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Indian Express
26-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
‘There was only one religion in Ghadar Movement: religion of freedom'
Written by Serena Gujral In an age of global connectedness, local histories often fade into the margins. In The Ghadar Movement, Dr Rana Preet Gill, a veterinarian by profession, turns to one such forgotten chapter—an audacious, transnational fight for freedom led by Indian immigrants in North America in the early 20th century. What inspired you to write about the Ghadar Movement, and how is your book different from earlier accounts? It began during a 2019 family vacation to the Andaman Islands. While visiting the Cellular Jail, I posted a photo online and a senior colleague told me his grandfather's brother, Ram Rakha Baali, had a statue facing the jail. I was living in Hoshiarpur then—Baali's hometown—and had never heard of him or the Mandalay Conspiracy he was part of. That sparked a deeper interest and led me to the Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall in Jalandhar. What struck me was how inaccessible the material was—mostly in academic English or Punjabi. I haven't unearthed new facts; instead, I've tried to make the story more accessible. My book is written in a conversational voice for readers like me. Why do you think the Ghadar Movement remains so little known in mainstream accounts of the freedom struggle? Timing is one reason. The movement peaked between 1913 and 1918, long before the more recognised phases of the freedom struggle. It also didn't yield immediate, tangible outcomes. There were lapses in planning, British informants infiltrated the group, and many Ghadarites were executed or jailed. Those who survived were older by 1947, and their stories slipped through the cracks. Of all the revolutionaries, whose story stayed with you most? Kartar Singh Sarabha's courage at just 19 is unforgettable, but the story that hit closest to home was that of Pyara Singh Langheri, from my hometown Hoshiarpur. He was so fearless that even the police were afraid of him. After his arrest, people gathered just to see him. His story made the movement real for me. How did religion factor into the movement? It didn't—at least not in the way we usually think. The Ghadarites had only one religion: the religion of freedom. In a deeply divided India, they made a conscious choice to rise above religious, caste, and linguistic lines. Their unity and secular vision were revolutionary in themselves. Were there women in the Ghadar Movement whose contributions have been overlooked? Absolutely. Gulab Kaur's story stands out—her husband backed out, but she stayed. She returned to India, helped revolutionaries rent homes under false identities, and turned her own home into a safehouse. Agnes Smedley, though American, was a powerful ally who supported Lala Har Dayal and raised international awareness. Then there were countless unnamed women who held families together while the men were in jail. Bhai Parmanand's wife, for instance, showed remarkable resilience when their property was confiscated. What did the Ghadar flag symbolise? The flag, designed at Yugantar Ashram in San Francisco, had red, yellow, and green stripes. Red symbolised revolution and represented Hindus, yellow stood for courage and valour among Sikhs, and green symbolised progress and was linked to Muslims. It reflected a united, secular India long before independence. What were the biggest challenges in researching this forgotten history? I began seriously in early 2020, just as the pandemic hit. Access to archives like the Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall was cut off. When things reopened, the staff were incredibly supportive—they let me photocopy materials and even lent me books. But since no Ghadarites were alive by then, I had to rely solely on written sources—many in old Punjabi or formal Hindi. Understanding and translating terms like 'wiploo' required not just language skills but context. It was painstaking but rewarding work. Do you see any modern parallels between the Ghadar Movement and today's diaspora activism? Honestly, no. The Ghadarites were unique. They left India to earn a living but ended up sacrificing everything for a cause. They acted with what I call 'foolish bravery'—making impulsive yet profound decisions. Even in jail, they fought for fellow prisoners. Today's activism is more structured and cautious. That raw passion and selflessness are hard to replicate.
Indian Express
14-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Srishti Sharma of Panchkula scores 100% marks in Class X, tops district
Written by Serena Gujral This date, May 13, 2025, will be etched in the heart and mind of Srishti Sharma, a student of Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 15, Panchkula, who has secured 100 per cent marks in the CBSE Class X Board Examination. The district topper is beaming with joy, and still can't quite believe her perfect performance. 'I met my class teacher at the school in the morning, and I was so scared that I wanted to run away,' smiles the topper, daughter of Rajeev Sharma, an employee with CITCO. What followed was her teacher's joyous cheer that she had scored a perfect score, and a round of hugs and happy tears. Despite being a high-achieving all-rounder, Srishti was anxious, never expecting to top. Her only goal was to give it her best shot,which she did. Preparing for her subjects, she made sure to cover her school books thoroughly and not take anything lightly. 'I did not attend any tuition classes. What worked for me was self-study with the guidance of my teachers. I understood that it is important to cover every part of the syllabus, down to the last word.' She didn't follow a strict timetable but instead went with the flow, studying nearly 20 hours a day during her pre-board study leave. Studying, for her, is not just a schoolwork requirement but a passion, or even a hobby, like an art. Her artwork, however, had to take a backseat during preparation time. Her advice to the upcoming batch is simple yet powerful: 'Give it your best, don't stress too much, believe in God, and learn to manage your time well.' She recommends using a planner or to-do list to ensure the goals one sets get done, giving adequate time to each subject, and never neglecting any of the less important ones. She emphasised the importance of covering NCERT thoroughly, making notes, doing the activities, and reading even the smallest details. While she acknowledges that pressure from parents and teachers can be intense, she believes it comes from a place of love and a desire to see their children succeed. Her dream is to study engineering at IIT, Bombay, explore the world, and never stop learning. Srishti plans to celebrate her achievement for the next 2-3 days, before focusing once more on her Class XI studies, because she doesn't want to lose sight of the bigger picture. 'It is important to stay focused in life and have goals, as they motivate you to be even better,' exclaims Srishti with a smile. A close second from Panchkula is Yashasvi Bhav, a Class X student of Hansarj Public School, Sector 6, scoring 499 out of 500 marks — 99.8 per cent. A consistent and goal-oriented outlook makes Yashasvi a winner. Amisha Prakash, a Class X student at Delhi Public School, Sector 40, Chandigarh, also made her school and family proud with 99.8 per cent marks. Her father Dheeraj Prakash is a general manager with Maruti Suzuki, and her mother Priyanka is a homemaker. Amisha says unit tests prepared her for the boards and has also been attending FIITJEE classes. She wants to be a computer science engineer. Painting and playing badminton are her stress busters. (The author is an intern at The Indian Express)
