Tehri King Cooperating British during World War II
History of Tehri King Narendra Shah -42
History of Tehri Kingdom (Tehri and Uttarkashi Garhwal) from 1815 –1948- 235
History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) – 1482
By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student
By 1936, Mussolini had rule over Italy and Hitler was ruler of Germany. They had accord with each other. Latter on Japan also met with them. In 1938, Hitler r capture Georgia and then Czechoslovak too . Hitler attacked on Poland on 1st September 1934. Therefore, the friendly countries Britain and France declared war against Germany. Britain declared war against Germany from the common wealth countries too.
In India, Congress was against India declaring war or participating World War II. Rashtriya Swyam Sewak Sangh , Muslim league and Princely States of India were with Britain for war against Germany.
Tehri King Narendra Shah too helped Britain as much the King could do so . Britain had 182, 000 Indian soldiers in India .By 1945, the numbers went up to 20 lakhs. There was no scope of employment in British Garhwal and Tehri Garhwal, Therefore, young Garhwalis entered into Army with pleasure. Due to recommendation from the King, British government trained commissioned captain Gambhir Singh, Lieutenant Yudhbeer Singh , Vidyadhar Juyal 9son of Chakradhar Juyal) and others and trained them in IAM Dehradun. (20
Tehri Contributed for Rs. 25,ooo for war fund and bought Defence bond for Rs. 50, 000. The Tehri King sent 350 labourers to helping the British Narendra Shah sent Army Battalion Sippers and Miners for helping British Government. On 27th November 1940. The King gave an enthusiastic speech before the battalion before the battalion left Tehri. (1, 2)
The king awarded honorary post of General Minister as major and awarded Chief Secretary as Captain to encourage people to take jobs in British army.
As per administrative report of Tehri Garhwal, 1940-41 , In 1941, the king sent 1000 new soldiers from Tehri state to the British army. As per the above report only, the King contributed Rs. 10000 for curing of the soldiers. British government commissioned Vikram Shah the second son as Lieutenant in 1942 .
References
1-Dabral S.P.,, Tehri Garhwal Rajya ka Itihas Bhag 2 (new edition), Veer Gatha Press, Dogadda, (1999) page 50, 51
2- Daurgidatt , Narendravanshakavya 285, 324
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, 2020