By: Priyanka Saurabh
Take a look at history, every part of Haryana will be seen drenched with blood. While the soldiers of the country left no stone unturned in winning the war of independence, the British had also crossed the limit of cruelty. The whole of Haryana was burnt in the fire of the freedom movement. The matter is of 1857 when the freedom fighters jumped into the war in the first freedom movement. During that time more than 3000 people were killed in Haryana. The British caught some and hanged them, while some were shot. Even if the bus did not work, many villages were burnt to ashes. This part of Haryana was at that time part of Punjab province. The first freedom movement was started on 10 May 1857 under the leadership of revolutionary soldier Mangal Pandey. During, on May 13, when this fire broke out in Gurgaon and other districts also, many heroes from Haryana joined it. Many heroes lost their lives in these.
Haryana takes pride that it has a place in the freedom revolution of the country. Indian history is associated with Mahabharata which is now called Haryana Kurukshetra land. Where the greatest battle took place between right and wrong. Interestingly, Haryana has been a battleground for many battle scenes. Haryana was formed in 1966. It was earlier a part of Punjab and hence Punjab has a lot of mention in the freedom struggle for independence, but little is known as to the contribution of Haryana in terms of the sacrifice of the people. The first spark of rebellion against British rule in Haryana started on 10 May 1857 from Ambala, where the native infantry soldiers started the rebellion. On the same day a similar revolt took place in the native infantry based in Meerut, this incident rapidly spread to all parts. Peasant soldiers and local leaders Meo Sadruddin of Pingawan came together under the leadership of local leaders such as Rao Tularam and his cousin Gopal Dev. Soon Samad Khan, General Mohammad Azim Beg, Rao Kishan Singh Rao, and Ramlal all joined the rebellion against the British.
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Ordinary, local soldiers and local leaders of Haryana came forward for this rebellion, while the leaders of neighbouring areas did not raise their voices against the British Raj during this crucial time. Like in other parts of Haryana, Rohtak also attacked all the symbols of the British Raj and a Bisrat Ali of Kharkhoda who was a Risaldar among the British; Along with Sabar Khan a peasant leader, the local people all came together and attacked the British property and residence in Rohtak tehsil. Rohtak Deputy Commissioner William Lodge had to leave Rohtak but the work of Tehsildar Bakhawar Singh and Thanedar Bhure Khan died.
Finally, on 15 August 1857, Lieutenant WSR Edson, supported by Major General Wilson, reached Khakhoda with his army and Bisrath Ali was killed in the conflict. Then they reached Rohtak district to suppress Sabar Khan who was leading the rebellion there. Sabar Khan and the local farmers of Rohtak had limited resources, eventually; they were defeated in Rohtak, while in the meantime the local people of Hisar, Hansi, and Sirsa joined Hukumchand Jain, nephew Fakirchand Jain, Mohammad Azim, Noor Mohammad on 29th May 1857 who led the rebellion, he killed 12 Europeans including the Deputy Commissioner of Hisar.
In this Hisar Deputy Commissioner John Wedderburn was killed along with his wife and child. During the rebellion against the British Raj, Ambala stopped paying revenue to the British in most of the remaining areas of Haryana except Jind. However, by November 16, the rebellion ended here and the British strengthened themselves. Arya Samaj started taking root in Haryana after 10th April 1875, Swami Dayanand started Arya Samaj in Mumbai. Arya Samaj raised its voice against idol worship. Emphasized widow remarriage, untouchability, and women’s education. Arya Samaj got a lot of support from the people of Haryana at such a moment. Which was not only a sweet awakening but also gave birth to rational thought. This had a major impact on the later rise against the British Raj. Lala Lajpat Rai started public life in Haryana. His father got the school built in Rohtak and Lala Lajpat Rai promoted Arya Samaj in a major way. Many other prominent names contributed such as Chaudhary Maturam and his son Chaudhary Ranveer Singh.
In Haryana, Sanatan Dharma Sabha was started by Deen Dayalu Sharma at Jhajjar in 1886. Promoted the use of Sanskrit and maintained the teaching of the Hindi language. Other important names associated with this movement were Swami Shraddhanand Choudhary, Mathuram, Bhagat Phool Singh, and Bhim Singh who was against various social evils? Sanatan Dharma made an important contribution to the development of social values in Haryana. In 1885, the Indian National Congress was born out of the efforts of Allan Octavian, a British civil servant. But he was not growing up in his institution with both educated Indians and the common man. During the First World War, the British turned to the local Indians for support and India agreed to the war on behalf of the British Empire.
Haryana was again in the first place in this matter. Between January 1915 and 1918, 84,000 soldiers were recruited from recruitment centers at Delhi, Jhajjar, Rewari, and Bhiwani, and the Congress continued to offer support to the British in the hope that the British would grant Dominion status to India in 1918, but the British Rowlatt Act Came out with the bill and the Montagu Champs for Reform Bill became a gala for the Indian people across India. In 1918, from 6 to 10 April, there was a vigorous strike in Gurgaon, Ballabhgarh, Jhajjar, Rohtak, Sonipat, Rewari, Panipat, Ambala, and Jagadhri. But on 13th April 1990, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar brought the entire nation to the call for complete independence. The non-cooperation movement in Haryana was gaining ground for independence, many young citizens of Haryana who were studying in places like Delhi and Lahore left education to jump into the freedom movement. Deshbandhu Gupta (Panipat) Lala Jankidas, Pandit Ramful Singh, Rohtak Lala Ayodhya Prasad Dadri, and Chandrasen Vashisht Gurgaon were among the many names to be included in this list. The flames against the British were rising and with each passing day, the British began to realize that it was becoming increasingly difficult to rule India.
The British suffered terrible losses in World War II. Eventually the British decided to free India from colonial rule. But freedom came to us at the terrible cost of the struggle between Hindus and Muslims. This eventually led to the formation of Pakistan. We must never forget the sacrifice that our forefathers and leaders, elders, women, and children made to end British rule. They are the collective contributions that allow us to live freely and with dignity, today and are a legacy we must pass on to the next generation together. (The author is a Research Scholar in Political Science, Poet, freelance journalist, and columnist)
