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Sunday 12 April 2015

Paper 2 - History of India, National Movement, Society and Culture

Freedom Movement in Uttarakhand
The British Rule

In the year 1816, the British defeated the King of Nepal and signed the ‘Treaty of Sugauli’ with him. As per the treaty, The King of Nepal gave up the previously annexed territories of Garhwal and Kumaun. These territories were brought under a single administrative unit called ‘Kumaun Province’ by the British. The Garhwal region was divided into two parts, the British Garhwal and the Tehri Garhwal State. Sudarshan Shah of the Panwar dynasty was reinstalled as the King of Tehri Garhwal.

G.W. Traill, an assistant commissioner, was sent to ‘Kumaun Province’ to bring in British authority. His tenure in came to an end in 1835. From 1836-1856, the ‘Kumaun Province’ was administered by Commissioner Batten. In 1839, the ‘Kumaun Province’ was divided into two districts of Garhwal and Kumaon, each under a senior assistant commissioner.

The Great Revolt of 1857 did not have any major impact and the region remained peaceful as the then Commissioner, Henry Ramsay enjoyed the respect and support of the people of Kumaun and Garhwal. All the passes into the hills and entrances to the valleys were manned. Small disturbances were curbed.

In January 1858, Kalu Mehra led a group of freedom fighters in the Kali Kumaun against the British rulers. He is still revered as the first freedom fighter of this region. Anand Singh Fartiyal and Bishan Singh Karayat were other prominent freedom fighters of that uprising.

The Beginnings of Indian Freedom Movement in Uttarakhand

In 1903 Hargovind Pant and Govind Vallabh Pant set up the “Happy Club” in Almora , which worked towards galvanizing the local youth towards the Indian Freedom Movement. A weekly newspaper “Gadwali” published from Dehradun brought about a surge of patriotism in the society. The Partition of Bengal announced in July 1905 by the Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon was also condemned by the people of Almora.

With the efforts of Barrister Mukundilal and Anusuya Prasad Bahuguna, The Indian National Congress started its offices in Uttarakhand in 1912. In 1913, ‘Almora Akhbar’ which was being published since 1871, came under the editorship of Pandit Badridutt Pandey and spread the spirit of nationalism across the length and breadth of the then ‘Kumaun Province’. In 1914, Mohan Joshi, Hem Chandra, Chiranjeelal and Badridutta Pandey established the Home Rule League.

‘Kumaun Parishad’ came to existence in 1916 to bring about a social, economic, cultural and political awakening amongst the people of this region and the national movement for freedom spread to the far corners of ‘Kumaun Province’.

On 14th August 1921, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, 40,000 people gathered at Bageshwar and at the call of Pandit Badridutt Pandey, Hargovind Pant and Chiranjeelal , the registers containing names of Coolies (bonded labor for the British) were torn and thrown into the Saryu river. Mahatma Gandhi also visited Bageshwar in the same year and established the Swaraj-Ashram.

On 26th January 1930, the Tri Color was furled across Uttarakhand. In the year 1939, Congress called a mammoth political rally in Srinagar (Garhwal).

Indian National Army

The Indian National Army had almost 2,500 garhwali officers and soldiers in its ranks. Chandra Singh Negi was the Commander of the Officers Training School in Singapore. Lt. Col.Budhi Singh Rawat was the personal adjutant of Subhash Chandra Bose. Major Deb Singh Danu rendered services as the Commander of the personal guards' battalion of Subhash Chandra Bose. Major Padam Singh Negi Lt. Colonel Pitri Saran Raturi commanded the battalions of the INA.


Thousands and thousands of people from the sacred land of Uttarkhand, sacrificed their lives to bring the Indian Freedom Movement to fruition.

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