Prabhudayal Vidyarthi

Prabhudayal Vidyarthi
Born	1925 exact year not known Jogiya Udaipur, Siddarthnagar, Uttar Pradesh
Died	7 September 1977 Lucknow, UP
Nationality	Indian
Spouse(s)	Kamla (also a politician)
Children	Two daughters

Prabhudayal Vidyarthi (1925 –1977), also known as, Prabhu Dayal Vidyarthi, was a Freedom Fighter, Indian independence activist, Gandhian, Writer, Social Worker and politician. He heard Thakkar Bapa's public address, spreading Mahatma Gandhi's quest for "FREE INDIA", left home in search of Azaadi, aged barely 9/10 years, and became a close aide of Mahatma Gandhi.^[1] He followed Thakkar Bapa from Uska, in siddharthnagar district, to meet Gandhiji, who was perplexed to see such a young boy wanting to participate in “Indian Freedom Struggle” and allowed him to stay at 'Segaon', which later come to be known as Sevagram. Gandhi personally taught him.

Prabhudayal actively participated in Quit India Movement, travelling widely across India, which is detailed in "Apni Baat", an account of his travels and hideouts.^[2][3] British had put and award of ₹5000 for his arrest^[4] He was eventually asked to surrender by Gandhi and was finally arrested at Sevagram Wardha by the British, for “actively supporting and helping the underground organisation of the mass movement of August 8, 1942”,^[5] the outset of Quit India Movement.^[1] He was immediately put in isolation cell, questioned and tortured because of his participation in Quit India Movement and close association with Gandhi and other prominent leaders such as Subhas Chandra Bose. Prabhudayal's condition at his release from jail was a telling story of what went behind bars and the same was published in the english daily, The Hindustan Times on 4 November 1942. This was taken up with British Govt by Gandhiji on his release when he came back to Sevagram in dilapidated condition, as detailed in Gandhi's correspondence with British, Page 371 letter no 686, LETTER TO SIR EVAN M. JENKINS^[6] Fact that he was "Tortured" at Delhi Red Fort, was vehemently denied by the British. However, they categorically admitted that torture methods, as described by Prabhudayal were indeed correct and used at Lahore and Red Fort. "'Third degree methods' of physical/mental torture were deployed and continued to be used at Lahore and were certainly used at Delhi. For Delhi it also included some members of INA which has attempted to invade India under Subhas Chandra Bose. A New Statesman letter in july 1945 accused the British of placing sadists above the law, as had Germany, and that Indian prison camps witnessed physical torture that bore comparison with Nazi concentration camps at Buchenwald and Belson". Gandhiji had taken up cases of Prabhudayal Vidyarthi, Sheel Bhadra Yajee of the All India Forward Bloc, an active member of INA and Ram Manohar Lohia with British Authorities and all claims/cases were refuted on "Point of Fact". In Prabhudayal's case, British relied more on testimony of Devdas, rather than Prabhudayal's physical state on his release from jail, to close the case, even though Devdas was never arrested with Prabhudayal or ever confined in Red Fort. The cases of Prabhudayal Vidyarthi and Sheel Bhadra Yajee are discussed in detail in book "South Asian Governmentalities", page 125 onwards, edited by Stephen Legg, Deana Heath. [1] which must be read with Mahatma Gandhi's letter exposing torture of Indian Freedom Fighters under British Rule^[7][6][8] A postcard was issued by Sevagram Ashram to honour his arrest. He wrote his first book on Gandhi in jail term during Quit India Movement

After India's independence from British Rule, Prabhudayal returned to his village and started working with local villagers at Gandhi’s behest.^[9] He tried to convince local zamindars (landlords) to help farmers get their land back. Many attempts to kill him were made as this did not go well with zamindars. In 1951-52, Jawaharlal Nehru asked him to contest in the first Indian General Elections, which got him elected to Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

He was the youngest member of Sevagram Wardha. He was also the youngest person ever elected to the Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh in the first Indian General Election. He was always elected opposite Madhav Prasad Tripathi.^[1] as a member of Assembly as he had changed the local agrarian eco-system by having set up a canal system for irrigation and other progressive measures as their representative. He is widely known as "Purvanchal ke Gandhi" as he was the only person from Purvanchal (Eastern UP), to have lived with Gandhi and returned only after India had attained freedom.

Prabhudayal Vidyarthi never recovered from the torture he underwent at Red Fort. He died, aged 52, on 7 September 1977, due to heart failure at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

Work[]

Vidyarthi wrote many articles and books on Gandhi and other leaders, the last being Devdoot Gandhi. His work was mainly published by The Pustak Bhandar. His articles on general topics would regularly appear in The Hindu, Harijan, Balsakha, and other publications.^[10][11][12] His book "Gandhi Amrit Vani" is widely read and freely available online on different portals.^[13] He also wrote a book on Mahadev Desai, assistant to Gandhi, named Bapu ke Mahadev and Sevagram based on the Ashram life and Mahapurusho ki jeevan jhaki (महापुरुषों की जीवन झाँकी) . His work is available at Gandhi Heritage Portal archives.^[14]

He also did translation work for C. F. Andrews. His work can be found in CIET archives and the National Library, New Delhi.^[15][16][17] and Deenbandhu ko Shraddhajaliyan(दीनबन्धु को श्रद्धांजलियाँ)^[14]

"Banganga Barrage" and "Banganga Canal Major Irrigation Project" (1953–56) were his initial contribution to help the farmers in the area. "Banganga Canal Major Irrigation Project" was completed in three years. A 45 km canal was constructed to irrigate 23,000 acres of land, in conjunction with other extensive public work campaign resulting in construction of barrage and roads to connect villages etc. immediately after Independence. "Banganga Barrage" is a serene place and is known in his name as a tribute to him.^[18]

Recognition[]

A postcard with his picture was issued to honor him immediately by Sevagram, after his arrest in connection with "Quit India Movement".

The bridge on Farenda Naugarh-Barhni Shravasti Road, Siddharth Nagar, UP is named "Prabhu Dayal Vidyarthi Van Ganga Bridge" to honour his memory.^[19]

Jogia Pakdi Marg in Siddarth Nagar was named after Freedom Fighter "Prabhudayal Vidyarthi"^[20]

A book "Purvanchal ke Gandhi Prabhudayal Vidayarthi" by Avinash Kumar Azad, was launched in "Kapilvastu Festival", Siddharth Nagar. ^[21][22][23]

Another book "Gandhi ke Vidyarthi" was compiled by Mrs Kamla Sahni giving insight into life of Freedom Fighter Prabhudayal Vidyarthi^[3]

Prabhudayal Vidyarthi is still fondly remembered by people at his native place.^{[18][24] [25][26] [27][28]}

References[]

[2] [3] [4]