Uttarakhand > Uttarakhand History & Movements - उत्तराखण्ड का इतिहास एवं जन आन्दोलन
History of Uttarakhand, Kumaon & Garhwal-उत्तराखंड का इतिहास (कुमाऊं/गढ़वाल)
Bhishma Kukreti:
Police arresting Nagendra Saklani
History of Tehri King Manvendra Shah-6
History of Tehri Kingdom (Tehri and Uttarkashi Garhwal) from 1815 –1948- 293
History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) – 1539
By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)
Nagendra Saklani was born in Saklana in a Brahmin family. After basic schooling, Nagendra went to Dehradun where he passed High School. Nagendra Saklani came in contact with communist workers and he became a devoted communist worker. He played an important role in famer movement too.
In the 1946 provincial election of British Garhwal, Nagendra Saklani went to British Garhwal and worked for Communist candidate Chandra Singh Garhwali against Congress Candidate. He was a very good speaker and had an attractive voice to attract people’s attention. Nagendra was an energetic, non-tiring and enthusiastic worker.
Nagendra was with Dada Daulatram in Dang Choura for farmer agitation against the government . Police could not catch Nagendra along with Daulatram. Police arrested Nagendra Saklani on 24th November 1946 from Dang Choura. He was put on an iron chain. Police brought chained Nagendra Saklani to Muni ki Reti and then to Narendra Nagar. He was insulted by police and police provided putrefied breads. Police did not provide sufficient quality of bread or food. Nagendra Threatened for hunger strike. The matter was brought before the King and the king allowed him 6 rotis per meal. (2)
Police torture Nagendra as much that could. He was not supplied blankets and was deprived of sufficient water on a daily basis. Nagendra used to do hard physical exercises to keep his body warm. (2)
Hearing in Court against Nagendra started from 25th December 1946.
References -
1-Dabral S.P. Tehri Garhwal Rajya ka Itihas Bhag 2 (new edition), Veer Gatha Press, Dogadda, (1999) page 80
2- Karmabhumi, 26th January 1956 , letter by Nagendra Saklani 4th December 1946
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, 2020
Bhishma Kukreti:
Support to Reforms Activists in Tehri by Sanyukta Raksha Samiti
History of Tehri King Manvendra Shah-7
History of Tehri Kingdom (Tehri and Uttarkashi Garhwal) from 1815 –1948- 294
History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) – 1540
By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)
The Tehri administration broke the assurance provided to Prajamandal Members and started harassing the activists and started punishing them. Annoyed by the breaking the assurance by Tehri administration, the elites of British Garhwal inspired by editor board of Karmabhumi, held a meeting. The said Meeting led by Colonel Pitrisharan Raturi was held from 5-6th January 1947 in Kotdwra. The Congress committee, Tehri Prajamandal Rasjriya Sena (INA members) attended the meeting. The speakers put light on various suppressions by Tehri Kingdom.
The meeting passed a resolution and put following demands (for Tehri Administration) (2) –
1-Tehri Kingdom should release political activist immediately from jail.
2-Tehri Government should clear about Paripurna Nand Painyuli
3-Tehri Government should abide the accord with Prajamandal and should remove all hurdles of the activities of Prajamandal.
The Tehri court would be informed if the court did not follow above points, Prajamandal will start peaceful movement in the Kingdom.
In Meeting, it was also decided to create a Suman Smriti Trust (Memorable Trust) and should collect at least Rs. Ten thousand.
The following Committee was founded for dealing with the Tehri administration-
President – Colonel Pitrisharan Raturi
Members- Master Ramswarup of Prajamandal
Bhakta Darshan (Karmabhumi editor)
From the side of Sanyukta Raksha Samiti, Bhakta Darshan, Pitrisharan Raturi Master Ramswarup, Prem Lal Vaidya reached Tehri on 12th January 1947 and met the Chief Justice of High court, session Judge and additional District Magistrate there. The committee members appealed all those authorities for immediate release of political activists and to offer the comforts to them in jail. The committee members also met the Chief Minister and other authorities.
The authorities clearly informed that out sider lawyers were not authorised to fight the case of Tehri Citizens. The Committee handed over the job of fighting the cases of activists to local lawyers – Virendra Saklani and Devi Prasad Ghildiyal.
Bothe above lawyers met the activist in jail on 13th January 1947 and found that the activists were getting lesser facilities than C grade of the country.
Court Punishment to the activists-
The court announced the jail and capital punishment to Painyuli, Dada Daulatram, Nagendra Saklani, Teekaram Shastri, Mehtab Singh and Autar Singh (1ll together 31 ) .
References -
1-Dabral S.P. Tehri Garhwal Rajya ka Itihas Bhag 2 (new edition), Veer Gatha Press, Dogadda, (1999) page 80
2- Karmabhumi, 8th January 1947,
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, 2020
Bhishma Kukreti:
Hunger Strike by Political Prisoners
History of Tehri King Manvendra Shah-8
History of Tehri Kingdom (Tehri and Uttarkashi Garhwal) from 1815 –1948- 295
History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) – 1541
By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)
Tehri administration did not recognize the volatile situation and continued oppressive methods for suppressing the political activists in jail and outside jail.
Tehri administration cancelled the registration of lawyer those sympathizing to the Prajamandal as Pitambar Bahuguna (2)
Government banned activities of Prajamandal as procession, promotion, publicity, morning prayers (Prabhat feri) in community. There were instructions to Padhan, Thokdar and government officials not to support Prajamandal activists.(3).
In jail, authorities provided dirty blankets and used dresses to the prisoners. The food was junk food for prisoners. There were no facilities for political activists in jail to write letters for their relatives or friends. There were no medicines in jail hospitals for the prisoners(3).
Hunger Strike by Dada Daulatram and Nagendra Saklani –
Nagendra Saklani, Dada Daulatram and other prisoners in their jail started a hunger strike from 10th February demanding reform actions and changes in land settlement procedures .
Various political parties and organizations passed resolutions in support of the Political activists of Tehri jail.
On 21st February 1947, the Prince ordered freeing 27 political activists (6)
Famine- There was a famine in Kirti Nagar region. Government did not arrange sufficient supply of grains in that region (1).
Tiger-
A man-eater became active in Lasya, Badiyargarh, Nailcahmi, Bhardar, Kadakot Pattis where that man-eater killed 13 people. Government did not take any action to kill that man eater.
References -
1-Dabral S.P. Tehri Garhwal Rajya ka Itihas Bhag 2 (new edition), Veer Gatha Press, Dogadda, (1999) page 80
2- Karmabhumi, 26 January 1956,
3- ---ibid-
4- --ibid
5- -- ibid
6- Bhakta Darshan , Suman Srmriti Grantha p 258 59
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, 2020
Bhishma Kukreti:
Maintenance of Public Order Act of Tehri State
History of Tehri King Manvendra Shah-9
History of Tehri Kingdom (Tehri and Uttarkashi Garhwal) from 1815 –1948- 296
History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) – 1542
By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)
By April 1947, it was clear that India would be free from British rule. However, the king and his well-wishers had an opinion that in changed situation, Tehri would sustain its sovereignty.
On 28th April 1947, Tehri Kingdom announced a regulation called Maintenance of Public Order Act.
By Maintenance of Public Order Act 1947, the Kingdom passed following regulations –
The servants of the Tehri State or Tiri Court could arrest the person who was suspected as a traitor or could break the peace. The government servant could stop the movement of suspected traitors.
By the above act, the government banned public meetings, grouping of five or more people, political camping, strikes by government servants, shopkeepers etc. . Government banned putting flags and badges. The punishments were the capital punishment and or prison for the accused. Government banned photos, paintings of national leaders, tricolour flags, and tricolour badges.
References -
1-Dabral S.P. Tehri Garhwal Rajya ka Itihas Bhag 2 (new edition), Veer Gatha Press, Dogadda, (1999) page 106
2- Tehri Garhwal State Maintenance of Public Order Act, p 1
3- Tehri Garhwal State Maintenance of Public Order Act, p2-3
4-Tehri Garhwal State Maintenance of Public Order Act, p 5
.Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti
Bhishma Kukreti:
Conference of Prajamandal
History of Tehri King Manvendra Shah-10
History of Tehri Kingdom (Tehri and Uttarkashi Garhwal) from 1815 –1948- 297
History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) – 1543
By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)
There was a very good effect of Prajamandal on the people by the government releasing the political activists, The Prajamandal called its annual conference in Tehri on 26 -27May 1947. Government announced article 144 in Tehri. Even then hundreds of people gathered to attend the conference. Desi Rajya Secretary Jay Narayan Vyas, Mohan Lal Saksena, M.L.A, Dr. Kushla Nand Gairola M.L.A. and Banarasi das M.L.A attended the conference and delivered effective –attractive speeches. The conference passed a resolution for the accountable administration in the Tehri Kingdom. . The conference elected Paripurna Nand Painyuli as its president of Prajamandal and Dada Daulatram as its secretary.
Master Ramswarup forecasted that Tehri will be under Delhi rule (free India) and not under Tehri King. (2)
References -
1-Dabral S.P. Tehri Garhwal Rajya ka Itihas Bhag 2 (new edition), Veer Gatha Press, Dogadda, (1999) page 106
2- Maintenance of Public Order act p 7
.Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti
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