Chandigarh-The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami today released a book titled 'Kalapani: Punjabis' Role in Freedom Struggle' at a function held at Hari Singh Nalwa Auditorium in Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26, Chandigarh. This book published by the SGPC has been written by journalist and historian Jagtar Singh and researcher Gurdarshan Singh Bahiya.
Before launching the book, a seminar was held, in which, the SGPC President, senior Akali leader Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, former SGPC president Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar, SGPC junior vice-president Avtar Singh Raya, general secretary Bhai Gurcharan Singh Grewal, Dr Paramvir Singh, Dr Madanjit Kaur Sahota, and other prominent personalities shared their views.
In his address during the event, SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami said that this book presents true and accurate information instead of the prevalent narrative of the freedom struggle. He said that during the freedom struggle, the Punjabis imprisoned in Andaman's Cellular Jail (Kalapani) suffered great torture, which has been neglected till now. The governments of the time are trying to distort and amalgamate the rich history of Sikhs and Punjabis. Ignoring the names of Sikhs from the Cellular Jail's list is also a mischievous conspiracy.
Harjinder Singh Dhami said that this book will become a source of making the common people aware of the contribution of Sikhs to the freedom struggle, so it will also be published after translation into Punjabi. The SGPC President also assured that a delegation will be taken to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Culture, Government of India, to provide national recognition to the Punjabis who sacrificed at Cellular Jail as recorded in this book. He said efforts will also be made to establish the memorials at Andaman, in the name of Dr Diwan Singh Kalepani, Master Chatar Singh, and Sohan Singh Bhakna. He thanked the authors of the book Jagtar Singh and Gurdarshan Singh Bahia for successfully carrying out this research work.
On this occasion, a former member of Parliament (MP) and senior Akali leader Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra said that Sikhs have made a big contribution to the freedom struggle, but it is sad that they have not been given due recognition. Similar discrimination has been done in Port Blair's Cellular Jail. He said that when he was an MP in Lok Sabha, he had raised this issue before the Standing Committee of the Parliament, on which the government had asked to provide the correct facts in this regard so that necessary amendments could be made. He said that now that this research work has been completed, the document in the form of this book should be taken to the government. He said that 235 names have been researched in this book and this research should be continued further.
On this occasion, the former SGPC President Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar said that writing the truth in today's political conditions is a great courage, for which both the authors of the book deserve congratulations. He said that this topic was very important for Punjabis, and taking it seriously, the work was started on it, which has been successful by SGPC.
Earlier in their address, the authors of the book Jagtar Singh and Gurdarshan Singh Bahia shared details about various aspects of the book and thanked the SGPC for supporting this important work. The SGPC honoured the authors of the book and the prominent personalities who attended the event.
On this occasion, SGPC senior vice-president Baldev Singh Qaimpur, junior vice-president Avtar Singh Raya, general secretary Bhai Gurcharan Singh Grewal, executive members Surjit Singh Tughalwal and Bawa Singh Gumanpura, member Satwinder Singh Tohra, Charanjit Singh Kalewal, Bibi Kuldeep Singh Tohra, Sikh Education Society (SES) President Gurdev Singh Brar, SES general secretary Colonel (retired) Jasmer Singh Bala, former minister Triptrajinder Singh Bajwa, Bibi Gurdarshan Kaur, VC Dr Pritpal Singh, secretary education Sukhminder Singh, additional secretary Simarjit Singh Kang, assistant secretary Lakhvir Singh, Principal Dr Rajinder Kaur, Dr Kuldeep Singh Bal adviser, manager Gurdeep Singh Kang, additional manager Bhagwant Singh Dhangera, Talwinder Singh Buttar, Dr Kashmir Singh, Dr Lakhbir Singh, Dr Jatinder Kaur, Dr Harpreet Kaur Dr Gurtej Singh, Dr Ramandeep Kaur, Dr Karambir Singh, were present.
More information about the book
Contesting the prevalent account of the freedom struggle, a new book not only calls for due recognition of the role of Punjabis but also carries the first-ever comprehensive list of Punjabi freedom fighters who were sentenced to transportation (Kalapani) and detained in Andaman suffering brutal torture that came to be known as the Living Hell.
The number of Punjabi political prisoners in Cellular Jail on this penal settlement was not only the highest at one stage, but these Babas from the Ghadr Party successfully struggled hard to end the tortuous hard labour that this jail was notorious for. Baba Chattar Singh was confined to a cage in his cell for more than three years. Several other freedom fighters died in this struggle in jail.
The book points out that while the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 is treated as the First War of Independence, it was Bhai Maharaj Singh who was the first to confront the colonial rulers in 1849 itself when the Sikh Empire was annexed after the Second Anglo-Sikh War.
Published by The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the book has been penned by journalist and author Jagtar Singh and researcher Gurdarshan Singh Bahia.
A number of Punjabi soldiers rebelled against the British Raj from time to time till 1940 and several of them were hanged. The book demands that they must be declared as freedom fighters and their valiant struggle for freedom must be recorded in the annals of their regiments for the posterity to draw inspiration from them. It has been pointed out that while the contribution of these freedom fighters remains neglected, the loyalty to defend the British Raj symbolized by the highest bravery award that is Victoria Cross is hailed.
Ghadr Party was the first to give a call for complete freedom in 1913, years before the Congress. The flag of the Ghadr party was the first to flutter on Indian soil. Hundreds of Ghadr Party activists had returned to Punjab from abroad to organise a rebellion. It was the Ghadr Party activists who changed the narrative of the notorious Cellular Jail in Andaman. Rather than Congress, the credit for raising the slogan of complete freedom should go to the Ghadr Party.
The Cellular Jail narrative is an example of how the contribution of Punjab has been overlooked. The focus even in the light and sound program staged in the jail premises every evening is on Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar whose cell is the only one that has been earmarked despite the fact that he wrote several apology letters to the colonial rulers from there. The issue is not focused on Savarkar but lack of due recognition of the struggle by the Punjabi freedom fighters.
Master Chattar Singh being kept in a cage in his cell for more than three years was unprecedented in the history of this jail. That cell must be earmarked in case that block exists. The struggle of the Ghadrites in Cellular Jail must be highlighted.
There is another horror story. The atrocities during the Japanese occupation must be probed. The administration of these islands was with the Azad Hind Government headed by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose after December 1943, although formally from a few days later. Dr. Diwan Singh Kalepani attained martyrdom on January 14, 1944 days after the unfurling of tricolour at Port Blair by Netaji on December 30. He was the first martyr after Andaman and Nicobar was declared the first free Indian territory after an occupation by the Japanese and handed over to Azad Hind Government.
So far as the role of Punjab in the freedom struggle in the context of Cellular Jail is concerned, the history of that period must be rewritten as the contribution of the Punjabis is not some myth but supported by hard facts. This glorious role of Punjab must be recognised at the national level.
At least one island needs to be named after Dr. Diwan Singh Kalepani. Similarly, some roads must be named after freedom fighters from Punjab in Cellular Jail. Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna was president of the Ghadr Party. One of the roads in Port Blair should be named as Bhakna Marg.
The script of the Light and Sound program should be rewritten to balance the narrative. The history of this valiant struggle by the Punjabis must be included in textbooks at various levels to make the younger generation aware of this glorious chapter of Punjab during colonial rule.