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Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Inside this Bengaluru home freedom fighters' words still speak
Bengaluru: In the wardrobes of a house on Lakshmi Road in Richmond Town echo many untold stories of the freedom struggle. They are full of relics, mostly handwritten and typed letters from at least a hundred freedom fighters—penned during the heat of the freedom struggle—their ink carries the urgency and hope of a generation. For 53-year-old Jayaprakash Sarda, a silk saree merchant on Avenue Road, collecting letters from freedom fighters is a passion. He claims to currently possess 2,500 letters and documents of national importance, including those from Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, Subash Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Rabindranath Tagore, Rajendra Prasad, and V N Gadgil. He also has rare letters from Gopal Godse and Edwina Mountbatten, among others. The letters are sourced through various means, including auction houses, friends, dealers and references. Some of his oldest collectibles are newspapers from 1580-1670, the 1780-90 Carnatic Wars and Indian Rebellion of 1857. His collection also includes three chakras that Gandhi used. "One is from a disciple of his in Chettinadu where he stayed during his travels. The other is from his ashram," he said. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Gold Rates Today in Bengaluru | Silver Rates Today in Bengaluru "Dealers contact me whenever such letters surface. I look at the letter's content, its condition, read about it. If I doubt its authenticity, I get it certified by Royal Philatelic Society in London," he explained. Passion that began with stamps Jayaprakash started as a stamp collector as a child in Bengaluru. "When my stamp collection started getting saturated, I moved on to other things. First, it was old newspapers related to the freedom struggle, then it became all types of items related to Gandhi. In the past five years, I progressed to all other freedom fighters," he said. "Every Sunday, I spend time with my collections. It helps me re-read history, connect various dots and understand events. Sometimes, it is so different from what we were taught," he said. Even though Jayaprakash's collection on Gandhi is vast, he is critical of the Mahatma. "My hero is Bose. His handwritten letters are the hardest to come by. They are among my rarest of rare collections. I have many letters and documents that shows Gandhi's flaws as a person," he said. Jayaprakash's wardrobes in two bedrooms overflow with the collections, which include a crockery set given to All India Congress Committee delegates in Haripura in 1931 with INC flag printed on it, a biscuit tin featuring Gandhi's arrival in London for Round Table Conference, a 1-kilo silver coin with Gandhi's image, salvaged currency notes washed away during a shipwreck, a govt circular announcing Gandhi's death and the arrival of his ashes at Triveni Sangam. "They are his prized possessions that he keeps in the room where he sleeps. When he travels abroad, he takes the key with him," said his wife, Anuradha Sarda, who supports his passion. Jayaprakash said, "My biggest supporter is my elder brother, who sometimes funds my passion," Many of the letters cost him lakhs of rupees at auctions, some of them with controversial and discreet contents. PULL QUOTE 'Every Sunday, I spend time with my collections. It helps me re-read history, connect various dots and understand events. Sometimes, it is so different from what we were taught' Jayaprakash Sarda POPCORN 2,500 No. of letter & documents of national importance he has Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Independence Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
News18
5 days ago
- General
- News18
Independence Day 2025: 10 Lesser-Known Freedom Fighters Your Kids Can Speak About In Their August 15 Speech
1/10 Khudiram Bose: One of the youngest revolutionaries who opposed British rule in India. He was just 18 when he was executed for his role in freedom struggle. (Image: Wikimedia Commons) Tantia Tope: He was a member of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. He served as a commander and led an army of Indian soldiers against the British. (Image: Wikimedia Commons) 3/10 Rani Gaidinliu: Naga queen from Northeast India, she had emerged as a defiant leader against the British rule in early 20th century. (Image: Wikimedia Commons) Begum Rokeya: A social reformer and educationist who fought for women's rights and education in British India. (Image: Wikimedia Commons) 5/10 Birsa Munda: A tribal leader who led a rebellion against British exploitation in Jharkhand and fought for tribal rights. (Image: Wikimedia Commons) Matangini Hazra: She led the protest against British rule at the age of 70 and was shot dead by British Indian police during Quit India Movement. (Image: Wikimedia Commons) Kittur Rani Chennamma: The queen of Kittur in Karnataka, she led an armed resistance against the British in 1824, decades before the 1857 revolt. (Image: Wikimedia Commons) 9/10 Chandrashekhar Azad: A fearless revolutionary who vowed to never be captured alive and played a key role in the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. (Image: Wikimedia Commons) 10/10 Usha Mehta: A freedom fighter who operated an underground radio station called 'Congress Radio' to broadcast messages during the Quit India Movement. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
India.com
18-07-2025
- India.com
World's Oldest Surviving Steam Engine: Certified By Guinness Book Of Records, Constructed In 1855, Its Name Is...
photoDetails english 2933603 The Indian Railways is one of the largest train networks in the world. It fulfils not just the transportation needs of lakhs of travellers but also offers an unforgettable journey through some of the most scenic landscapes in the country. Some routes stand out for their sheer beauty, like the Kalka-Shimla toy train. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers breathtaking views of the Eastern Himalayas. These rides make Indian Railways not just a means of travel, but a window into the country's heart. Spanning over thousands of kilometers, the Indian Railway System connects cities to villages and mountainous terrains to coastal towns. But that is not the only thing that the train system in India offers, it is also home to the World's Oldest Working Steam Engine, 'Fairy Queen': Updated:Jul 18, 2025, 02:37 PM IST Name Of Oldest Steam Locomotive In Use 1 / 9 According to a release by the Ministry of Railways, dated February 10, 2017, the 'Fairy Queen' is the oldest surviving functional steam engine in the world and is a great attraction among train enthusiasts. Constructed By... 2 / 9 The locomotive was constructed by Kitson, Thompson, and Hewitson at Leeds, in England, in 1855, and reached Kolkata (Calcutta) in the same year. Fleet Number 3 / 9 The Ministry of Railways release further mentions that upon arrival, it was given fleet number "22" by its owner, the East Indian Railway Company. Between Howrah And Raniganj 4 / 9 The 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge locomotive was at first used to haul light mail trains in West Bengal, operating between Howrah and Raniganj, and during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 hauled troop trains. It was later consigned to line construction duty in Bihar, where it served until 1909. First Mainland Journey In... 5 / 9 The locomotive was restored to full working order in 1997, in preparation for its first mainline journey in 88 years and its return to commercial service on 18 July. National Rail Museum 6 / 9 The locomotive was restored and given a special spot in the National Rail Museum at Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. Guinness Book Record 7 / 9 The Fairy Queen was certified by the Guinness Book of Records in 1998 as the world's oldest steam locomotive in regular operation. Fairy Queen's National Tourism Award 8 / 9 The train has also received a National Tourism Award for the most innovative and unique tourism project from the then Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Credits 9 / 9 Photo Credit: All Representational Images/ Freepik
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
IAF's Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team carries out full-scale rehearsal for Patna Airshow
The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out a full-scale rehearsal for the Patna airshow to be held on Wednesday. The rehearsal was held on the banks of the River Ganga in the state capital on Tuesday, and it was dedicated to school and college students. Nine state-of-the-art Hawk-132 aircraft of the Surya Kiran Team performed amazing aerobatic feats in the skies of Patna. Adequate seating and arrangements were made for the students. The main event will be held in the state capital on Wednesday to mark the Shaurya Diwas . 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Husband Calls the Police after Discovering the Shocking Truth About His Wife's Dog Obsession Happy in Shape Undo Shaurya Diwas is observed to celebrate the victory of freedom fighter Babu Veer Kunwar Singh over British troops on April 23. Kunwar Singh, also known as Babu Veer Kunwar Singh was a chief organiser of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 from the Bhojpur region of Bihar. Live Events The airshow will be presented by the IAF's jets over the J P Ganga Path, along the banks of the Ganga River in the state capital on Wednesday. "This will be the first time when the IAF's SKAT will enthral spectators by performing acrobatics in the sky of Patna. Thousands of people will gather in front of the Sabhyata Dwar of Patna to see this grand air show on Wednesday," a statement issued by the state's Information and Public Relations Department (IPRD) on Monday said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and other dignitaries are expected to witness the spectacular airshow on Wednesday, it said. The Patna Traffic Police has made changes in the traffic system during the aerobatic show. "To avoid traffic jams in the city and to avoid inconveniences to the people, several parking zones have been created for the purpose. Spectators travelling from Danapur and Ashoka Rajpath will have to park their vehicles at JP Setu Ghat, Digha Ghat, Ghat No 88 and 93," the statement said. "Parking arrangements have been made near Patna College ground, Science College ground and Krishna Ghat for those coming from Gaighat towards Sabhyata Dwar," it said. Patna Traffic Superintendent of Police (SP) Aparajit Lohan said that six cranes will be deployed at major places to tow away vehicles not parked at proper places. He said that stern legal action will be taken against those not following the traffic rules.
