Himachal Pradesh is the land of zealous and committed. This part of India is that white backdrop of Indian rainbow which glisten its colors. The Indian Freedom movement which overtook the state in 1857,activated the volcano of patriotic romanticism in Himachal. It entered and showed up in all the corners of the state.
One amongst it was Kunihar. The village Namhol in Kunihar tehsil of Himachal Pradesh is the birth place of a devout patriot kanshi Ram. He was a noted face of the freedom movement of the princely state. Born during the imperious rule of royalties, he was undaunted by their pressure. He modeled a movement to counter the atrocities of the Rana of Kunihar.
The process of land distribution started in the year 1924 in his state.This was after the land distribution(from the royalties to the landlords) ordinance was passed by Shimla hill state in favor of the landlords. Though it did come as a consolation but not as it was thought off. The land distribution process was perverted by the royals. The fertile and well-placed land was written in the name of favorites of Rana and the leftover in the name of common landlords. This was objected by the general public but was suppressed by the influence of royals. The growing dolor of common man provoked Kanshi Ram to stand up for his people. In support of the people and against the atrocities of Rana, Kanshi Ram wrote many letters to the authorities. In them, he cited the deceited ways in which the land was being distributed. In the year 1923, he sent letters of appeal to deputy commissioner Shimla hill state and Rana Hardev. But got no relief. Instead, he and his allies were put behind the bars under fake cases of treason and foreclosure.
On 31st December 1924, the British government intervened in favor of rana .C King, the then political commissioner of Shimla sent a letter to Kanshi ram slamming him for leading the farmer’s movement. Kanshi Ram was cautioned to stop the protest forthwith. The letter also licensed Rana Hardev of Kunihar to take any action against Kanshi Ram if he did not bow down to the British terms and conditions.
This was the beginning of the farmer’s movement against the royal rule in Kunihar. The letter sent, specified that Kanshi Ram will not be taken as the representative of the farmers by the British Government. To counter the allegation, on 25th January 1925 nineteen landlords who worked in the government set up in Delhi ,from and around Namhol submitted a written application declaring Kanshi Ram as their representative. This application was presented to Rana Hardev and the Shimla Hill State. This unanimous election marked the first victory of democracy in the princely state of Kunihar.
Kanshi Ram was a true blue patriot.He sat in protest at a ground near the Kunihar palace every day. This offended the rana .This further lead to the arrest of kanshi ram along with the other supporters .This was repeated on numerous occasions. But it did not dilute the vigor of the movement. This became a regular activity so much so that locals named the ground as ’Babu Kanshi Ram’ ground. The enraged Rana irked by the stern resolution of Kashi ram prohibited him from entering Kunihar till his death.
After leaving Kunihar Kanshi Ram stayed at Tutikandi in Shimla.
His commital to stand by his people did not change with the change of land.He came in contact with other prominent freedom fighters of Himachal and started working with them.
Their activities were perpetual. The blueprint of the freedom struggle was made in one of the rooms in his house. This room was called Daftar by his family members. In this Daftar, the bedrock of Kunihar Praja Mandala was laid in the year 1939.Rana of Kunihar tried his best to conceal the demands of the Praja Mandal. He outlawed the activities of the Mandal in Kunihar. But in front of the colossal uprising of people he had to kneel down. All the demands of praja mandala very accepted in the same year.
Kanshi Ram was born as the first child of Hajari Lal in 1874. He was eldest to his three brothers. His first job was as a storekeeper at U.S.the Club Shimla. Later he went to become a clerk at The Trust of India. He is one of the most prominent names amongst the freedom fighters of Himachal Pradesh.
Great job. Thanks a lot. But you did not mentioned about his freedom fighter son late master Gauri Shanker Thakur.
Yes a foregone hero , a true leader and patriot, who fought for the rights and freedom of his people against the monarchy or the system and was eventually successful in achieving it. A good write up ,, informative and induces patriotism. Old people in the area speak very high of Babu Kanshi Ram in the region as on day. Thanks