Prabhudayal Vidyarthi

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Prabhudayal Vidyarthi
Born	1925 Jogiya Udaipur, Siddarthnagar, Uttar Pradesh
Died	7 September 1977 Lucknow, UP
Nationality	Indian
Spouse(s)	Kamla Sahani Ex MLA UP (Social Worker, politician)
Children	Two daughters

Prabhudayal Vidyarthi (1925 –1977), was an Indian Freedom Fighter Gandhian Social Worker Politician and Writer. Seeking Freedom at an early age 8, he joined Congress in 1932 at Allahabad.^[1]

At age 10,1935, he heard Thakkar Bapa's public address, speaking of Mahatma Gandhi's quest for "FREE INDIA". In search of Azaadi, Freedom from the British, He intuitively followed Thakkar Bapa from Siddharthnagar, Uttar Pradesh to Sevagram. Gandhi was perplexed to see such a young boy wanting to participate in “Indian Freedom Struggle” and took him under his personal tutelage.^[2] He became a close aide of Mahatma Gandhi. He is listed as the youngest member of Sevagram.^[3]

Quit India Movement[edit]

Prabhudayal was imprisoned several times in connection with freedom struggle. He actively participated in Quit India Movement 1942.^[4] He was one of the first freedom fighters to be issued an arrest warrant. He went underground and travelled across as detailed in Apni Baat, while he was absconding.^{[5][6] [7]} British had put a reward of ₹5000 for his arrest^[8] He was asked to surrender by Gandhi and arrested from Sevagram on 9 November 1944, for “actively supporting and helping the underground organisation of the mass movement of August 8, 1942”, the Outset of Quit India Movement.^[9] He was immediately taken to Red Fort, put in isolation cell, interrogated and tortured because of his active participation and close association with Gandhi and Subhas Chandra Bose.^{[10] [11]}

His tryst started after attending a students meeting held in Wardha in July, 1942, when It Was decided that students should participate in any movement that Congress might launch. After the arrest of Gandhi in August 1942, Prabhudayal Vldyarthl, despite having an arrest warrant against him, absconded and participated in sabotage activities that ensued. He Wrote, Printed and Distributed Pamphlets under headings "Do or Die” ‘करो या मरो’ ‘खुला विद्रोह’and transported "Pistols and Explosives " from Bombay to get bombs prepared.^[12]

Prabhudayal's condition at his release from jail was a Telling story of Torture by British and details were published in The Hindustan Times titled “Scientific Torture in Red Fort”, on 4 November 1945.^[13] His torture included two forms of electric shock (one nozzle onto his little finger and another involving a cylindrical piece being rolled over body causing burning sensation) and being forced to lie on ice slabs until he couldn't breathe.^[14][15] This was taken up with British Govt by Gandhiji since he arrived at Sevagram in dilapidated condition on his release, as detailed in Gandhi's Correspondence with the British, LETTER TO SIR EVAN M. JENKINS, Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Vol 88, Page 371 letter no 686.^[16] Prabhudayal Vidyarthi never fully recovered from the torture he underwent at Red Fort. He died, aged 52, on 7 September 1977, at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

Hari Vishnu Kamath of All India Forward Bloc spoke first on Extreme Torture of Prabhudayal Vidyarthi in his public address at Chitins Park, Nagpur, on 17 September 1945, Published in The Hitavada on 18 September 1945, even before his release on 22 October 1945.^[17][18][19]

British vehemently denied the fact that he was "tortured" at Red Fort. However, It was categorically proved that the torture methods, as described by Prabhudayal were indeed correct and used at both 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. All claims/cases were refuted on "Point of Fact".^[1]

In Prabhudayal's case, British manipulated statements of Devdas Gandhi, rather than Prabhudayal's physical state and narration of "exact torture methods" applied to him, to close his case, even though Devdas Gandhi was never arrested 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 South Asian Governmentalities ^[20] and Colonial and Nationalist Truth Regimes by Stephen Legg which must be read with Mahatma Gandhi's letter exposing torture of Indian Freedom Fighters under British Rule^[21][22][23] A postcard was issued by Sevagram Ashram to honour his arrest.

Political[edit]

Prabhudayal returned to his village in then Basti, UP in 1945 and started working with Local Freedom Fighters, Leaders and Villagers at Gandhi’s behest.^[24][25] In rural India, “Jamindari” was still prevalent. He tried to convince local zamindars (landlords) and help the farmers get their land back. Many attempts to kill him were made as this did not go down well with zamindars. In 1951-52, Jawaharlal Nehru asked him to contest in the first Indian General Elections.

He was the youngest member of Sevagram and also the youngest person ever elected to the Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh in the first Indian General Election. He was always elected opposite Jansangh UP President Madhav Prasad Tripathi. As a Member of Assembly he changed the local agrarian Eco-system and Economy by setting up a wide canal system for irrigation and enabling other progressive measures. He is widely known as "Purvanchal ke Gandhi" as he was the only person from Purvanchal (Eastern UP), to have lived with Mahatma Gandhi and returned only after India was on the verge of attaining Freedom, as per his resolve.

"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 ^[26]

Writer[edit]

Vidyarthi wrote many articles and books on Gandhi and other Indian leaders. He wrote his first book on Gandhi in jail term during Quit India Movement and the last Devdoot Gandhi in Free India.

His work was mainly published by The Pustak Bhandar and His articles would regularly appear in The Hindu, Harijan, Balsakha, and other publications.^[27][28][29] His book "Gandhi Amrit Vani" is widely read and freely available online on different portals.^[6]

He wrote a book on Mahadev Desai, named Bapu ke Mahadev, Sevagram on Ashram life and Mahapurusho ki jeevan jhaki (महापुरुषों की जीवन झाँकी). He also did translation work for C. F. Andrews. ^[30] and Deenbandhu ko Shraddhajaliyan (दीनबन्धु को श्रद्धांजलियाँ)^[31] His work can be found in CIET archives and the National Library, New Delhi.

His work is available at Gandhi Heritage Portal archives.^[31]

Recognition[edit]

A postcard with his photo was issued by Sevagram immediately after his surrender/arrest in connection with "Quit India Movement".

Van Ganga Barage on Van Ganga River is named after Freedom Fighter Prabhudayal Vidyarthi ^[32]

The bridge on Farenda Naugarh-Barhni Shravasti Road, Siddharth Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, is named "Prabhu Dayal Vidyarthi Van Ganga Bridge" to honour his contribution to the Indian freedom struggle. ^[33]

Jogia Pakdi Marg in District Siddharth Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, is named after Vidyarthi.^[34]

Karonda Masinas Lake and Udaipur Lake in District Siddharth Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, are named after Vidyarthi.^[35]

The book Purvanchal ke Gandhi Prabhudayal Vidayarthi by Avinash Kumar Azad was launched in Kapilvastu Festival, Siddharth Nagar.^[36]

The book Gandhi ke Vidyarthi Prabhudayal gives an insight into the life of Vidyarthi.^{[37] [38]} Vidyarthi is still fondly remembered as "Purvanchal ke Gandhi" by people in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh.^{[39] [40]}

References[edit]

• पूर्वांचल के गांधी प्रभु दयाल विद्यार्थी नामक पुस्तक का हुआ विमोचन।