written by Shalini
#Dilsehimachali #Blog-1 #50yearsofhimachalpradeshstatehood

The origin

Oh! It was not one but many movements which lead to #50yearsofhimachalpradeshstatehood. What is interesting here is that my fight was not plainly against the colonial powers.
I was fighting against the oppressive and undemocratic princely rulers at the same time. You can draw to my struggle as well-directed but analogously more moderate effort than those opposed in different corners of our country. I had a formidable pack of men and women taking me by my hand closer to my statehood.

Foundation of INC in Shimla

But it did not inaugurate from here. My story of #50yearsofhimachalpradeshstatehood goes back to 1800.
Let me begin.
Interestingly a retired British civil servant, Mr. A.O Hume, proposed the idea of forming #INC. Guess! Where was the idea initiated? It was from his residence, which was Rothney Castle in #Shimla.
The primary idea behind the conception of the Indian National Congress was to design a safety valve. This valve was to work strengthening the anti-British feelings.

but it further directed to a more significant cause.
It was transmuting the valve into an umbrella for all the anti-British proactive fights.
I would say the first steps were not towards my country, #INDIA’s absolute freedom. Nevertheless, it was aimed towards the ultimate freedom.#MahatmaGandhi came to #Shimla in the years 1912,1931,1939,1945, and1946.
Along with him arrived the non-violent and peaceful call of #Quiteindia and #doordie.#Gandhiji was my esteemed guest. In 1945 his stay was made comfortable at the residence of Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur. While in 1946, he rested at Chadwick in Summer Hill.

Gandhiji did bring the heat up, but it did not catch fire.
My people needed a reason, and Sikhs matured into one. As a consequence, the resistance began.

Uprising sprang

Barbarities have a short life. #MaharajaRanjitSingh had fanned the resistance toward him by his dictatorial policies of annexation and extinction.

Just when Britishers killed # MaharajaRanjitSingh in 1845. Raja Shamsher Chand of Guler threw the Sikhs out of Hamirpur fort. Not staying behind, Bir Singh of Nurpur seized the citadel of Nurpur. Sikhs were even ejected from Kuthlehr by Raja Narain Pal.

Remember, all this was happening in partnership with the British forces. In it, Ugar sen of Suket and Balbir Sen of Mandi also united against Sikhs. The final rap of defeat was blown to the Sikhs on February 10th in 1846. It was in the #battleofsabraon.

I conclude that the Britishers’ ambiguity led to a brave and concentrated fight for freedom. The peace treaty signed between the British and the Sikhs at Lahore came with a twist. The heedless faith in the British lured the indigenous rulers.

As a result, Punjab hill chiefs were not predesignated their territories. Instead, the British clutched a portion between Satluj and Ravi. Rest was disposed of off to Maharaja Gulab Singh of Jammu.

It further gave way to direct control of British over Kangra, Guler, Jaswant, Datarpur, Nurpur, Suket, Mandi and Kullu. Hill rulers were pushed down by challenging conditions.

Due to which frustration and skepticism mounted, they revolted against the British. Interestingly, the Hill rulers rebelled against the British with the help of Sikh, earlier against them, now with them. The rebel rulers were from Nurpur, Kangra, Jaswant and Datarpur.
Unfortunately, the British defeated them.

The overdue start

Who knew what was about to start, and where will it lead? My people , Himachalies, were oblivious of their political rights. I would say they were less mindful of their social, economic and intellectual rights. Consequently, when things were already fueling up against the British, I remained in obliviousness.
Though not for long.

It was on May 12th when the news of the Delhi and Meerut massacres reach us. Gurkhas took the van and withheld it to coincide with the British orders.#Nasiribattalion, the Gurkha regiment, was stationed in Hill cantonments. About 80 Gurkha guard in the Kasauli regiment declined to move to Ambala.

They packed up enormous government money and dashed off to Jutogh, where the fellow soldiers awaited them. 1857 was the beginning of #quitindia leading to #50yearsofhimachalpradeshstatehood in #HimachalPradesh.
To be continued………………………………………..