Professor
Chaman Lal Dated: -- 25th October, 2011
Former Chairperson
Centre of Indian Languages (SLL&CS)
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-110067
Visiting Professor on Hindi Chair
The University of the
West Indies, St. Augustine campus
Trinidad &Tobago
Prime Minister of India
PM Office, New Delhi
Subject: Regarding Ensuing Gadar Party centenary
and Gadar memorial sites in USA-Canada
Dear Prime Minister
Dr. Manmohan Singh,
I have recently visited Gadar memorial
site in San Francisco in California State of United States of America (USA),
where I was invited to deliver a lecture on Gadar party hero Kartar Singh
Sarabha on 22nd May,2011, Sunday, to commemorate Sarabha birth
anniversary due on 24th May. Apart from visiting this historic site,
I got an opportunity to visit Sacramento Cemetery, where not only Gadar party
senior activist Maulvi Barkatullah was buried, many more freedom fighters from
Punjab were also buried there. I was also taken to historic Stockton Gurdwara,
which was meeting place for Gadarites in 1913-1947 and which is now under the
control of Khalistani elements, who have dumped the Gadar party heroes
photographs in one corner neglected room of the Gurdwara and have filled common
eating place-langar with the photographs
of Khalistani armed fundamentalists. I could even visit Holt farm of Gadar
party Vice President Jawala Singh, who used to offer scholarships top Indian
students. In University of California’s Berkeley campus, I was able to look at
Gadar archives documents in The Bancroft library and also contacted Centre for
South Asian Studies, being looked after by Prof. Raka Ray. Prior to reaching at
San Francisco, I visited Vancouver in Canada to visit Kamagatamaru sites, which
again was related to Gadar movement and has its tragic happenings in year 1914.
This whole journey was not only
emotionally touching for me, being so deeply interested in the history of
revolutionary aspects of India’s freedom struggle, it was enriching in terms of
collecting some documents and having first hand feel of the locations of that
historic movement fought by our ancestors for the cause of freedom of India. As
you are well aware that Gadar party was launched by migrant Indians, mostly
Punjabis, but was inclusive of Indians from all parts of India as Darisi
Chenchiah from South, Pandurang Khankhoje from West India, Jatinder Lahiri,
Taraknath Das from East India, Maulvi Barkatullah and Pandit Permanand Jhansi
from Central India. It was formed in USA in early twentieth century and was
announced in March 1913 meeting in St. Jones as ‘Hindi Association of Pacific
Coast’ as described by its founder President Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna in his
autobiography-‘Jivan Sangram’( Struggles of Life), written in Punjabi. However
the name of the party became more
popular as ‘Gadar Party’ as from 1st
November the party launched the journal
called ‘Gadar’ in Punjabi, Hindi, and
Urdu and in many more Indian languages from’ Yugantar Ashram’ at 5 Wood Street
San Francisco, the very building, which is now named as ‘Gadar Memorial’. The
party took its name ‘Gadar’, consciously to identify it with 1857-first war of
Independence, which Britishers used to call ‘Gadar’ and the party wished to
turn that contemptuous nomenclature to a respectable one by calling itself
‘Gadar party’! It was most advanced secular democratic movement
of its time, whose tradition was upheld and appropriated by Bhagat Singh later
with further addition of socialist ideology. After looking at all the
places and meeting various people in relation to these, I have made some
observations,
which I want to share with you. These observations demand serious attention of
the Government of India, as the centenary celebrations of the formation of
Gadar party are beginning next year and you are also receiving lot many
representations in this connection. My observations are as followed by:
The
condition of the building which is now called ‘Gadar Memorial’, located at
5, Wood Street, San Francisco, has lost its heritage character; even the
original name of the building-‘Yugantar Ashram’ finds no reference
anywhere.
The name ‘Yugantar Ashram’ was again to identify the movement with early
revolutionary movement in Bengal with the name ‘Yugantar’. The original
name of the building was written in Urdu, Punjabi and English, now only
English and Hindi language changed name is painted on the front wall with
no Punjabi or Urdu version. The building was handed over to Govt.
of India after the independence of the country and when Gadar party was
formally dissolved. Presently it is under the administrative control of
the Counselor of India. A peon or driver of some Indian official has been
put up there, which has no respect or awareness about the significance of
this historic site. There is no proper care taker of the building,
very important documents and items of the Gadar movement, including the
artificial arm of Gadarite Harnam Singh Tundilat, who, lost his arm during
movement, and who became famous with his surname-‘Tundilat’(Broken arm
Lord) are under display in glass
cases without any lock and key. I suspect that many of the
documents could have disappeared under these circumstances. I am attaching
two photographs here of the building, one original heritage site in 1913
and the other drab-unaesthetic reconstructed building. Most of the
time building remains closed, even when someone wants to visit it for
historic site seeing, he or she can’t see it. It needs special permission
from Consulate, which as usual Indian Bureaucratic style has no
sensitivity for such things, except if some rare sensitive official is
posted. Lot many writers have written about it and your office
also must have received many complaints in this regard. The building has
been converted into a single hall with some kitchen, toilets and a room,
used by the peon/driver of consulate.
My suggestion in this regard is:
This building should be rebuilt as original
heritage with same nomenclature-‘Yugantar Ashram’, as is very clear from the
photograph of the building and converted into Library-cum-research centre on
the model of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library in New Delhi, though its scale
will be much lower than that. Further Berkeley campus of the University of
California should be involved in this project and Centre for South Asian
Studies of the campus, which presently is headed by eminent scholar Prof. Raka
Ray,
daughter of Indian academician and former Vice Chancellor of Calcutta
University, Bharti Roy, with most of Indian researchers as part of it, can make
detailed project about it. In fact University of California’s Berkeley campus
should
be offered this building on lease for establishing Gadar archives and research
centre. Bancroft library of the University of California is already having
Gadar Archives in its possession with twenty boxes of documents and some
digitalized records are also there. Govt. of India should establish Kartar
Singh Sarabha Chair in the Berkeley campus of University of California, where
Sarabha was a student of science in 1912-13. This Chair should be located in
Gadar memorial site turned into Gadar research centre. Copies of all the
documents relating to Gadar movement, spread in various places of US, Canada,
India, many other countries, where Gadar party had influence like Singapore,
Philippines,
China, Argentina, Brazil, Germany etc. should be brought to this research
centre. This should be the best tribute to Sarabha and Gadar party movement
during Gadar party centenary celebrations.
In this research centre the some items of Kamagatamaru site should also be put
on display, such as a brick thrown by Kamagatamaru passengers on Canadian
police during two month struggle at Vancouver sea side, where ship remained
detained.
This brick is on display in Museum of Vancouver city quite prominently. The
model of Kamagatamaru ship should also be displayed. A film ‘Continuous
Journey’ made by Ali Kazmi on Kamagatamaru incident beautifully captures the
moments of that period. This documentary should be shown and distributed
throughout India in schools and colleges during centenary year.
B) Nehru Memorial Museum and Library should acquire
the photo copy or digitalized version of Gadar Archives in Berkeley campus
Bancroft
library of University of California, which in original should stay there, the
University may never part with this historic record. Copies of documents in New
York Public Library and other places in USA, Canada and other countries should
also be acquired for this library , where a special section for the study of
Gadar movement and movement led by Bhagat Singh should be created as the two
are inseparable from each other
Sacramento
Cemetery, where Maulvi Barkatullah’s and other Punjabi Muslim freedom
fighters graves exist, a plaque should be put up by Govt. of India, giving
the details of the role of these personalities, particularly detailed role
of Maulvi Barkatullah, should be highlighted. Irony is that caretaker
Patricia Hutchings of this cemetery is too keen to know these details and
offer all help to put the details. We named a University
in Bhopal in the name of Barkatullah, but have no sign of our respect at
his grave in Sacramento! I am attaching its picture too.
The
situation in Stockton Gurdwara is too serious. A place known as heritage
site of Indian freedom struggle, as many meetings of Gadar party activists
used to take place here and a hall still stands in the name of Gadari
Babas.
This hall displayed the photographs of Gadar party activists and martyrs,
some of these photos are under display in Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall, (Gadar
memorial Hall) in Jalandhar in Punjab. But the heritage nationalist
Gurdwara was captured by Khalistani supporters in Stockton and now
first sight of Gurdwara comes by the big banner flowing high at Gurdwara
entrance—‘Khalistan Zindabad’ with photograph of Jarnail Singh
Bhindrawale. Inside common eating
hall(Langar),many photographs of gun totting Khalistani fundamentalists
are under
display as ‘martyrs’, which include killers of Smt. Indira Gandhi and
General Vaidya. Gadar party heroes photograph were taken out and put in
bundles of some neglected corner room, along with photographs of
Khalsitani armed fundamentalists, while the Gadar hall has been converted
into prayer room with copy of Guru Granth Sahib installed there , though
already a prayer room existed there. The excuse was made for the
need of another prayer hall, which could have been built in enough space
and resources available in the Gurdwara. It was done to insult the memory
of Gadar party heroes and downgrade Gadar movement as compared to
Khalistani movement by these mischievous elements. It is pity that Govt.
of India cannot do anything in this regard, as the Gurdwara has been taken
over by local Sikhs here, who are ignorant of glorious past of Gadar
movement
and have been taken away by the loud mouthed irrational speeches of
Khalistani orators. But an awareness campaign about the significance of
Gadar movement among local Sikhs/Punjabis should be launched here, so that
in few years time, local Sikhs themselves are able to free the Gurdwara
from Khalistani elements and restore its pristine glory with Gadar party
heroes memoirs. ( Some photographs attached)
An identifying plaque with details at the
Holt farm location of Gadarite Jawala Singh, near Stockton, not much known
now to even researchers, should be put up by Govt. of India during
centenary year of Gadar party formation.
Lot many other things can also be
done during centenary year of Gadar party formation, but emphasis
should be more on creating awareness/information/knowledge of these
historic events for our younger generations. The history of such events
should be taught at school level and simple books narrating the historic
events should be published for free or subsidized price distribution in
major Indian languages. Particularly autobiography of founder President of
Gadar Party Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna, which is about hundred pages only and
written in very simple style, should be translated into all Indian
languages and published through Publication Division, Government of India
or through National Book Trust, which has published very good books on
Indian freedom struggle in recent years should be assigned this task. Some
good documentaries/Television serials should also be made, but with sound
historic facts. The number of Indians now in USA and Canada is
very high; many meetings/seminars with published books/Gadar party
documents should take place at these places to make them feel proud of
their own heritage in these countries. California state in USA and British
Columbia State in Canada should be in the centre focus. Lot many
politically influential Canadians of Punjabi background like former
British Columbia Premier Ujjal Dosanjh, himself a grandson of a Gadarite
hero, who fought against Khalistani elements and suffered, could be
involved in chalking out these programmes.
I earnestly hope that under your wise
academic leadership, Government of India would chalk out suitable projects to
commemorate this momentous, though failed movement of our freedom struggle.
However
the wastage of public money should be strictly avoided and dedicated people
should be involved in chalking out and overseeing the implementation of various
activities during the year.
With Best Regards
Chaman Lal
Visiting professor on Hindi Chair,
Centre for Language Learning
The University of the West Indies
St. Augustine, Trinidad &Tobago
(West Indies)
Professor &Former chairperson,
Centre of Indian Languages
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New
Delhi
prof.cha...@gmail.com
, mobile—1868-3692687
Enclosures: Photographs of Gadar
Memorial San Francisco-old and new; Sacramento Cemetery photos; Stockton
Gurdwara photos—old and new; Holt farm site; Gadar archives document sample;
Kamagatamaru-Vancouver
photographs.
Tel. 1868-2229747, mob.-1868-3692687-Email
prof.cha...@gmail.com,www.bhagatsinghstudy.blogspot.com
Yugantar
Ashram-Gadar memorial San Francisco-Old and New Gadar Archives-Berkely library
archives document
Historic
Gadarite Gurdwara Stockton-1929 photo-Courtesy Echoes of Freedom
Sarojini Naidu visit to Stockton-1929-Welcome
poster
Vijay Lakshmi
Pandit visit to Stockton Gurdwara in 1945
Stockton
Gurdwara plaque
Historic
Gadarite Stockton Gurdwara-2011 Dumped Gadarite heroes photos Armed Khalistani
photos
No Memorial
picture left in this Gadari Babbe memorial hall/ Khalistanis replace Gadar
heroes
Sacramento
Cemetary-Maulvi Barkatullah and other freedom fighters graves
Holt Post
office-US Komagatamaru
plaque-Vancouver-Brick in Museum of Vancouver
Endorsements:
Telephonic
endorsement by
Comrade A.B.Bardhan, General Secretary,
Communist Party of India, Ajay Bhavan , New Delhi.
Sh.
Debbrat Biswas, General Secretary, Forward Bloc, former member
Parliament
Endorsements
on email:
Dear
Professor Lal,
Thank you for the
initiative in writing this letter to the Prime Minister of India.
Your letter
contains many valuable proposals encouraging the Government of India
proactively to pursue (a) more generally the preservation of the history of
the Gadar Party/Movement overseas, specifically in North America and (b)
to dedicate resources to mark and celebrate the fast-approaching centenary of
the Gadar Party/movement next year, i.e., 2012. Your concrete proposals make
eminent sense to me. In this regard, however, time is of the essence. Urgent
action is required and therefore Prime Minister's office is the most
appropriate place/agency to undertake this historic mission, using your
proposals as a starting point.
I am, of course,
very happy to endorse your call for action related to this historic moment in
India's modern history, that is, the long and heroic struggle against British
colonialism.
Best regards,
Raj Pannu, Ph.D.,
Professor Emeritus, University of Alberta, and
Former Member
of the Alberta Legislature (1997 - 2008)
2 . Dear Professor
Chaman Lal,
I have read your letter to Professor Manmohan Singh, the Prime
Minister of India.
You have made a well argued case and made a reasonable request
to the Prime Minister of India to make some institutional arrangements to
preserve he national heritage of Gaddar Party heroes. I fully endorse your
letter and my signatures can be appended in your letter to him. I append my
computer signatures.-Prof. G.S. Bhalla, Professor Emirtus, JNU, former member,
Planning Commission of India.
3.It is a good reminder to the nation about the earliest
attempts at a freedom struggle. I think that the govt. shall be willing to make
use of it to improve their election prospects/ So be it-Dr. Daljit Singh, Eye
specialist, Amritsar, former consultant to President of India.
4.I forcefully lend the support for this.-Sohan Singh
Sandhu-Father of martyred Punjabi poet Pash.
5.You have my full
support in the demands you have voiced.-Kuldip Nayar, senior Journalist/Author,
former High Commissioner to UK, former member Parliament.
6.I have gone through
your letter and support your ideas. –Sukirat Anand, editor Daily Nawan
Zamana(Punjabi) from Jalandhar.
--
Chaman Lal,Visiting Professor
Centre for Language Learning(CLL)
Faculty of Humanities and Education(FHE)
University of West Indies,St. Augustine Campus
Trinidad&Tobago(West Indies)
Cell no.-1868-3692687
Phone no. 1868-2229747
Professor & Former Chairperson
Centre of Indian Languages, JNU, New Delhi
Former President JNU Teachers Association(JNUTA)
Blogs-www.bhagatsinghstudy.blogspot.com
www.chamanlal-jnu.blogspot.com
www.drchaman.wordpress.com
www.twitter.com/DrChaman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaman_Lal
www.facebook.com/Dr.Chaman.JNU
http://in.linkedin.com/in/chamanlaljnu
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