Sardar Ajit Singh

Sardar Ajit Singh (1881–1947) was arevolutionary,an Indian dissident and nationalist during the time of British rule in India. He along with copatriots organised an agitation by peasants of Punjab against anti farmer British laws known as Punjab Colonisation Act (Amendment) 1906 and administrative orders of enhancing the water rate charges, was an early protester in the Punjab region of India who challenged British rule, and openly criticized the Indian colonial government. He along with Lala Lajpat Rai was exiled to Mandley (Burma) in May 1907. But due to great public pressure and apprehention of unrest in Army, these bills were withdrawn and both released in Nov 1907. But he along with his brothers Kishan Singh and Swaran Singh and Sufi Amba Parshad continue publishing political literature for when British Government was planning to arrest them and put them in long term jail .He along with Sufi Amba Parshad escaped to Iran in 1909 and remained exiled for 38 years, returning in March 1947 and breathed his last on the morning of 15 August 1947 at Dalhousie Punjab . The day India was declared free from British Rule. .

Sardar Ajit Singh was the uncle of Sardar Bhagat Singh.

Early life

Sardar Ajit Singh Sandhu was born into a patriotic family from Punjab in India. He was born on 23 February 1881 at Khatkar kalan village in Jalandhar District (now in Shaheed Bhagat Singh district). He studied up to matric at Saindas Anglo Sanskrit School Jallandhar, and later joined Law College, Barreily( UP). During this period he became intensely involved in the Indian freedom movement and left his law studies.

Dissident Activities

Sardar Ajit Singh was the hero of "Pagdi Sambhal Jatta" movement. The "Pagdi Sambhal Jatta" movement had spread far beyond the peasants to engulf the army. In 1907, he was deported to Mandalay Jail in Burma along with Lala Lajpat Rai. After his release, he fled to Iran, rapidly developed as a centre for revolutionary activities by groups led by Sardar Ajit Singh and Sufi Amba Prasad who had worked there since 1909.^[1] The recruits to these groups included young nationalists of the likes of Rhishikesh Letha, Zia-ul-Haq, Thakur Das Dhuri . By 1910, the activities of these groups and their publication, the Hayat, had been noticed by the British intelligence.^[2] Reports as early as 1910 indicated German efforts to unite Turkey and Persia and proceed to Afghanistan to threaten British India.^[2] However, Ajit Singh's departure in 1911 brought the Indian revolutionary activities to a grinding halt, while British representations to Persia successfully curbed whatever activity that remained in the country.^[2] From there, he traveled to Rome, Geneva, Paris, and Rio de Janeiro.

In 1918, he came in close contact with the Ghadar Party in San Francisco. In 1939, he returned to Europe and later on helped Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in his mission in Italy. In 1946, he came back to India at the invitation of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. After spending some time in Delhi, he went to Dalhousie .

On August 15, 1947 he uttered his last breath; On this date India got its Independence. His last words were, "Thank God, my mission is fulfilled."

A samadhi in his memory is at Panjpula, a popular and scenic picnic spot in Dalhousie.

References

1. Yadav 1992, p. 29
2. Yadav 1992, p. 30

• Yadav, B.D (1992), M.P.T. Acharya, Reminiscences of an Indian Revolutionary, Anmol Publications Pvt ltd, ISBN 81-7041-470-9.