Pandit Rambhaj Dutt Choudhary
Freedom fighter , noted Gandhian & social reformer
 |
| Rishi Bhardwaj Gotra Rishi Datta |
-By Ashok Datta Choudhary
Mob
8146508893
“I had a Punjabi friend, Rambhaj Dutt
Choudhary, who is now no more. Sometimes he composed poems. When he came out of
jail he brought along a poem he had composed, and since he himself could not
sing he asked his wife Sarala to sing it. In her melodious voice Sarala sang: “Never
admit defeat even if you should lose life.” And I told myself that I would
never accept defeat” - Gandhi Ji Speech at prayer meeting in Delhi on June 13,
1947.
Pandit Rambhaj Dutt
Choudhary was the son of Ch. Radha Krishan Dutt. He was born on 26th
Feb 1866 in Kanjrur (now in West Pakistan). After completing his graduation
from the F.C. College Lahore, he did his Law degree and started practice in the
High Court of Lahore (now in West Pakistan). He was the founder member of
Indian National Congress and had the privilege to attend all the session of
Indian National Congress till his death. In 1905 he got married to Sarala Devi
Choudharani, the niece of nationalist poet, Rabindranath Tagore. She was the
first woman political leader of her time and she was the leader of the
anti-British Govt. Her father Janakinath Ghoshal was one of the earliest
secretaries of Indian National Congress.
Pandit Rambhaj Dutt
Choudhary and his wife Sarala Devi Choudharani became followers of Mahatma
Gandhi in 1919 and sent their son Dipak to Gandhi`s Ashram for education.
Gandhi admired them for their patriotism and the spirit of self-sacrifice. He
told the people of Gujrat that the message of Rambhaj Dutt which, according to
him, was also the message of entire Punjab was fearlessness: "It asks you
never to accept defeat, come what may, to love God and work on with patience
and fortitude." His dedication to Swadeshi Movement was evident from his
decision to exclude all foreign clothes during his son`s marriage. This further
impressed Gandhiji. He also led relief work at the time of Kangra earthquake.
Pandit ji was close to revolutionaries like Sardar Ajit Singh (uncle of Bhagat
Singh), Lala Lajpat Rai, Lala Harkishan Lal and Master Amir Chand. He was also
very close to leaders like Balgangadhar
Tilak, Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya, Swami Sharaddhanand, Abdul Kalam Azad, Dr.
Kitchlew, Dr. Satyapal, Shaukat Ali, and Surendranath Bannerji.
Pandit Rambhaj Dutt
Choudhary was a very respectable person in the Congress and Gandhiji had a special
regard for him as he was highly impressed with his patriotism. Pandit Ji had
played an important role in the various subject committee of Congress at
national level. He took active part in the freedom struggle. After the
Jallianwala Bagh massacre, he was arrested by British Govt.under Defence of
India Rule and his property was confiscated. He took active part in Khilafat
movement initiated by Mahatma Gandhi.
Rambhaj Dutt
Choudhary was one of the few leaders of the Punjab who took keen interest in
the activities of the Congress during the early period of its development. At
its Lahore Session in 1900 he seconded the resolution moved by Surendranath
Bannerji condemning the exclusion of Indians from higher Public Services and in
this session he was elected a member of the Subjects Committee of Congress
party. He also supported Tilak`s resolution on famine, poverty and land revenue
at its Banaras Session in 1905. At its twenty-third session in 1908, he moved a
resolution demanding that posts of higher ranks in the army might be thrown
open to Indians. He represented Punjab on a committee appointed at the
twenty-fifth session of the Congress at Allahabad in 1910 to prepare an Address
to be presented to Lord Hardinge, the Viceroy and Governor-General of India.
The resolution thanking the Government of India and the secretary of State for
annulling the partition of Bengal passed at the twenty-sixth session in 1911
also received his support. He condemned the policy of racial discrimination of
the Government of Canada at the 28th session of the congress in 1913 at
Karachi. He opposed the Rowlatt Act. He, therefore, took prominent part in the
agitation against this legislation. He composed a song at this time which was
"Kadi Nahin Harna, Bhaven Sadi Jan Jave." This song caught the
imagination of the people of the province. He presided over the memorable
meeting at Bradlaugh Hall in Lahore on April 6, called to protest against
Rowlatt Act. His fearless attacks on the Government added to his rising
popularity and the British Government arrested him on April 14, 1919, along
with Harkishan Lal and Duni Chand under Lahore Conspiracy case as a result of
which he was sentenced to transportation for life and his property was
confiscated. He was described as the "Chief Spokesman of the
Conspiracy". He was released by the Secretary of State, Montague, to
create favourable atmosphere for introduction of his reforms scheme.
He also presided
over the first political conference at Rohtak on 6-8th November,
1920 to pass the non-cooperation resolution which was also attended by Lala
lajpat Rai, Swami Satya Dev, Choudhary Chhotu Ram, K.A. Desai, Neki Ram Sharma,
Choudhary Matu Ram(Grandfather of Bhupinder Singh Huda, Ex CM Haryana).
Pandit Rambhaj Dutt
Choudhary did a lot of social work as well for the depressed classes of Punjab
province. He is remembered by these people even today and since 1934 his
birthday is celebrated as a mark of respect and recognition. Shri Jagjivan Ram
and many others national leaders graced the function of his birthday
celebration in Gurdaspur District. Moreover the people of depressed classes of
Gurdaspur district still regard him as their Guru. A memorial (Pandit Rambhaj
Dutt Veda Bhawan) was also setup by late Shri B D Birla. The foundation stone
of this memorial was laid down by Smt. Kasturba Gandhi, wife of Mahatma Gandhi,
at Awankha- Dinanagar, Distt Gurdaspur, Punjab
on 16th July 1934.
Like Lajpat Rai and
Swami Sharaddhanand, Rambhaj Dutt Choudhary was a prominent member of the Arya
Samaj. He was a forceful advocate of National Education and in pursuance of it
he sent his eldest son, Jagdish to a gurukul for his education. He was also
engaged in the programmes of the Arya Samaj that included the upliftment of the
depressed classes. Panditji also struggled hard to eliminate discrimination
against the backward through education and propaganda. His work in Gurdaspur
district in this connection received the approbation of the people. He was the
President of All India Shuddhi Sabha and converted about five lakhs people of
Punjab and bring back them to the mainstream of Hinduism. He travelled from
village to village with Aryas preaching and performing shuddhi process.
Besides these he was
well known journalist and launched two newspapers in Urdu & English, `The Hindustan.
` He was the member of the Municipal Corporation, Lahore and took an active
part in the civic affairs. He was also a working committee member of Indian
National congress . He went to England in September 1908 to explain to the
British Government the cause of unrest in the Punjab province and the
Government had to implement his scheme to cool down the unrest in the province.
Gandhi Ji had
brotherly relation with Rambhaj Dutt Choudhary and it was Sarala Devi and
Gandhi Ji proposed to Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru to get Indira married to Dipak
Dutt, the son of Pandit Rambhaj Dutt and Sarala Devi. The proposal, however,
could not materialize. Their son, Dipak, later got married to the grand- niece of
Mahatma Gandhi, Radha. Radha was the daughter of Maganlal Gandhi.
Both Rambhaj Dutt
Choudhary and his wife Sarala Devi were champions of Indian freedom movement.
Their selfless contribution to freedom struggle, upliftment of women, weaker
section and patriotic literature which had inspired many to jump into the
freedom struggle to free the India from British Raj have immortalised their
names on the pages of Indian history. Pandit Rambhaj Dutt Choudhary died on 6th
August, 1923 in Mussoorie.
