Story of Punjab’s Sewa Singh Thikriwala, hero of movement against princely states

Who was Sewa Singh Thikriwala?

He was calved successful the precocious 19th period successful Thikriwala village, past portion of princely authorities Patiala and present successful Barnala, Punjab. His begetter Dewa Singh was a high-ranking authoritative successful the tribunal of Maharaja Rajinder Singh. Sewa Singh was aboriginal appointed arsenic a wellness officer.

What stands contiguous of Sewa Singh Thikriwala’s house. (Express photos)

Despite being calved into a affluent household and holding an authoritative post, helium near his occupation to articulation the Singh Sabha movement. It emerged successful the precocious 19th and aboriginal 20th century, successful absorption to the Christian proselytising activities pursuing the annexation of the Sikh empire by the British. Sewa Singh would organise Gurmukhi classes successful Gurdwaras and beforehand the accepted Sikh Anand Karaj ceremonial to beryllium performed astatine weddings.

Sewa Singh’s nonstop disapproval of the prince’s regularisation led the authorities to implicate him connected a theft charge. Though it couldn’t beryllium proven, helium was jailed. The Punjab Riyasat Praja Mandal was formed past with Sewa Singh arsenic its president. The question was mostly tally by Akali leaders. Sewa Singh’s chap Akali person Kharak Singh launched a run against the authorities and began a hunger onslaught successful the jail, demanding his release.

What was the Praja Mandal movement?

The absorption of the question was to support the civilian liberties of the masses, protestation against oppressive taxes, question reforms successful the peasants’ conditions, unfastened acquisition institutions, and person a liable government.

Spread implicit 600 princely states of British India, successful Punjab, the question was progressive successful the Patiala, Nabha, Jind, Malerkotla and Faridkot princely states initially. Now portion of the Malwa region, with immoderate parts successful Haryana, these areas are politically progressive adjacent contiguous and were hotbeds of the caller farmers’ agitations. Prior to it too, the Akalis demanded Gurdwara reforms against corruption and the power of Mahants (priests), whom the British protected.

Sewa Singh’s imprisonment

After coming retired of jailhouse successful 1928, Sewa Singh attended respective conferences of the Punjab Riyasat Praja Mandal. In Simla, helium met Mahatma Gandhi successful 1931. The aforesaid year, the Maharaja of Patiala initiated negotiations with Sewa Singh but talks failed implicit the request for an elected assembly.

He was arrested successful 1930 and sentenced to beryllium imprisoned for 10 years, but released owing to nationalist pressure. At a gathering of Praja Mandal leaders astatine Amritsar, they decided to nonstop jathas (Sikh equipped parades) to Lahore. Sewa Singh was past ordered to permission Amritsar and not to participate the districts of Lahore and Amritsar for 2 months.

After that, erstwhile helium reached Thikriwala, helium was arrested by the constabulary successful August 1933 and sentenced to 3 years successful jail. In aboriginal 1934, helium started different hunger onslaught implicit his mistreatment by jailhouse authorities.

He remained connected hunger onslaught for a agelong play successful solitary confinement wrong the jailhouse until his death. The Praja Mandal question past mislaid a large leader. Still, others similar Kharak Singh and Master Tara Singh emerged from it.

What happens astatine the memorial?

The Thikriwala colony has a statue of Sewa Singh. The yearly memorial is said to person begun the twelvemonth aft his death, with a Nagar Kirtan, seminars and lectures successful the village.

Sewa Singh’s house, though, lies successful a dilapidated information with astir of his household nary longer successful the village. Several politicians person attended the memorial successful the past, including past Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal successful 2011, and promised amenities.

On Sunday (January 19), Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema announced that a superior schoolhouse successful the colony would beryllium upgraded to the School of Happiness and allocated Rs 1 crore. He besides announced a money of Rs 92 lakh for Government Senior Secondary School and said the operation of a nursing assemblage would soon start. Sewa Singh’s location would besides beryllium turned into a memorial, helium said.