Although he was killed at the young age of 41, this legendary editor cum freedom fighter cum friend of all exploited people, had achieved enough to last several lifetimes. Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi: Saviour of 1931 Meston road riot survivors His recent books on the subject include When the Two Streams Met and Azadi ke Deewanon Ki Daastaan. Before pursuing his research and masters in modern Indian History from JNU, he was an electrical engineering student at AMU. When Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi reached that spot, he discovered that a Hindu, aged about thirty, had protected the lives of about thirty Muslim men, women and children from the madness of the rioters. How Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Was Killed By Blood Thirsty Mob During Hindu-Muslim Riots : An Eyewitness Account, When Sarojini Naidu called Mohammad Ali Jinnah An Ambassador of Unity. A large crowd had gathered on Nai Sarak, and some volunteers requested him to address the crowd. Ganesh Shankar was born in Fatehpur near Allahabad to a low-income family in 1890. In a different case, Vidyarthi was also in jail but he was released just a few days before the hanging of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on March 23. For 18 years at a stretch, with continuity, (1913-31) he fought colonial rule with his one foot in office and the other in prison. Activist, Indian National Congress leader and journalist, Shankar was a rare personality, who rather than waiting for other people to bestow him with titles adopted the term Vidyarthi (seeker of knowledge) at the end of his name. When some people started dragging him to a lane, he said that he wont run away. Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi (26 October 1890 - 25 March 1931, Kanpur) was an Indian journalist, a leader of the Indian National Congress and an independence movement activist. People saw him rescuing people including women of both communities from difficult situations. No responses found. "[21], Mahatma Gandhi paid him the following tribute in the pages of 'Young India': "The death of Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi was one to be envied by us all. Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi - Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias Last came his turn and as the assassin approached him he bowed his head down only to be mowed down. Join our mailing list to get the latest human rights news that matters, straight to your mailbox. Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi though a member of the Indian National Congress and an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi, wholeheartedly supported the Indian revolutionaries. Vidyarthi, who was preparing to attend the Karachi session of Congress, decided not to leave Kanpur and rather help people in the riot-hit areas. It was in the course of these repeated efforts that at some stage he was stabbed and killed. The Ganesh Shanker Vidyarthi Inter College (GSV Inter College Hathgaon-Fatehpur) is named in his remembrance. As they respected his understanding and wisdom, revolutionaries quietly consulted Vidyarthi regarding some actions, and Vidyarthi would often exercise restraint to prevent what would have been avoidable violence. This view gains credibility when we remember that Vidyarthi had a very special position as a bridge between the Congress and the revolutionaries. Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi: Indian journalist (1890 - PeoplePill Ganesh Shankar thought of himself as a fighter against oppression and injustice. In this respect, he was not a man who followed in Gandhi's footsteps. Therefore, he too developed the interest in Urdu and Persian language. He played a leading role in forming an organization called Hindustani Biradari which organized programs on communal harmony and joint celebrations of various festivals. He started a revolutionary weekly by the name of 'Pratap' on Novemeber 9, 1913. He was a champion of communal harmony. It can only be a coincidence that Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi died on 25th March 1931 i.e. Ganesh Shankar thought of himself as a fighter against oppression and injustice. But, this could not stop him to raise his voice against the cruelty of landlords and Britishers. Thus ended the life of Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi at the age of only forty-one years. The first Satyagraha of Mahatma Gandhi in India i.e. Due to his exploding articles, he was punished with high fines and was send to prison five times. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. He was thus left alone to die. In addition he was all the time fighting court cases filed by very powerful persons as well. Died On: March 25, 1931 Career: Journalist, Nationalist Nationality: Indian "I am a fighter against oppression and injustice, whether practiced by bureaucracy, zamindars, capitalists or high caste. His early education was under the guidance of his father. just 2 days after the hanging of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru in the Lahore Conspiracy Case. Then Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi proceeded all alone to the riot-stricken area. He was an important figure in the non-cooperation movement[2] and the freedom movement of India, who once translated Victor Hugo's novel Ninety-Three,[3] and is mostly known as the founder-editor of the Hindi language newspaper, Pratap. At the instance of one Muslim volunteer, he was spared as he had saved hundreds of Muslims. Kanpur: Parents alleged ragging as cause of death of MBBS second-year student of Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial medical college, Tanya, 23, who had. In 1916 that Vidyarthi met Mahatma Gandhi in Lucknow for the first time and joined the national movement. Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College . In the year 1930, he was again arrested, but was released in March 1931 under Gandhi-Irwin pact. Born on 26 October 1890, in a small village called Basgaon, in the district of Unnao in Uttar Pradesh, Ganesh Shankar Vidhyarthi was a man of immense courage and dedication. Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi (26 October 1890 - 25 March 1931) was an Indian journalist, a leader of the Indian National Congress and an independence movement activist. Your email address will not be published. Less likely still, would be the idea that a bloody communal riot took place here, resulting in the death of a well-known Hindi journalist. It was under him that Ganesh Shankar received his early schooling and passed the high school examination privately in 1907 after studying in Mungaoli and Vidisha. The place was somewhere near the mosque on the Meston Road, and the conditions in the lane were horrible. But soon after, another crowd attacked him. Vasant-Rajab Exemplary Of Communal Harmony In Gujarat Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Press J to jump to the feed. It was Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi who gave money to Ashfaqullah Khan when he was on run following the Kakori incident and published the biography of Ramprasad Bismil. Myocardial infarction is defined as myocardial cell . He adopted the pen-name 'Vidyarthi' the seeker of knowledge. Unfortunately he became one of the victims of the riots. Mahabir Prasad Dwiwedi, the doyen of Hindi journalism who offered him the job of a sub-editor in his famous literary monthly, "The Saraswati", in 1911. He was also one of the leaders of the Kisan Sabha in Kanpur. The police and state government claimed it was unauthorized and seized the statue despite local congressman and journalists insisting it be restored. Early life of Ganesh Shankar VidyarthiGanesh Shankar Vidyarthi was born on October 26, 1890 in a village named Hathgaon/Hathgam in Fatehpur near Allahabad. For 18 years at a stretch, from 1913 to 31, he fought colonial rule with one foot in the office and the other in prison. Born in 1890 in Allahabad, present-day Prayagraj district in Uttar Pradesh, he became the Founder and Editor of the revolutionary Hindi newspaper, Pratap. Bharat Dogra has consistently contributed articles, booklets, books and short stories on the freedom movement. To receive it on Telegram, please click here. Then, he joined Currency office as a clerk in Kanpur. He described himself in these words I am a fighter against oppression and injustice, Career of Ganesh Shankar VidyarthiIn 1907, Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi joined Kayastha Pathshala, a school in Allahabad. Pratap (Newspaper by Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi) | INDIAN CULTURE Even when the Superintendent of Police was apprised of the situation, he did not believe in the complaints against the behaviour of the police. Ganesh Shankar Vidhyarthis death was a great loss to the Indian freedom struggle. The Partap regularly carried the plight of Kanpur millworkers who had to work overtime, were paid less than the minimum wage and had to live under pitiable condition. Delhi HC rejects plea of State to condone a delay of 28 years days in filing appeal against the acquittal order in anti-Sikh riots Role of Progressives in Telangana Peasant Armed Struggle, Karnataka HC: Petition by Twitter contesting centres blocking orders dismissed, Rs. This temple is one of the historical landmarks of the Kanpur city in present India. What happened thereafter was narrated before the Enquiry Committee by another eye-witness, Ganpat Singh. Given his high organisation capability and his mass base, it was very likely that Vidyarthi would have mobilised perhaps the biggest opposition against the hanging of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. This is all the more reason why the nationwide observance of martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev should be followed up by observing the martyrdom day of Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi. Among his many written works, two quotes are widely hailed by people. What is not so well-known is that Vidyarthi had a role in channelizing the high energy levels of young revolutionaries along lines of greater constructive achievements. Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi is primarily remembered today through the awards given under his name and through the places and institutes named after him, but the ideals for which he lived and ultimately died for has been largely forgotten in the field of which he was a pioneer. But, due to differences in thoughts with British employees, he had to leave the job. At the same time, his role as an editor was nothing short of being glorious. Vimla has stated that she sees the killers not as rioters but as persons guided by colonial rulers. Why has India forgotten Ganesh Shankar 'Vidyarthi', the - dailyO Become a Patron at Patreon Subscribe to our Telegram channel, GET COUNTERCURRENTS DAILY NEWSLETTER STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX, Share:Share on WhatsAppShare on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on TelegramShare on RedditShare on Email Our beloved K.P.Sasi is no more. My secession is legal, yours isnt: Defending the UN Charter, Stop Biden from Sending Cluster Bombs to Ukraine, Stop Criminalising Human Rights Work in Manipur: PUCL. Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi had to face several prosecutions-- was imprisoned five times-- in pursuit of justice for the oppressed. In the Home Rule movement of 1917-18, he led from the front. As revolutionaries moved towards making a more durable impact on people by satyagraha type actions and fasts in jail during 1929-31, the influence of mentors like Vidyarthi became evident. Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi won from Kanpur and became a member of the UP Legislative Council (1926-29). And yet, a cursory glance at history records would mark March 25, 1931 as the day when 40-year-old Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi died in Kanpur while trying to save innocent lives. With the help of his simple style of writing, forceful and clear delivery of speech, he was able to influence large mass of people to jump in freedom fighting movements. [19][a] Vidyarthi's disfigured bodyshowing multiple stab woundswould only be found a few days later, near litter. Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi (26 October 1890 25 March 1931) was an Indian journalist, a leader of the Indian National Congress[1] and an independence movement activist. In 1955, the Indian government posthumously awarded Ganesh Shankar Vidhyarthi the Bharat Ratna, Indias highest civilian award. "I am a fighter against oppression and injustice, I have fought all my life against oppression against inhumanity and may God give me strength to fight on till the last" So he wrote against this several times. This view is supported in an interview with his daughter Vimla Vidyarthi who has recorded what she and her mother had heard at that time from others. This was where he too received his early education, under the guidance of his father. In the early days of 1931, the popularity of Bhagat Singh and other revolutionaries who had been imprisoned by the British was at its peak. How Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Was Killed By Blood Thirsty Mob During Death: 25 March 1931, Kanpur (aged 40 years) The details (from wikipedia) Biography. The concluding observation of Vimla was that the killing of Vidyarthi was a part of the same conspiracy which led to the hurried execution of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru. Throughout his life, he fought for the rights of the downtrodden and the oppressed, and his legacy continues to inspire millions even today. Frantic search was made for his body, but the same could not be traced till late in the night. His short life was one constant struggle against oppression and inhumanity. But, his self-study never stop. Remembering Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, an Editor Who Lived and Died for Communal Harmony. Let this noble example stimulate us all to a similar effort should the occasion arise again.. Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi (1 September 1924 - 11 January 2021) was an Indian independence activist and politician from Nawada district in the state of Bihar. Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, a stalwart of the Left movement in India's Hindi-speaking regions, passed away at the beginning of the year due to Covid-19. Due to his interest in journalism, he understood the power of pen very well. This Heroic Journalist Sheltered Bhagat Singh & Died Saving Thousands Ganesh Shankar Vidhyarthi was born to a humble family, and his father, Babu Shiv Prasad, was a farmer. In addition to his death, Shankars life boasted of leading the Home Rule Movement of 191718 as well as the first strike of textile workers in Kanpur. Presently, he works as a freelance/ independent history researcher, writer and works at www.awazthevoice.in.