16^th June 2021

Reminiscence - A peep into my tryst with the Freedom struggle

 

The year was 1944.  I was a young lad of 16 in my high school.  I lived with my grandparents in Bangalore of those days in the area called Malleshwaram.  It was a peaceful town under the administration of the king of Mysore.  It was the erstwhile Mysore state under the able administration of a benevolent king Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar till 1940 and followed by his adopted son Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar.  We were not under direct administration of British Government, unlike the adjacent state of Bombay, but under overall control of a British Governor for the province.

Struggle for total freedom from British rule was on all over the whole of India under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.  The hallmark of the Freedom struggle -- it was to be Non-violent passive Resistance.

We, the students had been asked by our national leaders to boycott classes, and instead participate in the freedom struggle by going and organizing peaceful processions, picket government offices and forcing factories to close and observe ‘Hartal’ or ‘strike’, hoist tri-color flag of free India on Public Buildings, sing patriotic songs, distributing pamphlets, organizing meetings with leaders etc.  General public was urged to boycott foreign goods and encourage use of Indian goods only.

Everyone, male and female, rich and poor was urged to devote some time every day to operate Charkha or spinning wheel and produce cotton yarn. This hand-made yarn is collected by Khadi bhandars and after carding and weaving, it was made into Khadi cloth. We were urged to use Khadi though it was coarse because it provided employment to rural poor.  Charkha had become a symbol of Gandhiji’s “Constructive Program for Swadeshi movement and Self-reliance”.  Gandhi Cap is a white Khadi cap a symbol of freedom movement and worn by all boys and girls. At street corners dresses and clothing of British and foreign manufacture were collected and bon-fire was made. Even during traditional festivals and marriages, fireworks and crackers were to be boycotted. 

     

            

  Charakha      

                                             Gandhi Cap

In this atmosphere of silent agitation here was me, a 16-year-old full of vigor to participate.  My grandfather, a retired teacher, was also encouraging us into the agitation.  My own uncle, who was very actively participating in the struggle had been jailed by the British.

Our leaders had specifically urged us to be nonviolent and peaceful. No pelting of stones and brickbats, even when confronted by Police using batons and teargas shell. Any violation would cause pain and anguish to our beloved leader Mahatma Gandhi. We were proud to participate in these activities and endure hardships.

Boys and girls of an area would assemble at a pre-determined place in the morning, clad in uniform dress of shorts, white shirts and Gandhi Caps, and go in a procession singing patriotic songs and shouting slogans like ‘Britishers Quit India ‘ Bharatmataki Jai  ‘Inqilab Zindabad ‘ ‘We want Freedom ‘etc.. A person holding the Tri-color flag would lead the procession. People would come out of their houses and clap and wave hands which made us feel proud.

Once we were going in a procession to Mysore Bank building to hoist a Tricolor Flag. Mysore Bank Building was an iconic building of Bangalore in those days. 

On either side of the road there were Grain Shops.  Soon we confronted two Mounted Police (Horse riders) who came to disperse us.  One of the shopkeepers asked us to pick up two bags full of ‘Ragi’ (millet black and round- grains, a staple food for poor)

the boys in the front row took the bags and emptied the content on the road. When the horses came charging to disperse us, they stepped on the Ragi, skidded, and fell bringing the mounted police down! Before they could recover and manage to mount the horses, our boys had gone in and hoisted the National Flag!!  We dispersed quickly after accomplishing our mission! The traders were ready to help us like this as their contribution to National struggle. Down the road we regrouped again and continued.

Some of the students caught by the police were put in the Police Van. After a few thrashes, the parents of the boys had to go to the police station to get their children released. These boys were Heroes to rest of us.

 

One of the popular patriotic songs we sang;  Saare Jahaan Se Achcha

 

Saare Jahaan Se Achcha Hindostaan Hamaraa Hamaraa Hum BulBulain Hai Iss Ki, Ye Gulsitan Hamaraa Hamaraa Parbat Ho Sabse Unchaa Hum saya aasman kaa Vo Santaree Hamaraa, vo Paaswaan hamaraa hamaraa Godee mein kheltee Hain Is kee hazaaron nadiya Gulshan Hai Jinke dam se, Rashk-e-janna hamaraa hamaraa

Mazhab nahin Sikhataa Apas Mein Bayr Rakhnaa Hindee Hai Hum Vatan hai hindostaan hamaraa Saare Jahaan Se Achcha Hindostaan Hamaraa Hamaraa Hum BulBulain Hai Iss Ki, Ye Gulsitan Hamaraa Hamaraa Saare Jahaan Se Achcha Hindostaan Hamaraa Hamaraa Saare Jahaan Se Achcha

English Translation of Sare Jahaan Se Achha

Better than the entire world, is our Hindustan,
We are its nightingales, and it (is) our garden abode

If we are in an alien place, the heart remains in the homeland,
Know us to be only there where our heart is.

That tallest mountain, that shade-sharer of the sky,
It (is) our sentry, it (is) our watchman

In its lap frolic those thousands of rivers,
Whose vitality makes our garden the envy of Paradise.

O the flowing waters of the Ganges, do you remember that day
When our caravan first disembarked on your waterfront?

Religion does not teach us to bear ill-will among ourselves
We are of Hind, our homeland is Hindustan

 

In a world in which ancient Greece, Egypt, and Rome have all vanished without trace Our own attributes (name and sign) live on today. Such is our existence that it cannot be erased.     Happymantata (93)