Chandra Singh Garhwali

Chandra Singh Garhwali was an Indian soldier.

Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali
Born	(1891-12-25)25 December 1891 Pauri, North-Western Provinces, British India
Died	1 October 1979(1979-10-01) (aged 87) Uttar Pradesh
Occupations	Gandhian Freedom Fighter Soldier Communist
Children	2

Chandra Singh Bhandari (25 December 1891 – 1 October 1979)^[1] is remembered in Indian history as the hero of the Peshawar incident. On 23 April 1930, under the leadership of Chandra Singh Garhwali, the soldiers of the Royal Garhwal Rifles refused to fire on unarmed Pathans fighting for India's independence.^[2] He lived with Mahatma Gandhi in Sabarmati Ashram for a short time.^[3]

Personal life

On September 3, 1914, Chandra Singh arrived in Lansdowne to enlist in the army and was accepted. This was during the First World War. On August 1, 1915, Chandra Singh, along with other Garhwali soldiers, was sent to France by the British. He returned to Lansdowne on February 1, 1916. During the First World War, Chandra Singh participated in the Battle of Baghdad in 1918.

After the First World War ended, the British began dismissing many soldiers, reducing the ranks of those who had been promoted during the war. Chandra Singh was among them. He was demoted from a Havildar to a Soldier. Consequently, he considered leaving the army. However, senior officers convinced him that his promotion would be taken care of and granted him some time off. During this time, Chandra Singh came into contact with Mahatma Gandhi.

Garhwali introduced Sri Dev Suman to Gandhi in Wardha. After his conversation with Gandhi Suman asked Garhwali what his dream for the people of Garhwal was. On this, Chandra Singh Garhwali narrated his dream to Shridev Suman and said, 'I imagine an independent Garhwal in independent India. Like India will be a federation of many independent unions. An independent Garhwal under the same federation.". Garhwali shared his dream of an independent Garhwal no longer politically and socially divided by the Ganges. He also emphasized a future with a classless and post-untouchability society with no capitalists and no landlords.^[4]

After some time, he was sent to Baziristan with his battalion in 1920, after which he was promoted again. After returning from there, he spent much time with Arya Samaj workers, and a sense of patriotism developed within him. However, the British did not approve of this and sent him to the Khyber Pass. By this time, Chandra Singh had attained the rank of Major Havildar..

These soldiers tried for disobeying the British were represented by Barrister Mukundi Lal, who, after tireless efforts, had their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment. Chandra Singh Garhwali's entire property was confiscated, and his uniform was torn from his body.^[4]

In 1930, Chandra Singh Garhwali was sent to Abbottabad jail (now in Pakistan) for 14 years of imprisonment . His sentence was reduced and after 11 years of imprisonment, he was released on 26 September 1941. But his entry to Garhwal was restricted due to which he had to keep wandering here and there and finally he went to Wardha to meet Gandhiji. Gandhiji was deeply impressed by him. In the Quit India Movement of 8 August 1942, he stayed in Allahabad and took active part in this movement and was again arrested for three years. He was released in 1945.

On December 22, 1946, Chandra Singh was able to re-enter Garhwal with the support of the Communists. In 1957, he contested the elections as a candidate of the Communist Party of India but was unsuccessful. Chandra Singh Garhwali died on October 1, 1979, after a prolonged illness. In 1994, the Government of India issued a postage stamp in his honor. Several roads were also named after him.

Chandra Singh Garhwali at 1994 Stamp of India.

Honors

• In 23 April 1994, India Post honored him by issuing stamp on him.^[1]
• Government medical college Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Government Institute of Medical Science and Research is named after him.^[5]
• Agricultural university Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry is named after him.^[6]
• In 2022, Former Union Minister of Education and Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Ramesh Pokhriyal "Nishank" wrote biography on him which was published by National Book Trust.^[7]
• In 2021, his statue was unveiled by Defence Minister of India, Rajnath Singh.^[8][9][10]
• In 2014, Kishore Upadhyaya demanded to Harish Rawat for installation of his statue in Dehradun.^[11]
• A scheme in Uttarakhand "Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Tourism Self Employment Scheme" is named after him.^[12]
• A school has been built in his name in the Saket area of Delhi.^[13]