the eastern Rebellion in Chittagong... Write in red letters in the core of your hearts the names of the patriots who have sacrificed their lives at the altar of India’s freedom." (Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surya_Senhttps://www.thebetterindia.com/23959/unsung-heroes-freedom-fighters-india
↧
↧
When I did my high school in my native tongue 'Tamil' decades ago there was a misinformation in the high school text book on 'Indian History' about how India got her freedom from the British. It was mentioned in Tamil as follows : ......."Kathiyendre rathammindre naam swathanthiram petrrom'' meaning Without sword and blood we got freedom from the British.'' You can make your own judgement as to the veracity of the historical information given in the school text book. During the colonial rule scores of people including women scarified their lives to get India freed from the British, who literally bear-hugged the vast Indian subcontinent for the benefit of Britain and British society, reducing the rich Indian subcontinent to a country of paupers and emaciated poor people. They took away their lands, exploited them and , destroyed the vast village cottage industries, particularly textiles and pocketed the profit - every penny from this land leaving the gullible people in the lurch, forcing them to have hand to mouth life. As their atrocities were unbearable, a section of daring and courageous people across the country, in rage, raised their voice against the merciless and selfish British rulers. Including among them were some tribal people who too lost their lands to the British. Alluri Sitarama Raju was an Indian revolutionary from Andhra who could not brook the the oppressive British rule and their interference in the tribal lands over which they had been enjoying rights for several centuries. He led the tribes against the colonial rulers. The early childhood of Alluri Raju is sketchy and vague (birth 4th July 1897), any way, he lost his father at a young age. Brought up by his his paternal uncle, he neither showed interest in studies nor in learning Vedantha and yoga.While in Tuni in 1918, he spent time visiting near-by villages and developed a close rapport with the hill tribes. They were living in abject poverty and their condition was pathetic. After quitting school he started his campaign in East Godavari and Vizag. The British government now under the Crown administration passed the 1882 Madras Forest Act. This act was introduced to restrict the free movement of tribal peoples in the forest / jungle land and prevent them from engaging in traditional agricultural work / system, involving shifting cultivation. The owner can not decide what to cultivate on his land!! Alluri Raju became the voice of the voiceless tribes and led the Rampa Rebellion of 1922–24 and a band of tribal leaders and other sympathizers joined him to protest against the British Raj which had passed the law. The protest movement was popular in the border areas of the East Godavari and Visakhapatnam districts of Andhra Pradesh of Madras Presidency. His leadership was so aggressive he motivated lots of tribes to fight the British and their unjust, discriminatory Forest laws. He was called "Manyam Veerudu" ("Hero of the Jungles") by the local people. ![]() |
| Krishna Devi Peta village Tomb of Alluri Sitarama Raju famousplacesinindia.in |
At one point of time, Aluuri Raju lost his patience with the British Bobs and their attitude toward Indian natives, not to speak of tribes. He heard a lot about revolutionaries in Bengal who took to violence as a means to deal with treacherous British officials whose focus was to squander India as much as they could. Inspired by the Bengali patriots and revolutionaries, Alluri Raju, now freshly charged with patriotic zeal, along with his band of followers, raided many police stations in and around places like Chintapalle, Dammanapalli, Krishna Devi Peta, Narsipatnam, etc. During raids he stole arms and ammunition from those places and had no hesitation to kill several British army officers, including one Scott Coward near Dammanapalli. This was done to get their attention and express their abomination for the the way they treated the hill tribes. The British decided to catch Alluri Raju at any cost and he had been at large near Pegadapalle for a few months. In December 1922, the British brought in a company of Assam Rifles under one Saunders, and deployed it near Pegadapalle where Alluri Raju went underground. Soon he came out of the hide out and continued to his battle against the Raj with support from tribal volunteers. They mainly used bows and arrows to fight the British. They did not have any modern weapon; however their spirit was way high to get the British thrown out of India soon. In the wake of a raid led by Raju on the Annavaram police outpost on 18 September 1923, one or two leaders of his group were arrested. Soon his ardent follower Surya Narayana Raju Pericherla, popularly known as Aggiraju was arrested under the direction of the District Collector of Visakhapatnam district, Rutherford. The British campaign against Alluri Raju and his followers continued for one more year from December 1922 with no solid lead. Above image: Alluri Raju was caught and tied to a tree. On orders from the British officer, an Indian police inspector shot him dead; 7th May 1924. ..........As for Alluri Raju, Dame Luck ran out on him and he was finally caught and arrested in the forests of Chintapalli. He was tied to a tree and shot dead in Koyyuru village on 7 May 1924. He was just 26 years of age. Police officer Gnaneswara Rao, who trapped Raju got a special award from the police - the title of Rao Bahadur. In Krishna Devi Peta village one can see Alluri Raju's tomb. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alluri_Sitarama_Raju http://famousplacesinindia.in/Tombs/Alluri-Sitarama-Raju-Tomb.aspx
↧
![]() |
| Patriot and INA Shah Nawaz Khan www.patrika.com//www.patrika.c |
![]() |
| with Netaji Patriot and INA Shah Nawaz Khan www.patrika.com/ |
Among the prominent people who served the Indian national Army revamped by Netaji Chandra Bose, a great patriot and freedom fighter, was one Shah Nawaz Khan (24 January 1914 – 9 December 1983) who served INA during World War I. The INA was acting independent of British India Army and it had alliance with the Japanese Army. The purpose was to fight against the British by way of enlisting ex Indian army men, POWs and volunteers. The INA was accused of working and cooperating with the Axis forces (Germany, Italy and Japan) and the British India black-listed them and it was not in the interest of the British government.
Born in the village of Matore, Kahuta, Rawalpindi District, British India (now Pakistan) Khan was with the British Indian Army in 1940, and saw action in the Battle of Singapore before being taken prisoner by the Japanese after the surrender of the city. Inspired by Bose’s energy, enthusiasm and patriotic speeches to free India from the British, Nawaz joined the INA in 1943 which was reorganized by Bose. Earlier the first INA was disbanded in December that year after differences between the INA leadership and the Japanese military over its role in Japan's war in Asia. Khan said of Bose, "It will not be wrong to say that I was hypnotized by his personality and his speeches. He placed the true picture of India before us and for the first time in my life I saw India, through the eyes of an Indian." He not only became a key member of the Arzi Hukumat-e- Azad Hind (INA) formed by Bose but also a leader a regiment of INA consisting of experienced and well trained army men. It was Khan who led the INA regiment into NE India seizing control of Kohima and Imphal . They were held by INA under the authority of the Japanese during their offencive. Now Khan was entrusted with the responsibility of commanding the 1st Division at Mandalay, Burma and saw action against allied forces there. At last he and other INA army men surrendered to British troops in Burma. Since INA was waging war against the King Emperor, the British government in November 1946, arrested them convicted Khan, along with G.B.S. Dhillon and P.K. Sehgal on charges of treason at the Red Fort in Delhi. The trial became a sensational one and in the face of overwhelming public support and brimming nationalist sympathies General Auchinleck had no choice except to discharge Khan and his co-defendants with loss of pay. They were defended by well-known lawyers Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Asaf Ali, Bhulabhai Desai, Kailash Nath Katju and others. Their defense argument rested on the fact that they should be treated as prisoners of war as they were not paid mercenaries or bona fide soldiers of a legal government and further, they recognized the free Indian state as their sovereign and not the British sovereign.After the trial, Khan made a declaration that here on he would take the path chosen by Gandhiji - non-violence and later joined the Indian Congress party. After this he had a successful political career beginning with his first Lok Sabha victory in 1952 from Meerut Parliament constituency. He held important pst in the central cabinet ministry The Parliamentary Secretary and Deputy Minister of Railway and Transport for 11 years (1952–1956) & (1957–1964 (second term). Three time he was Food and Agricultural minister. Finally he held the post of Chairman of Food Corporation and Natonal Seed Corporation. As for Khan's political ideology, you can see his shift toward left. Hr was a strong advocate of land distribution and land reforms. In 1967, he was defeated against the Jan Sangh party as his support for permanent separate personal laws for religious communities drew criticism. When the Congress part was split in 1969, he sided with Mrs. Indira gandhi. Till his death on 9 Dec. 1983 he remained as head of Congress Sewa Dal.He was an important member to go in to the mysterious death of Netaji Bose who was purportedto have died in an air crash. His committee was of the opinion that Netaji did die in an air crash at Taihoku (Japanese for Taipei) in Formosa (now Taiwan), on 18 August 1945. They stated that his ashes were kept in Japan's Renkoji Temple and should be reinstated to India.Tit-bits:The Indian National Army (INA; Azad Hind Fauj; lit.: Free Indian Army) was an armed force formed by Indian nationalists in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II. Its aim was to secure Indian independence from British rule , hence it formed an alliance with Imperial Japan in the latter's campaign in the SE Asian theater of WWII. The army was first formed in 1942 under Mohan Singh, by Indian POW of the British-Indian Army captured by Japan in the Malayan campaign and at Singapore. This first INA was disbanded in December that year after differences between the INA leadership and the Japanese military over its role in Japan's war in Asia. It was revived under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose after his arrival in Southeast Asia in 1943. The army was declared to be the army of Bose's Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind (the Provisional Government of Free India). Under Bose's leadership, the INA drew ex-prisoners and thousands of civilian volunteers from the Indian expatriate population in Malaya (present-day Malaysia) and Burma.Hts://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shah_Nawaz_Khan_(general)http://azad-hind-sena.blogspot.com/2011/05/general-shah-nawaz-khan.html
llllll
↧
Prior to colonization of the Indian subcontinent by the British there existed an amalgamation of numerous independent states, with no proper identity and unity except religion - Hinduism which was a binding factor. The different states and people became united soon after the major Sepoy Mutiny of 1957 and led to the understanding of nationhood, universal brotherhood and cooperation among many states to become a Free Land and Free Indians. In this respect Bengal played a key role to get India freed from the British yoke. Midnapore, the second largest city in Paschim Medinipur district after Kharagpur in West Bengal has a large Hindu and Muslim population as you can see from several temples and mosques in this place and that they have been living in peace and harmony long before the arrival of the British in the late 17th century is a proof how the two religions coexisted with mutual understanding. If you take the British India history, the first casualty was Bengal (then undivided). The East India company who first entered Bengal as traders, over a period of time took away the entire area from then Nawab Siraj-ud Dualah through dishonest means and coercion. The British, in the early stages, broke the backbone of Bengal and its natives to improve their economy back in Britain. Centuries of exploitation and later division of Bengal into east and west based on religion (the British used administrative efficiency as an excuse under Lord Curzon), besides racial discrimination, etc infuriated the Bengalis. This is the reason why Bengal has the largest number of patriots in our country because at stake were their freedom of expression, Bengali pride, dignity and honor. In the beginning of 20th century, soon after Gandhiji, Patel, Tilak and other leaders' Clarion call for Quit India movement, people across India took part in numerous protests against the British. During this period a spate of assassination attempts were made on the tough and arrogant British officials in Bengal as they treated the freedom fighters in a shabby manner.![]() |
| Hijli Detention Camp now Hijli Saheed Bhawan. Photo courtesy: Biswarup Ganguly (Wikimedia Commons) |
Have you ever heard of murder of three ICS officials connected to the District Administration of Midnapore over a span of two years. This suggests to what extent the quiet people of India, in particular, Bengalis had been pushed to the other extreme of violence to get their grievances redressed. Those three murdered were high ranking ICS officers serving the district of Midnapore. They were James Peddy, ICS, Robert Dougla, ICS and D. E. Burge, ICS.The patriots who killed were pretty young Bengali men and one old woman , Driven by patriotic zeal they joined the revolutionary organizations and got trained in dealing with fire arms, etc. In this particular case they were helped by one Dinesh Gupta who founded a group in 1927 when he was a student of Midnapore college. However, their main office was Calcutta from where he would coordinate the activities of the revolutionariesThis group under Dinesh Gupta wanted to get rid of James Peddy who was heading the district administration. Peddy was unpopular among the native for a different reason. He was mean and harsh on the Satyagrahis. His forte was to beat them hard until they fell down like 8 pins in the Bowling alley. Yet another technique employed by this well educated English officer was his graceful treatment of Bengali women. Literally he would drag the women to the open streets, strip them of their clothes and leave them there. At stake was the modesty of Indian womanhood. He was unscrupulous and struck terror among the people. The Group headed by Gupta decided on 10th April 1931 to get rid of him soon. The task was given to four young men Phani Kundu, Jyoti ![]() |
| topyaps.com/7 |
Jevan Ghosh and Vimal Dasgupta. On 11 April, they wanted to kill him because of change of schedule of his district board meeting, the plan was postponed. Again 0n 7th May 931, the plan failed and the occasion was he was to open a student exhibition. So far, Dame Luck was in favor of Peddy, a rattler in the wood pile. Following day, in the evening on the play ground adjacent to his ![]() |
| Robert Dougles. www.midnapore. |
Above image: In Memory of Peddi, District Magistrate Indian Civil Service. His life was taken by assassins at Midnapore on April 07 1931...........Bungalow Peddy was surrounded by teachers and officials. Jyoti and Vimal stealthily entered the ground posing to help the collector. The place was poorly lit, taking advantage of the situation they fired at Peddy at close range and he died on the following day.During this tumultuous time one 71 year old, uneducated woman Matangini Hazra took the people of Midnapore by surprise. In a jiff, she did something that no body expected of her. This widow was carrying the national flag in hand to unfurl it atop a building. Her age did not bother her and she was already against wearing purdah. The police could not stop her and finally she was shot dead by them. ![]() |
| Matangini Hazra topyaps.com/7 |
Robert Douglas' fate was sealed in Midnapore. He was concerned about his personal safety and had to carry on his duty as the head of the district administration. He too was not a popular British official and an equally a treacherous man when dealing with freedom fighters He was instrumental in killing two youths at Hijli Detention Camp, Midnapore. The poor youths were unarmed and put to death. ![]() |
| Robert Douglas www.midnapore. |
Above image: Memory of Robert Douglas .Esq I.G.S District Magistrate, Indian Civil Service.Born Edinburgh Dec 4 1889 His life was taken by assassins at Midnapore on April 30 1932, Aged 42 years.........On the 30th of April 1932, he was presiding over a meeting of the District Board. Exactly at 5.30 pm. he was signing some papers surrounded by members of the Board. There was nothing unusual. Two youngsters Pradoot Bhattacharya and Prabhakangsu entered the room and in a flash one of them whipped out a gun and shot st Douglas' chest and he died in the hospital. This was done to revenge the killing of two innocent unarmed youths at the detention camp. The youth who did the firing escaped, but Pradyot Bhattacharya could not escape as his gun did not work during stand-off with the police. So, he was arrested and the police tried to pry out the whereabouts of the other. He never betrayed his accomplice and was hanged to death at Midnapore Central jail on 12th January 1933. The spate of violence against the British officials took the people and also the British by surprise. Many Europeans did not want to risk their lives working in Midnapore district which had become a center of revolutionary activities directed against the British.
None wanted to work in a place like this. At last, Mr. Bernard E. J. Burge volunteered to take the charge of magistrate post at Midnapore unmindful of the risk involved in his work. Burge, being shrewd and careful had a good security around him and had his bungalow properly fenced. He would stay at home unless he had a solid reason to go out. Several months went by without any untoward incident. On 2nd September Burge decided to to play football match at police grounds as he was fond of the game. There was a popular match between Mohammedan Sporting of Calcutta and the local Town Club of which he was the president. Anath and Mrigen had already got mixed up with the players. No sooner Burge had arrived at 5.30 pm evening than 8 shot rang out showering on Burge. The excitement and noise of the foot ball came drowned the noise and shouting that followed the firing. Mrigen was pinned down by a bodyguard and was killed. Other three Bengal accomplices Ramkrishna Roy, Braja Kishor Chakraborty and Nirmal Jibon Ghosh were arrested in connection with the conspiracy. Braja and Ramkrishna were jailed on charges of killing Bernad and sentenced them to death on 25 th October 1934 and Nirmal Jibon Ghosh following day- 26th October. Since then Midnapore never had Magistrate till independence. Thus 3 British officials in successive years, 1931, 1932 and 1933 were assassinated by the Indian revolutionaries. All the martyred men were Bengalis. ![]() |
| Tomb of Bernard Burge .midnapore.in |
Above image: Memory of Bernard E J Burge (Bobby), District Magistrate, Indian Civil Service. His life was taken by assassins at Midnapore on Sept. 02 1933, Aged 38 years....................On the 26th October 1933, the 3000 patriots in the jail shed tears for those who were hanged to death by the British, The inmates included several women revolutionaries who wanted India to be freed from the British soon. http://www.midnapore.in/bv.html https://www.telegraphindia.com/1070930/asp/calcutta/story_8376581.asp http://www.bhavans.info/heritage/martyrs.asp
↧
![]() |
| Dewan Purnaiah of Mysore /alchetron.com/ |
Often described as a “phenomenal prodigy'' by the historians Dewan Purnaiah (Purniya; 1746 - 27 March 1812) alias Krishnacharya Purniya had the rare distinction of having served as the Dewan under three great rulers - Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, the British and also Maharajah Mummudi Krishnaraja Wadiyar. A great administrator as he was, he served all these three rulers with dedication and integrity and gained their respect and regards. Besides being popular among people, he paid particular attention to Mysore state and and made solid contribution for its early development. His proficiency in many languages, in maths, proper planning and above all sharp memory came handy for him during the hey day. He was wartime military commander while serving under Tipu Sultan. Upon Tipu's death, when the Mysore kingdom was restored to the Wodeyar Royal family, it was Purnaiah who became a mentor to ruler Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar. When the Mysore prince came of age from 1799 till 1810 Purnaiah took the responsibility of governing the state in coordination with the English resident of the East India Company.Born in 1746 CE and raised in an orthodox Madhwa Brahmin family of Mysore, Purnaiah lost his father when he was young - 12 years old and came up in life on his own efforts. Being good at numbers and accounting, his job with a grocery merchant who had contact with Hyder Ali, soon got him better prospects. He earned the trust of Hyder Ali and later headed the accounts department He slowly became the confidant of Hyder Ali. His knowledge of Kannada, Sanskrit and Persian. beside fair knowledge of English was quite helpful to him to run his administration and now Hyder Ali had full confidence in him. Purnaiah 's sagacity and administrative strategy came to light in full bloom when Hyder Ali died in Chitoor while Tipu was camping in Malabar. Purnaiah kept the king's death a top secret, and informed Tipu at the earliest. Till the arrival of Tipu, he kept the body of Hyder Ali embalmed. Out side the place no body knew that Hyder Ali had been dead and the routine life was going on as usual. Since Hyder Ali had many enemies around him to avoid their attack on the kingdom in the absence of Tipu, Purnaiah intelligently kept the demise of Hyde Ali confidential. He never gave room to his adversaries to suspect something and take advantage of the absence of leadership in the kingdom. Credit goes to Purnaiah to save and clear the way for Tipu's succession to the throne. He was the only Hindu member of his Tipu's inner cabinet.Not many people aware that Purnaiah took part in every military campaign led by Tipu and in the Third Anglo-Mysore War of 1792, he commanded a rocket units with roughly 131 men. Tipu had so much faith in him in the last battle with the British, he had entrusted his eldest son and heir-apparent to Purnaiah's care. In the same war Tipu died in 1799. When the English took over the Mysore kingdom, the administration was in a bad shape. Very much impressed with political and administrative skill and the track record of Purnaiah, Gen. Harris appointed him as the first Dewan of Mysore. Queen Regent Lakshammanni of the Wodeyar Royal family agreed to the arrangement. The minor- king, later Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, had his training under Purnaiah. Purnaiah worked hard to improve the quality of life in Mysore state. He gave due importance to public works and many of them even to day, stand as a great testimony to his vision and foresight. Several tanks were dug, including a 9 - mile canal to supply drinking water to Mysore and to meet the agricultural needs. A stone bridge, was built during his time across river Kaveri connecting Srirangapattana with Kirangur and was dedicated to Marquess of Wellesley, the Governor General. The bridge has survived so far for more than two hundred years. It was during his period countless choultries (free food and lodge ) were built in the name of Maharajah of Mysore to take care of the needs of travelers in those days. But, they are known as"Dewan Purniah's Chatras". Yet another contribution of this great Dewan was improving the efficiency of the revenue department and management of lands. He introduced methodical surreys of government land and for better administration and created posts like Shekdars, Amaldars and Tehsildars who are vested with certain powers. Border patrolling and watch became a necessity as there were skirmishes near the state borders, a legacy of early regime. For his selfless and valuable services to the state, Purnaiah was granted the jagir of Yelandur, which had an annual revenue of 10000 star pagodas, by the Maharajah of Mysore. It was done at a special Durbar on 27 December 1807 and he British Resident Sir John Malcolm and the East India Company honoured him on his retirement by presenting him a horse, an elephant and a rich killat.
When Krishnaraja Wodeyar attained the age of 16 in early 1810, upon discussion with the then British Resident, A. H. Cole, the administration of the state was legally transferred from Dewan Purnaiah to the king and following year he retired from service in 1811. After his retirement from service in 1811, Purnaiah chose to spend his retirement life in the house known as Lord Harris's House or The Doctor's Bungalow or Puraniah's Bungalow in Seringapatam, near the Scott’s Bungalow and Garrison Cemetery. He died there on 28 March 1812. Tit bits:01. "The Diwan seems to pursue the wisest and the most benevolent course for the promotion of industry and opulence" (Gen. Wellesley in Kamath 2001, p. 249). 02. Purnaiah gave much importance to law and order situation for smooth administration. If uncontrolled, it will affect the administration. 03. He had no sympathy for Palegars - the local chieftains because of their despotic nature. 04. Soon after Tipu's death in 1799, the British never dispersed funds to the Mutts, durgahs and temples for their up-keep. When Purnaiah took the reigns, he released the funds to the places of worship. 05. He had a close rapport and friendship with Gen. Arthur Wellesley (Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington) when he was in Mysore. 06. His grandson Sir P. N. Krishnamurti, was also Dewan of Mysore during the first decade of the 1900s.https://history.wisc.edu/people/frykenberg-robert-erichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purnaiah
↧
↧
![]() |
| Rani Tapaswini,niece of Rani Jhansi Bai. /www.hindujagruti.org |
During India's freedom struggle against the British countless women sacrificed their lives to free India from the foreign rule. Among them there were many women from the Royal families from across India. Rani Tapaswini, niece of Rani of Jhansi Lakshmi Bai, is a great patriot who silently contributed toward freedom struggle. Being the queen from a well dynasty she donned the role of a spiritualist and imbibed patriotism among the native soldiers working for the East India Company (proxy Govt. run by the Crown in London). Unfortunately, she is an unsung patriot not well-known in the southern Indian states.
Rani Tapaswini (Sunanda), Rani Laxmibai’s niece and the daughter of Sardar Narayanra was a pious woman with a spiritualistic bend of mind, Widowed in her childhood she had spent her time in prayer and reading books on spiritual aspects of life. She neither found happiness nor peace of mind in materialistic life, Her favorite deity is Goddess Chandi. Her sterling qualities were fine temperament, guts and tolerance and no doubt, she earned the love and affection of the people. She never liked the British who were synonymous with brutality, dishonesty and diabolism. Coming from a Royal family, it was quite obvious, she underwent training in fields related to the administration of a kingdom. She learned the intricacy of warfare, horse-riding, besides management, etc. This training in complicated aspect of running the administration of a big state stood her in good stead when she took up the reigns of her father's kingdom upon his demise. Safeguarding the kingdom and its people is the foremost priority so, she had her father’s fort repaired to withstand raids and siege. She selected able-bodied people and trained them as soldiers for the upkeep of the kingdom.
The East India Company's quest for seizing more lands in the subcontinent continued unabated, resulting in Rani Tapaswini's imprisonment without any inquiry. However, on second thoughts, the British felt that being spiritualistic and non-materialistic in nature, she would not pose any threats to their expansionism. As a result of this she was released from prison. Once released from the confinement she moved over to Naimisharanya and had begun to focus on worshiping Goddess Chandi. The British categorically assumed that Rani Tapaswini's renunciation to a sort of ascetic life was undertaken with certain religious fervor. Her intense prayer and commitments to spiritual life made her more popular than ever before and lots of people made a beeline to her Ashram to seek Rani Tapaswini’s guidance. Her guidance and preaching were of great help to the people who came her and naturally, this led them to call her ‘Mata (mother) Tapaswini’.At Rani Tapaswini’s Ashram in Naimisharanya visited countless devotees and Indian soldiers who told her about their mental agony and pain on account of poor treatment by the English company officials who openly practiced racial discrimination, besides squandering our natural resources. The more stories about Britisher's atrocities she heard from the devotees, the more Rani Tapaswini became angry. Insults and insinuation people suffered on their own land by the foreigners changed her mental make-up and attitude and she felt compelled to do something about it. Through her fiery speeches and preaching she induced patriotism in countless devotees and soldiers from British regime to protest against them. Since the beginning of 1857 the atrocities of EIC officials, in particular, military reached the level of intolerance natives working for the company were in rage. At this juncture, the saints and fakirs understood the predicament of these people and sympathized with them. In order to enhance their patriotic zeal and understand the value of Freedom, they whipped up the sentiments by emotionally appealing to them. They brought to light the following points: 01. The British look down upon you as inferior creatures, 02. They insult and intimidate you based on your race and skin color, 03. Since their arrival in India, they have looted our resources, taken away our lands and reduced our economy to shambles. 04. You are paid less salary than your counter parts; as for soldiers, the less said, the better and 05. Now, they want us to get converted to Christianity. So fight against this injustice and misrule. ....... You soldiers from many regiments must unit and revolt against the British to save our motherland. Rani Tapaswini voiced her concern and asked the people to free India from the oppressive British regime.It is quite interesting to note that early patriots like Nanasaheb, Balasaheb, Tatya Tope, and Ajimulla Khan had consultation with Rani Tapaswini before the start of Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 that had its roots in Meerut Cantonment. Their general consensus was both civilians and soldiers should be informed of the ensuing revolt by using code language. As suggested by Rani Tapaswini and others, the saints and fakirs visited interior places and prepare the civilians for the revolt. The move was made in a secretive manner it did not rise any suspicion among the British.Unfortunately, after a long battle, the revolt was put down by the British with latest firearms and man power. Having understood the futility of revolting against the mighty British with civilians and soldiers, Rani Tapaswini followed a naval method of directly approaching the Maharajahs and rulers who had close contact with the British for their survival and to run their kingdom without any trouble and at the same time not losing all the trappings that would go with their covetous post. Rani Tapaswini made sincere efforts to change the attitude of the rulers who were selfish. She along with Nanasaheb personally visited the king of Nepal, Jungbahadur, ruler of Darbhanga and others and told them about the importance of getting freedom from the British and the people's aversion to living in the kingdom with a powerless king.While in Kolkata, Tapaswini was in touch with such stalwart as Lokmanya Tilaka accompanied by Khadilkar, the subeditor of ‘Kesari’ with whom she secretly started a weapons factory in Nepal, using tiles making unit as a front. Illegally arms were imported from Nepal to be supplied among the revolutionaries and freedom fighters. This clandestine arms and ammunition operation did not last for along time as a traitor blew the whistle on him and the man behind the operation Khadilkar escaped to Maharashtra and was at large. The ageing Rani realized that there are countless people who do not want India freed from the British and she was grief-stricken. She protested against the partition of Bengal on the basis of religion. It was initiated by Lord Curzon on grounds of administrative efficiency. Rani Tapaswini, a close relative of Rani of Jhansi died in 1905 unsung and forgotten. This great woman fought for India's freedom stoically without making any pomp. The Indian government must come forward and honor her sacrifices by way of erecting a lasting monument as a token of Indian people's gratitude to this great woman patriot from an Indian Royal family.Ref : S.D. Zambare, Mahan Bhartiya Krantikarak (Great India Freedom Fighters), 1st part 1770 to 1990 (Maharashtra Rajya Sahitya Ani Sanskruti Mandal, Mumbai) (Daily Sanatan Prabhat, New Moon day, Kaliyug Year 5112 (11.07.2010)
https://www.hindujagruti.org/history/69714.html
↧
August 13, 2018, 11:11 am
![]() |
| Lord George Harris GCBen.wikipedia.org/ |
Lord George Harris CGB (18 March 1746 – 19 May 1829), son of the Rev. George Harris, curate of Brasted, Kent after his education at Westminster School and at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, joined the Royal Artillery in 1760. After promoted as captain in 1771 his first active service was in the American War of Independence, in which he served at Lexington, Bunker Hill where he was severely wounded; later he saw several battles. Before his promotion as lieutenant-colonel in his regiment (1780), he married Anne Carteret Dickson. After his engagement in Ireland for some time he came to Bombay, India along with General Medows and he worked with him till 1792, taking active role in various battles and engagements, notably under Lord Cornwallis and his famous raid on srirangapatna in the Third Anglo-Mysore War against Tipu Sultan. After a brief stint back home, he was back in India in 1784. He became major-general, and in 1797 Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Army. Up to 1800 be commanded the troops in the presidency, and for a short time he worked in the civil government as well. In December 1798 he was directed by Lord Mornington, the governor-general, to command the field army against the Britisher's formidable enemy Tipu Sultan of Mysore. In a few months of intense campaigning and planning, along with Lord Wellesley, Harris stormed into Tipu's well-built strong fort at Srirangapatna and in the ensuing fierce battle Tipu died in its defence.
His success at Srirangapatna won him laurels, but he declined the offer of an Irish peerage. After his trip back home in 1800, he continued to serve the army and in 1812 he became full general. There he lived in Belmont House (County of Kent). In 1820 he received the GCB, and in 1824 the governorship of Dumbarton Castle. He remained colonel of the 73rd (Highland) Regiment of Foot from 1800 to his death. Gen. Harris died at Belmont in May 1829.![]() |
| Dewan Purnaiah of Mysore /alchetron.com/ |
The Harris House located in Srirngapatna, Karnataka is a historical site and can be accesses through a path that lies in between Garrison Cemetery and Scott's bungalow. It was here Lord Harris lived for a short period after Tipu's death in 1799 when the British captured Mysore kingdom and was in the process of controlling it by restoring the kingdom back to the early ruler the Wodiyar Royal family. Very much impressed with political and administrative skill and the track record of Purnaiah, Gen. Harris appointed him as the first Dewan of Mysore. Earlier Punaiah worked as the Dewan for Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan and had excellent administrative skill, Hence the British needed some one like Punaiah who had good management skill in running the kingdom![]() |
Inscription at the Lord Harris Residence, Seringapatam en.wikipedia.org
|
It was here after his retirement from service in 1811, Purnaiah chose to spend his retirement life in the house. It is also known as the Doctor's Bungalow or Puraniah's Bungalow where he died on 28 March 1812.
↧
August 14, 2018, 11:10 am
Boredom at work:
''I can not bear the sight of a man in 3 piece suit coming to our office and giving us a long Sermon on the mount about ''How to avoid boredom at work and energize yourself''. The tedium of listening to such a sleep-inducing talk has made me more lethargic than ever before.'' ............... Lamented a company management staff*****The art of being a politician:'' A Politician in public life must develop capacity for criticism and optimism and how to get out of a bad situation. By the same token, he must be patiently receptive to cascades of invective and accusations. Such capabilities help him a lot when he is caught in various scams in the course of his career. Ultimately he will know the art of converting a flop into favor.'' *****Political speech and action:![]() |
| Clipartof |
''The leader's fiery political speech has all the inspirations and energy the Celtic-fire could supply, but when it comes to result-oriented action, it has ended up in smoke.''******Ageing actress: ''The middle aged actress' red-shot eye is brighter than the red-hot iron. What has angered her is some media people have made unsavouryPolitical game:"Politics is a mixed bag: it is teeming with the best brains and talented people on one side and on the other with Bozos and Circus buffoons. The irony is the latter rule the roost and the state's coffers; as for the former, they are voiceless because they have common sense. They know rooster does not lay eggs and and the Sun never sets in the east!! People, with blighted hope, have to put up with a show of bluff, bluster and sophistry."*******A man went to a shrunk and sought his advice regarding his inability to sleep well. The shrunk said, "A senior leader from the political party in power is going to stay here for a week and give stump speeches and I suggest you attend them. The man asked, ''what it has got to do with my sleep problem? "The shrunk said, ''Yes, there is a link, the tedium of listening to his boring statistical data, political ideology and, most importantly his self adulation will help you induce sleep to such an extent you will snore violently.''*******Losing one's shirt:''A tourist who had been to a small city in south India was lamenting: The auto rickshaw drivers are so bad they rip you off from top to bottom.......When you do not have enough fare to pay, bear in mind: you may end up losing your shirt, if you are unlucky, you will bare everything, including your undergarment." *******
↧
To day we're celebrating 72nd independence day of India which was under the British rule for too long a time. On this day, it is the bounden duty of every Indian citizen to express his/her debt of gratitude to countless freedom fighters - both men and women who gave their lives to see India as Free Country. The entire Indian subcontinent and the natives of several regions underwent untold story of unjust rule, exploitation, racial discrimination and insults both under the East India Company and later under the British Crown. Indians patiently brooked all the evils committed by the colonial rulers with patience and, at last, got our freedom. When leaving the Indian shores for good in August 1947, Britain did injustice by dividing the Indian subcontinent into India (a Democratic country) and Pakistan (a Theocratic country). The British, in particular, under the leadership of Winston Churchill never wanted to grant freedom to India as this country happened to be their cash-cow. The British got enormous revenue from India which is endowed with lots of natural resources. Historical events like Rowlett
Act, Jallianwalla
Bagh
Massacre of Punjab (April 1913) and, at last, the Bengal Famine of 1943 accelerated India's independence moments. Britain's involvement in WWII was a blessing in disguise and its active participation drained its economy badly. When Attlee became the PM of Britain, replacing Churchill, the new government understood the aspirations of Indians and their long cherished goal and granted independence. Sri
C. Rajagopala
Chari
(Rajaji
) became the first and last Viceroy of India replacing Lord Mountbatten. Pandit
Nehru was to take the reigns as the PM of India with limited money in the coffers to tackle a plethora of problems on many fronts; indeed a Herculean task for a young country just out of iron fritters.
Many of us may not be aware that prior to the major rebellion of 1857 called Sepoy 'Mutiny' against the British that gripped the northern states, in the southern state of Tamil Nadu
there were many small uprisings against the British by the natives called Palayakarars (polygars) who were small local rulers/chieftainsAbove image: Veerapandiya Kattabomman, a well-known freedom fighter was an 18th-century Palayakarrar and chieftain from Panchalankurichi (Tirunelveli district) in Tamil Nadu, India. He despised the English company and its officials. He and his associates refused to accept the sovereignty of the British East India Company and revolted against them when they asked him to pay land tax (Kisti). The british defeated him, killed hi relatives and finally captured him by an Indian traitor who otherwise would have lost his kingdom and his family. Kattabommen was hanged to death at Kayathar, close to Thirunelveli city on 16 October 1799 with biased trial. Reason: He refused to pay land taxes, revolted against the British and instigated others local chieftains .............
They were the descendants of Nayaks
who originally migrated from Andhra
during the Vijayanagara
rule and later during Nayak
periods. Of particular interest to us is their 1801 revolt against the British. The Palayakarars refused to pay land tax to the colonial rulers. The East India Company had a subsidiary alliance with the Nawab of Arcot to protect the latter's establishment on a specified annual fee plus meeting the maintenance cost of their army. At one stage, the Nawab
could not pay the heavy fees and asked the English company to collect the land rent from Palayakarars
on their behalf. These local rulers ( who hailed from Tirunelvali and other southern district of Tamil Nadu) who had been enjoying rights for several centuries refused to pay taxes to them. Consequently several wars and skirmishes broke out between the local rulers and British forces backed by the Nawab
.
According to Mr. M. Rajendran, IAS officer, the 1801 revolt by the Palayakarers was the first war of independence predating both the Vellore Mutiny (10 July 1806) and Sepoy Mutiny. And one interesting fact is this revolt was well organized
and nicely planned by the Palayakarars
who were in touch rebels from places like Pune
and Nanguneri
. Their aim was to free the land from the British. Historian Prof. Rajayan
of M.K. university, Madurai requested the central government - ICHR
to consider this revolt as the earliest war of independence. Some well-known historians like Ramachandra
Guha
are of the opinion that none of these revolts including the 1770s Sanyasi-Fakir revolt of Bengal can be classified as the war of independence because they did not have any national character and these wars against the colonial rulers were fought for certain specific purposes. The war of independence assumed a national character and ethos only after the arrival great patriots like Gokhale, TilakGandhiji,et
al
., particularly after the formation of the Indian National Congress which attracted the people across India cutting across caste, religion, languages and culture.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/when-the-tamils-rose-up-against-british-200-yrs-ago/articleshow/57008943.cms
↧
↧
August 15, 2018, 11:25 am
In the annals Indian history with respect independence struggle against the British, some historical events taken place in Tamil Nadu either went unnoticed or did not get publicity. In the school history text books, there is no mention of such early freedom movements in the state except the exploits of the Palayakara chieftain Veerapandya Kattabomman of Panchalamkuruci (in Tirunelveli Dist.,) and Mardu brothers. The Palayakarars of the southern most part of Tamil Nadu were a force to reckon with and many of the chieftains did not like the British taking over their land - their place of birth and their audacity to ask them to pay land tax to the East India company who got the authority to collect tax from them for Nawab of Arcot who ultimately became a victim of colonial rulers' wheeling and dealing, and dishonesty. They somehow managed to put down the 1801 revolt by the Palayakarars (Polygars) and later successfully tracked down their arch enemy Kattabomman and at laat caught him and hanged him to death in 1799.. In the war this great warrior and freedom fighter's family members and relatives were perished. So were their dwellings and fort
In the wake of Kattabomman's death and his upraising, the British tailed the people who supported him, and the other chieftains Maruthu Brothers. They finally rounded up 73 rebels. Most of them were Kattabomman's followers and belonged to Palayakarar community. About 216years ago these people were banished from India - their home land to Prince Edward Island in Penang by the EIC officials to instill fear among other rebels not to revolt against the British who were in an expansionism mode. The great warrior of Srirangapatna, Tipu Sultan, having been killed in 1799 in the final Angelo-Mysore war, it was an open range for the British. They subdued the Marathas and the British had difficulty to expand farther down south because both Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan set the road blocks for them. With their arch rivals gone, the task became easy for them to capture the Peninsular land up to Kanykumari, the southern most tip.Coming back to 73 condemned rebels, the British in February 1802 took them to Tutukudi (present day Thoothukudi). According to historian Rajayyan of M.K. university, Madurai, they were under the custody of military officer one Col James Welsh. Among them, Vengum Periya Wodaiyana Thevar of Sivaganga; Doraiswamy, the son of Chinna Marudu; Jagannatha Ayyar, rebel amildar of Ramnad; and others were tagged as the ‘chief rebels. These rebels and others from south Tamil Nadu became the first ones to have been banished from their motherland to an unknown destination in Penang. Rajayyan mentioned that Doraisamy returned to India and could not go to his native place Sivaganga and died in Madurain 1n 1823.
On this day when we are celebrating the 72nd Independence Day, we must remember and express our gratitude to these great rebels who were the earliest unsung Indian freedom fighters from Tamil Nadu who had nothing to offer except their own lives to make India a Free Country in course of time. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/remembering-the-first-freedom-fighters-banished-from-india/article22718009.ece .'
↧
![]() |
| Sangolli Rayanna/ en.wikipedia.org |
Sangolli Rayanna (15 August 1798 – 26 January 1831), a great warrior and freedom fighter from Karnataka, was the army chief in the kingdom of Kittur ruled by Rani Chennamma. Like the queen he never accepted the sovereignty of the British East India Company and its interference in the affairs of the Kittur kingdom. Their atrocities having crossed the limits of tolerance Rayanna fought against the colonial rulers till he breathed his last. His exploits during the colonial period became so famous they were topics of serious discussion. His inspiring life became the subject of the 2012 Kannada film ''Sangolli Rayanna''.
Belonging to Kuruba tribe, Sangolli village, in the district of Ganeshawadi and Bailuhongala, his father was Dodda Baramappa Balappa Rogannavar. Right from the early ages, he hated the British who took away countless lands owned by various rulers in a dishonest manner, using some excuses. He did not like Indian natives being cowed down by the foreign invaders who had better fire power and war weapons. Despite being arrested and later released by the British in 1824 for his major role in a rebellion, his upraising against the English company continued ever vigorously and his spirited fight against never showed any sign of decline.![]() |
| Nandagad The grave of Sangolli Rayanna. The Hindu |
He was very particular about installing the adopted son Shivalingappa of Rani (queen) Kittur Chainnamma as the ruler of Kittur to run the small kingdom effectively. Since the widowed queen did not have a son, the British did not accept adoption as a means to ascend the throne. Using their unjust Doctrine of Lapse as a ruse, they wanted to take over the kingdom against the wishes of Rani Chinnamma and her army chief Rayanna. Apart from enrolling more local people in his army, he also conducted raids against rich landlords. Sangolli Rayanna was a nightmare for the rich Zamindars /land owners ![]() |
| Sangolli Rayanna/ en.wikipedia.org |
and the rich who, in collusion with the colonial rulers, exploited the poor. With the money looted from the rich, he strengthened his army, and at the same time, gave the money to the poor. Rayanna was one among some of the early freedom fighters who used the guerrilla warfare against the British as the terrain was good for this purpose. It was Gajaveera, a Siddi warrior was of great help to Rayanna in his relentless fights against the British in 1829-30. Driven by patriotism and an urge to free the land from the British, he and his well trained army targeted the government offices and torched them. They kept changing places to avoid being tailed, and when opportunities arose,they waylaid British troops and plundered treasuries. In retaliation, the British confiscated his lands and ultimately succeeded in arresting him in April 1830 by treachery. He was tried and the trial was a bogus one. As expected the British sentenced Sangolli Rayanna to death by hanging near Nandagad in Belagavi district on 26 January 1831; he was just 32 years old. His legal heir Shivalingappa, a minor was supposed to be the new ruler; however, he was too arrested by the British to grab the kingdom.Rayanna was buried near Nandagad and his grave is under the shadow of a Banyan tree once planted by his admirer. Also built was an Ashoka Stambha near the tree in the grave. His last words are very famous and often included in the popular ballads sung in the villages of North Karnataka. He said, ”I may die now but I will soon take birth again and come back to fight for my kingdom and the people until it is free from the clutches of British.”
There is a temple dedicated to Sangolli Rayanna and also a statue at Sangolli village, his native place. A life size bronze statue of Sangolli Rayanna, riding a horse with a sword in right hand, was installed near Bangalore Railway station.The main railway station of Bangalore City is called "Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna"Railway Station (since 03-02-2016; Krantiveera is a Kannada word used to describe Sangolli Rayanna). Along with Rani Chennamma, Rayanna’s glory, patriotism and valor are reflected in the ‘gee gee padas’ (native folk songs) and dramas.
Tit-bits: 01. Near his native place a 100 acre land is identified to develop it into an adventure academyin Rayanna's name. The Sangolli Rayanna Authority is allocated with Rs. 12 crores to honor this great patriot. Land consisting of 12 acres around the banyan tree where
02. Land consisting of 12 acres around the banyan tree where Rayanna was hanged to death near Nandgad is obtained to build a museum.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangolli_Rayanna
↧
August 16, 2018, 11:01 am
The annual Aadipooram festival at SriVilliputhur Andal temple, Tamil Nadu is an important one celebrated here with religious fervor. Being a colorful festival, it is a long-drawn one starting on the 19th of July 2018 and ending on 30 July. This year the Aadipooram date is 13 August.
This temple is a popular one dedicated to lord Vishnu (Rangamanner / Vadapathrasayi) and his consort is Andal, daughter of Priyaazhwar, a great Vaishnavite saint who wrote Tamil devotional hymns in praise of the lord. Considered as one of the important Divya Desam shrines glorified by the Azhwar saints of 6th to 9th centuries, lots of people visit this temple and the temple Gopuram - tower is one of the tallest in south India and is the emblem of the Tamil Nadu State Government. Sri Andal, being an ardent devotee of the lord here, wrote Thirupavai - devotional hymns which are recited in all Vaishnavite temple across Tamil Nadu during the month of Margazhi (December - January). Equally famous are the hymns Thirupallandu composed by saint Periyazhwar.Aadi Pooram festival - a 12 day event is celebrated in the month of Aadi (July August) in Tamil Nadu and also in other southern states. It is celebrated on the day of Pooram or Poora Nakshatram (ie.13th August this year). This day gains much significance as it is celebrated as Andal Jayanthi - the birthday of Sri Andal who is believed to be the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and also of Sakthi Devi.Since the presiding deity's star is Pooram (as per Tamil Calendar) much importance is given to this Aadipooram festival in which thousands of people from various places participate with dedication and Bhakti. The major event is pulling the huge chariot (rath) with the deities along the adjacent streets. After early morning special pujas, the presiding deities, Sri Rengamannar and Goddess Andal in a decorated palanquin are placed in the decorated car. The rath yatra will start around 8.30 am, wending its way through four streets amidst devotees chanting of Azhwar pasurams. The Yatra will end at the temple back before noon. The unique feature of this festival is it marks the adoption of the presiding deity Andal by Periyazhwar after he accidentally discovered her near a Tulsi maadam (Tulasi stand) in the garden of Vadabadrasai Temple at Srivilliputhur on the eighth day of the Tamil month of Adi. The temple car used to be a heavy one (40m tall and 650 tonnes) in the past and it took lots of time to pull it back to the temple. For unknown reasons before 2000, the annual car festival - practice of drawing the temple car by the devotees was suspended. The credit goes to Sri Vanamamalai Jeer, who revived this car festival by suggesting certain modification (he is the head of a Mutt - a monastic institution) to the temple car. Hydraulic wheels with break system were introduced to ease the forward pulling of the chariot. The car connected to the giant ropes at both sides will be pulled by the devotees. Besides, heavy bulldozer or heavy-duty tractors will be used from behind the car to push the rath
forward. Kumbabishekam
, the consecration of the Andal
temple took place on 20 January 2016 on a grand scale and golden filials were also installed at the Andal
temple. This temple follows Thenkalai samprathayam and Fridays and Saturdays are auspicious days to visit the temple for puja and prayer. https://hindupad.com/andal-jayanti-festival-andal-pooram/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srivilliputhur_Andal_temple
↧
It is really an unfortunate fact that hundreds of monuments, historical buildings, ancient Hindu temples, etc., across India built during the colonial period and much earlier time are gradually disappearing out of our sight for one good reason - negligence coupled with lack of interest in our heritage sites that connect us with the past era of glory. In many places they are in a state of sad dilapidation because the power that be - district administration, city or municipal council, including the central and state organizations have no definite plan for the restoration and conservation of these ancient monuments. Some sites have become garbage dumps, car park and some pretty old temples have become a drug den, and the near by damaged mantaps are dwelling places for the homeless and poor. At many sites of heritage value, as they are not well barricaded/protected properly, the hooligans and anti-social people have a free hand and damage them. In remote places, the unprotected and neglected temples, etc., are frequented by gangs and ganja addicts. The governments are wasting money on many useless and unwanted projects that are not beneficial to the people. I wish the government could come forward and take a list of monuments that are either in ruin or in a wretched state and restore them back to their original state after correct planning and execution..
In Tamil Nadu, particularly in remote places, many small Hindu temples with excellent sculptures and artistic work are in a dilapidated state for lack of funds and attention. Almost many of them are under the control of the state government (HR and CE), a poor administrator of Hindu temples and lately there are many complaints and court cases against this organization which is plagued by mismanagement, corruption, financial irregularities and thefts of valuable idols of deities made of an alloy of five metals. There many monuments under the administration of the ASI -Archaeological Society of India. As for the ASI, the upkeep of the 1000 year plus old Brihadeshwar temple (big temple) and the near-by Schwartz Church at Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu is not good. The boundary walls of the temple are not repaired and are falling apart.. With respect to the Protestant Church built by Maharajah Serfoji, big cracks are developed on the outer walls. Only the ASI has the rights to carry out any repair as the church is on the big temple land. Because of apathy of the government officials priceless historical sites that bring out the true picture of various historical and interesting events in Indian history are slowly crumbling. It is the first and foremost duty, rather responsibility of the government to preserve and restore these crumbling heritage structures across India for the posterity. If such countless heritage sites are attractively developed, it will improve the tourism industry. In places like Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi, Lucknow, etc hundreds of monuments, including churches, mosques and colonial buildings need immediate attention. If repaired and restored, such monuments will enhance the past glory of these places as it is fading now on account of sheer negligence on the part of the government.
In Vadadora, Gujarat, a beautiful palace had been in bad shape for a long time and nobody came forward, including the royal family members who owned the building to get it repaired and restored it back to old glory. They could have saved the age old building if they had keen desire and commitment. As the structure became weak due to prolonged neglect for such a long time, it posed a threat to the public and eventually in October, 2014 it was pulled down amidst court cases and litigation with respect to this old palace.
Built in 1721 by Malhar Rāo Gaekwad who succeeded Khanderao Gaekwad, Nazarbaug Palace (also known asNazar Bāgh Palace), was the ruling family Gaekwad's royal palace in the city of Vadodara, Gujarat state, western India. Now, it is gone for ever, creating a hole in the history of Vadadora. Malharrao ruled the kingdom for just five years and during that period, he built this fine palace. Located in Mandvi Gate, it is believed to be the oldest and first European styled palace in this part of Gujarat. With three floors this palace used to be the venue for conducting important ceremonies by the Gaekwads - the well-known rulers of this place. This historical palace building way back housed the royal family heirlooms. The main attractions were solid gold and silver guns, each barrel weighing over 100 kg and a big room of glasses called the Shïsh Mahal, a Palace of Glass. The adjacent huge garden enhanced the beauty of this palace, hence it was called 'Nazar na laage' ; hence the name Nazarbaug Palace.The Gaekwad family was known collectors of expensive jewelry and their expensive jewelry collection in 1927, was worth Above image: The 128.48-carat Star of the South, a famous diamond was discovered in 1853 in Brazil; Light Pinkish-Brown in color it was purchased by Halphen & Associates of Paris and was given the name the Star of the South. At this time, the syndicate came up with an offer of £110,000 by an unknown Indian Rajah, but the offer was declined. Later, for reasons not divulged, it was sold to Mulhar Rao, the Gaekwad of Baroda, for £80,000, or about $400,000.http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/starofthesouthdiamond.html.........................$10,000,000.00, a huge sum in those days. The collection included a diamond necklace which carried both the Star of the South diamond, weight around 125 carats, and the English Dresden; another important part of the collection was a cloth embroidered with precious stones and seed pearls, made to cover the tomb of Muḥammad. The white-stucco palace was once the depository of the vast collection of jewels of the Gaekwad family.![]() |
| Englisg Dresden diamond. owned by Maharajah Gaekwad. Pinterest |
Above image: The famous English Dresden diamond gets its name from Mr. E. H. Dresden the 19th century jeweler and diamond dealer of London, who purchased the 119.5 carat rough diamond discovered in Brazil in 1857.English Dresden diamond was purchased by ruler Malhar Rāo, of the princely state of Baroda, in India in 1864 for a sum of 40,000.00 pounds. In 1880, the Gaekwad had the diamond set in a necklace along with other stone the Star of the South, which he had also purchased..................
What was once a beautiful and majestic palace now looks like a mound of trash and rubble beyond redemption. In October, 2014, the palace was completely razed to give way for apartment complexes or shopping mall. The media reports were highly critical of the Royal family who had no interest in saving the building despite court orders. Some critics pointed out the royal family members had scant respect for the court orders. It is high time the government came out of their complacent stupor and took positive steps to preserve our heritage cultural ethos.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazarbaug_Palacehttps://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/Nazarbaug-palace-demolished/articleshow/44792391.cms
↧
↧
August 17, 2018, 11:24 am
ii
![]() |
| Front view of Hazira en.wikipedia.org |
![]() |
| Hazira restored en.wikipedia.org |
Gujarat state has numerous historical Muslim monuments, in particular, Ahmadabad city. The mausoleum known as Hazira Maqbara at Vadodara is a historical monument built in a sort of Mogul style. Built in 1586, it has close similarity with the tomb of Humayun at Delhi. The important feature of this mausoleum is it contains the tombs of two prominent personalities. They are Qutb-ud-din Muhammad Khan who was the tutor of Salim, son and successor of the great Mogul ruler Akbar, and the other one is that of his son Naurang Khan who held important positions in Gujarat under Akbar. Qutb-ud-din was the uncle of Mirza Aziz Koka, a foster brother of Akbar and the Governor of Gujarat. He held the poweful post thrice in between 1573 AD to 1583 AD. Muzaffar Shah III, the last sultan of Gujarat Sultanate killed Qutb in 1583. Though simple, this monument stands in full glory and quite inspiring. The added advantage is here you have a serene ambiance and be at peace with yourself.![]() |
| hazira-maqbaratravelrage.wordpress.com |
This structure is built on the model of Mogul tombs at Delhi with high octagonal platform and smaller gates on the cardinal directions and five big arches on each side. As in Delhi tombs, the real grave is in an underground chamber and the false grave is in the tomb chamber. This type of design of toms was quite prevalent during the Mogul period. Visitors are allowed to enter the tombs in the small room. As in many tombs, the Quranic texts in Arabic are nicely and artistically carved at many places - inside tomb chamber, on lintels, arches and also above Jalli work on eastern side walls. Jallis and tall lattice windows are beautiful and the artisans would have spent much time on these windows, etc as they seem to be a delicate work.This mausoleum does not exhibit eye-catching embellishments except the extant parapet wall on the roof terrace which is well-decorated with Merlon designs in brick red color. The outer walls of the garden tomb are made of red bricks. The lower part of cylindrical dome surrounding the tomb has thick plaster of brick red color.The mausoleum has a double dome- must have been a garden tomb. Vav or step well close by was built to supply water to the garden in the olden days.https://travelrage.wordpress.com/2012/10/03/hazira-maqbara-vadodara/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazira_Maqbara
↧
![]() |
| Sir Charles Augustus Tegart. historyireland.com |
Above image: Portrait of Tegart which once hung in the office of the Director of the intelligence branch of the Bengal police................Sir Charles Augustus Tegart KCIE KPM (1881 – 6 April 1946) was a British colonial police officer in India and Mandatory Palestine (a geopolitical entity as part of partition of the Ottoman Empire in the region of Palestine under the terms of British mandate for Palestine) and had a name for instilling fear among the Indian natives. He was more known for his notoriety for his brutality and use of torture in dealing with victims than for his integrity in his official work. He was known to be ruthless and "uncompromising with detainees". His expertise in torture and brute forces was at full display in the later part of 1930s when he was with the British Mandate of Palestine. - "Tegart forts", reinforced concrete police stations and posts were quite well-known . His forte was brutal questioning accompanied by beating prisoners on the soles of their feet, causing severe pain. Simply speaking, he was a ruthless a Devil in Police Uniform. Born in Derry, county Londonderry Sir Charles Tegart KCIE and KIPM in 1881, the son of a Church of Ireland clergyman, Rev. Joseph Poulter Tegart of Dunboyne, County Meath, was educated at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen and briefly at Trinity College, Dublin. Joined the Calcutta Police in 1901, Tegart became the head of its Detective Department and had served almost continuously in Calcutta for a period of thirty years until he was appointed a member of the Secretary of State's Indian Council in December 1931. In 1924, the Caledonian Society of Calcutta honored one of the most loyal servants of the British Raj, Charles Augustus Tegart, who was acclaimed as the most famous policeman of British India but a hated villain to Bengali revolutionary nationalists for his intelligence work against their cause. Tegart joined the newly-established intelligence branch of the Bengal police that tracked lots of revolutionaries and led to large-scale detentions and deportations of suspected terrorists under the 1915 Defence Act of India Act. In 1917 Tegart served as one of the principal advisors to the Rowlatt Committee, which was investigating ‘revolutionary crime’ in India. He took the credit of being the first officer of the Indian Police (IP) and on his recommendation, the Special Branch was created to deal with hard core criminals- revolutionaries, etc. Above image: Sir Charles Tegart presenting special medals to police officers in Calcutta during the 'civil disobedience' rioting encouraged by Gandhi's .........He became the Superintendent of Police in 1908, and received the King's Police Medal in 1911. Through devotion to duty and ruthless dealing with criminal, his promotion was quick and he came Commissioner of Calcutta Police from 1923 to 1931. It was natural he earned the ire of the Bengali patriots and anti-British activists who fought for Indian independence. His actions were quite menacing and formed a huge road block for the revolutionaries. He gave a tough time to patriots led by Jatindranath Mukherjee at Balasore in Orissa on 9 September 1915.That Tegart is said to have survived six assassination attempts in India is a tell-tale story of his notoriety and repressive brutality in dealing with natives and their demand for freedom. Undeterred by several attempts on his life, not withstanding danger to his life, he had the audacity and guts to drive around in an open-top car with his Staffordshire Bull Terrier riding on the bonnet as if the critter was his main body guard. He was awarded the KCIE in 1937 and Lord Lytton, then Governor of Bengal was in full-praise of him for his serious efforts to curb freedom activities Among attempts on his life, the following are quite note-worthy: An abortive attempt on Tegart on 12 January 1924, at Chowringhee Road in Calcutta, by Gopinath Saha, a Bengali revolutionist, who accidentally shot down a white man, Mr. Ernest Day, mistaking him for Tegart. In yet another incident on 25 August 1930, at Dalhousie Square in Calcutta, a bomb was lobbed into the car in which Tegart was traveling, but Tegart shot down the revolutionary and escaped unhurt.Besides, earlier Tegart had got a name as one of the leading intelligence officers in the British Empire. After the WWI he was stationed in France and England where, according to The Englishman, a newspaper of Calcutta, Tegart is said to have made valuable contribution to the counter-espionage work against the Bolsheviks’. Naturally, he was chosen as an intelligence officer in Ireland during the Anglo-Irish War from July to November 1920. He was one among several Indian police officers brought in to beef-up British intelligence networks. In course of time, he became an expert on both 'Irish and Bengali ‘terrorism’ that became a major preoccupation of the British Empire. An interesting story about him was he could go around Calcutta using various disguises to pass off as a native Bengali in spite of his strong European features. To gather intelligence on freedom fighters he once entered a Red Light area in the guise of a Bengali gentleman, talking with pimps and prostitutes with support from native officers. His expertise in terror tactics drew the attention of the British authorities who sent him to the British Mandate of Palestine, then in the midst of Arab Revolt. He was there to advise the Inspector General on matters of security. Upon his arrival in December 1937, he recommended the construction of 77 reinforced concrete police stations and posts to safeguard any ferocious attack and control the movement of insurgents, goods and weapons along the northern border of Palestine On his recommendations were built new "Tegart forts", as they came to be referred to throughout Palestine; many were built after the Arab Revolt, in 1940-41. A few surviving ones are being used by Israeli and Palestinian forces. In 1942 Tegart headed operations at the Ministry of Food in wartime Britain to combat the black market which affected the economy of England during that crucial period.Tegart died in April 1946 at his home of age-related disease.https://www.historyireland.com/20th-century-contemporary-history/feagh-mchugh-obyrne-2/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Tegart
↧
Despite the availability of several books on the violence, killing, mayhem and looting committed by the British in India, the myth that India got her freedom with least bloodshed is prevalent in a section of Indian population. It is absolutely not true and the British rulers under 'the rip-off company' called East India co and later under the direct Crown Administration were ruthless, busy robbing the country till the left the Indian shores. Countless were the young Indians who wanted India to be a free land and in the process lost their precious lives. Among them, Bengal accounts for a large number of young people who fought valiantly against the unjust British. From 1906 until 1935, the Bengal police intelligence branch recorded a total of over 500 ‘revolutionary crimes’ related to freedom in the province. The Anglo-Indian population in early 1900s was living in perpetual fear on account of individual terrorist activities. The Bengal Criminal Law Amendment Ordinance of 1924, enacted into law as Bengal Criminal Law Amendment Act in 1925, in Bengal, British India. The law was implemented to cut down the rise in revolutionary terrorism by the Jugantar group against The Raj in Bengal after 1922. The Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre perpetrated by Gen. Dyer put the entire Indian population in rage. The Nonviolent movement lost its sheen as the British did not respect Gandhiji's ethical and moral protests. The Anushilan Samiti took the reigns and became reformed under the leadership of Surya Sen, Hem Chandra Kanungo and Bhupendranath Dutta. Having no course, they re-engaged in in terrorist activities against the Raj. This led to a string of violence through 1923 saw murders of police witnesses and informers, culminating in the attempt to assassinate Charles Tegart by Gopinath Saha. leading to the mistaken killing of another European. Soon the ordinance was enacted extending the extraordinary powers of the Regulation III of 1818. It removed rights of Habeas corpus, reintroduced measures of indefinite and arbitrary detentions, and trials by tribunal without jury and without right of appeal. The ordinance was enacted into law in 1925 (as mentioned before) and remained in force for 5 years. Almost One hundred and fifty people were detained under the law, including among the notable detainees Subhas Chandra Bose, later Congress leader. The act was re-enacted in 1930, and later formed a basis for the Burma Criminal Law Amendment in 1931. The early Indian History books either have given least exposure to certain revolutionaries of late 19th century or early 20th century or simply over looked their patriotic zeal and sacrifices. Consequently, these courageous people died either unsung or in obscurity. Gopinath Saha (1906-1924), a Bengali freedom fighter associated with the Hindustan Republican Association, on 12 January 1924, attempted to assassinate Charles Tegart, then head of the Detective Department of Calcutta Police. Gopinath Saha, was born in the village Baghanchra, Santipur, Dist. Nadia, West Bengal. When he grew up to be an adult, ignited by patriotism, he wanted to see India as a free land and joined the freedom movement in Bengal. He became an active member oftheHindustan Republican Association founded in Delhi by Sachindra Nath Sanyal, Bagat Singh, Chandrasekar Azad, Sukhdev Thapar, et al. Disillusioned with Gandhiji's Satyagrapha and non-violence as a means to get freedom, these patriotic people decided that the British rulers, cunning as they were, not inclined to make India a free country and the only way to make them understand our yearning for freedom was through terrorist activities. These violent acts would get international attention and other countries would get an impression that there was something 'rotten in the British administration' in India.Police officer Tegart was closely tracking freedom fighters in Bengal and keeping a check on them so the revolutionaries could not carry on their ant-British activities without getting his attention. Charles Augustus Tegart, KCIE, KPM (1881 - 6 April 1946), was a colonial police officer in India and 'mandatory Palestine'. He was held in great esteem by the British for his efficiency in dealing with criminals with brute and repressive forces and notoriety. His forte was using various torture methods to extract information from the victims. He was often known to be "ruthless and uncompromising with detainees''. Consequently, he instilled fear among the Bengal freedom fighters. ![]() |
Sir Charles Augustus Tegart.
historyireland.com |
Above image: Portrait of Irishman Charles Tegart which formerly hung in the office of the Director of the intelligence branch of the Bengal police. A notorious police officer, later he became the police Commissioner of Calcutta. He is said to be an expert on Irish and Bengal terrorism. ...............Gopinath Saga underwent torture in Presidency jail, Calcutta where many freedom fighters like Sri Arabindo underwent imprisonment. Since Charles Tegart was a menace to the Indian freedom fighters, they decided to get rid of him for good. The task was given to Saha to finish off Tegart at the right opportunity. Unfortunately, Saha could make only an abortive attempt, having failed to kill Police officer Tegart as planned before. Instead, he accidentally killed Ernest Day, a white civilian who had gone there on official business. Saha never thought that an innocent man would get caught in the firing line. Saha was arrested and tried for murder and other anti - British activities. In March 1924, he was hanged to death in the Presidency Jail where other leaders were also hanged to death. Next month we will be celebrating India's 71 'Independence Day', but for great martyrs like Gopinath Saha, Bagat Singh, Chandrasekar Azad, Sukhdev Thapar, Vanchinathan and others who gave their lives for Free India we won't be enjoying our freedom to day. It is our fundamental duty to remember every patriotic Indian executed by the Colonial British government who added insult to injury by finally leaving the shores of India after prolonged freedom struggle and dividing into two different nations - India and Pakistan, the latter was created based on religion. http://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2018/07/sir-charles-tegart-notorious-colonial.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopinath_Saha
↧
