SHIMLA: People of Himachal joined the writers in remembering 'Pahari Gandhi', Baba Kanshi Ram, who was also a revolutionary litterateur and a freedom fighter, all rolled into one.  Baba was also given an epithet of 'General in the Black' for his rebellion against the British. He had revolted against the Colonial British during his 61 years life for which he was jailed for 11 times.  

Reciting his revolutionary poems and songs, the writers gathered at Sundarnagar and remembered Baba Kanshi Ram, who was given the tile of Pahadi Gandhi by India’s first Prime Minister Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru in 1937.   

Baba Kanshi Ram was born on 11th July, 1882  in Dada Sibba Una. He was a poet and an activist of Independence  Movement,  who  took on the might of the colonial British  by almost "penning and ponding poems" against them.

In 1931, the British handed out a death sentence to three luminaries of Freedom Movement,  Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev in 1931. It had a profound impact on Baba Kanshi Ram as it burnt a fire of patriotism in him and a revolt against the British.

Subsequently, Baba vowed to wear black clothes until India achieved its independence.

It is recorded that he adhered to his vow until he died on 15th October, 1943 at the age of just 61.

Baba Kanshi Ram revered affectionately as the ‘Siyahposh Jarnail’ (General in Black).

Baba Kanshi Ram went to jail 11 times, spending nine years of his life  in Jails. He travelled extensively in Lahore, Amritsar and other parts of Punjab and Himachal, reciting his poems to breathe a fire of nationalism among people.

Despite having sent to jail 11 times, Baba refused to budge and continued his tirade  against the British by writing patriotism-inspiring  poetry to motivate people and youth of the country to drive away the British.

He was titled as ‘Bulbul-e-Pahar’ by Indian 'Cokila', Sarojini Naidu in 1927 when she had come to Kangra. 

In a befitting tribute to Pahari Gandhi, Himachal  Kala Sanskriti Bhasha Akademi organized Pahari Gandhi Baba Kanshi Ram state-level birth anniversary celebrations in Himachal Dental College, Sundernagar on Monday.

In the first session of the function, Dr. Hemendra Bali presented a detailed research paper on the contribution of Pahari Gandhi Baba Kanshi Ram to the freedom movement.

While reading on his research paper, he said that Pahari Gandhi was a freedom fighter and a revolutionary litterateur of India.

He raised his voice against social, religious, political, economic and cultural exploitation through poetry.

He gave the “message of nationalism fervour in the language of the common man”.

Apart from breathing in a fire of nationalism among the masses, works of Baba Kanshi Ram  envisioned  eradication of untouchability, Harijan love, faith in  universal brotherhood and human religion.

Baba Kanshi Ram shook the foundation of the British rulers with his rebellious songs and poems against the British rulers. 

Along with this, Pahari Gandhi also expressed the sorrow and pain of the general public in poems. Baba Kanshi Ram was influenced by the revolutionaries like Lala Lajpat Rai, Hardayal Singh, Sardar Ajit Singh, Barkatullah and played a major role in the freedom movement.

Dr. Rakesh Sharma, Assistant Professor of Sardar Patel University, Mandi, presented a research paper on the contribution of General Zorawar Singh, the great Dogra general  to the freedom struggle.

Dr. Gangaram Raji also presented his talks highlighting Baba Kanshi Ram's contribution to freedom movement. The writers of the likes  Madan Himachali, Jagjit Azad, Dr. Jaynarayan Kashyap, Dr. Krishnamohan Pandey, Dr Rekha Vashisht,  Murari Sharma, Dr. Surat Thakur, Hitendra Sharma, Shyamanand, Deepak Sharma, Pradeep Gupta represented different strands and remembered  contribution of Baba Kanshi Ram to the freedom movement of India. 

They also hold a Kavi-sammelan and cultural program paying tributes to Baba Kansshi Ram.

Dr. Amandeep Sharma, who came from the village of Baba Kanshi Ram, presented the song "Himachale Di Shan Baba Kanshi Ram" on his towering personality.

Retired Additional Deputy Commissioner Darshan Kalia and former Principal and Administrative Officer, Dental College Dr. Ashok Sharma, chief guest in the program termed the function as a befitting tributes to Pahadi Gandhi in this Amrit Mahotsav. 

There were a dozen writers and poets, who attended the celebration and presented their songs  and poems on Baba Kanshi Ram, saying that Pahari Gandhi deserved the celebration in Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav being celebrated in the country. 

Pahari Gandhi will continue to live in memories of people of Himalayan states as long as Himalaya live. But it is a pity that not even single road or roundabout is named after him in Himachal so far, lament the writers.