Professor Chaman Lal                   Dated: -- 25^th 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 22^nd May,2011, Sunday, to commemorate Sarabha birth anniversary due on 24^th 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 1^st 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:

1. 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

2. 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.
3. 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)
4.  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.
5.         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.chaman@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.chaman@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:

 

1. 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.