Remembering Principal Chhabil Das and Sita Devi by daughter Manorma Dewan-through Two Books

On my offer to contribute funds, Punjabi University Patiala has recently announced to innstitute an annual prize of ten thousand rupees with a medal in honour of Principal Chhabil Das of National College Lahore, teacher and friend of Bhagat Singh for writing original paper/thesis/book on Bhagat Singh or any other revolutionary freedom fighter or movement of Punjab prior to 1947 in Gurmukhi or Shahmukhi script(used in west Punjab in Pakistan). Principal Chhabil Das daughter Manomra Diwan memoirs are published in Hindi by NBT, New Delhi, these are being shared to know more about the legendry freedom fighter couple.

Remembering Principal Chhabil Das and Sita Devi by daughter Manorma Dewan- through Two Books

 

 

1.  Inqlabi Yatra(Revolutionary Journey)-Hindi, Manorma Diwan, National Book Trust, New Delhi, 2006, pages 144, price 55/Rupees

               

    A well-known journalist herself, Manorma Diwan is daughter of great freedom fighter couple-Principal Chhabil Das and Sita Devi. Her husband Dewan Birendernath was also a well-known journalist and Urdu novelist with literary name of Zafar Pyami. Manorma Diwan wrote two books on his family’s role in freedom struggle in Hindi. One-Inqlabi Yatra-Revolutionary Journey was published by National Book Trust (NBT) in 2006. This book is biography of her both parents. In 2006 itself, Remadhav, a new publisher of Hindi published her memoirs of freedom struggle days under the title-Azadi ki Basti-Lane of Freedom.

        This biography is divided into fifteen small chapters and does not follow the normal pattern of biographies, it is based more on memoirs of those days and in scattered manner. First chapter-Bannu se Dehradun also does not fall in the normal pattern of chronology. It describes how the atmosphere of Lahore, where the family lived in Lajpat Rai Bhavan of Servants of People’s society. Servants of People’s Society was formed by Lala Lajpat Rai in November 1921, before the arrest of Lala Lajpat Rai on 3^rd December of same year.Chhabil Das had become life member of the society and was paid one hundred rupees honorarium per month for working full time for the society and living in society house. Chhabil Das services were given to National College, set up by Lala Lajpat Rai in May 1921, where he was teaching before taking over as Principal in 1922. Only in passing reference author has referred that her father Chhabil Das belonged to District Bannu of North West Frontier Province (NWFP), now renamed as Khyber Pakhtunva in Pakistan, from where he came to Lahore. She refers to her mother Sita Devi belonging to Dehradun, where her father Acharya Ramdev was teacher in Gurukul Kangri. In the very first chapter author refers to Bhagat Singh, being the favourite student of Chhabil Das, who used to call him ‘Guru ji’, he was just six years younger to his teacher. Bhagat Singh had objected to Chhabil Das marriage as he thought that by marrying, he would not be able to teach the lesson of revolution to his students. Chhabil Das, along with Professor Brijnarain of Economics and BPL Bedi, father of actor Kabir Bedi, used to go to villages to hold schools for peasants and explain them meaning of socialism. Chhabil Das was also made editor of Lala Lajpat Rai’’s Urdu daily ‘Bande Matram’ from Lahore. Author’s mother had Vishard degree in Sanskrit and taught for some time in Dev Samaj College Lahore.

                          In second chapter Jailon ke sathi-Comrades of jails-Sitadevi remained many times in jails, including during 1942 Quit India movement. Savitri Devi, wife of former Punjab Chief minister Comrade Ramkrishan, her daughter and author’s sister Vijya(Chauhan), Satyavati-mother of former Vice President of India Krishan Kant and more. Sita Devi learnt English during her jail stay and participated in many agitations inside jail itself, including putting up national flag on jail gate in the dead of night. Comrade BPL Bedi has mentioned in his memoirs that how they had organised peasant school in Bhagat Singh’s village chak no. 105 in Lyallpur district on 23^rd March-martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh in 1935. These schools were held in different villages and sometimes leaders of Ghadar party like Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna and baba Karam Singh also used to join these schools. Author refers to Comrade Ramchand as Chacha ji(Uncle), who was close comrade of Bhagat Singh in forming Naujwan Bharat Sabha and who has written very important books on revolutionary movement. Chhabil Das has joined national movement, when he was doing his M.A. degree course in Dyal Singh College Lahore. Next chapter is focussed on Secularism-Nationalism and ideological commitment. In this chapter author has mentioned that while her father came from Sanatan Dharm background, but became atheist, her mother came from more rational background of Arya Samaj at that time. In this chapter author depicts some background of her father’s birth place, NWFP was formed by Lord Curzon in 1904-5 as separate state from Sindh. Author has also mentioned the sad killing of her Uncle Master Bhavani Das and Prof. Brijnarain-both of them has decided to stay back in post partition Lahore in Pakistan. In next chapter-Fearless fighters-author has depicted the personality features f her parents, both were fearless before British colonialists. One specific chapter is devoted to National College, Bhagat Singh and Naujwan Bharat Sabha. Chhabil das taught English in college and later he became Principal of college. Young students of his college including Bhagat Singh organised Naujwan Bharat Sabha and Chhabil Das wrote many booklets for them like- Chingaria, Inqlabi Sharare, Socialism, Inqlab Zindabad, Hum Swaraj kyon Chahte Hain in Urdu. In this chapter mention is made of Bhagat Singh’s reading habit, he devoured books in Dwarka Das library and one of his most favourit book was Carlyle’s ‘Cry for Justice’, his other favourite being Dan Breen’s-My fight for Irish freedom(Bhagat Singh translated this book in Hindi actually) and Heroes of Russia.Manorma Diwan refers to two groups in Naujwan Bharat Sabha at that time. One supporting Irish line and the other supporting Soviet model. Bhagat Singh was part of Irish group, but later he promoted Soviet model most and renamed HRA into HSRA. Author refers to last meeting of Bhagat Singh and Chhabil Das in January 1929 at Calcutta, where both had gone for 1928 Congress session. They met at the house of Seth Chhaju Ram, where Bhagat Singh was staying at that time. Naujwan Bharat Sabha was formed on Italy’s Young Italy of Gari Baldi and was called Young India Association first, later it got this name after discussing many more names-Tarun Bharat Sangh, Anjuman Naujwan-e-Hind etc. First meeting in this regard was held in National College itself in 1924, it was decided to use Hindustani language for its functioning.

    In next chapter author focuses on Lala Lajpat Rai and Servants of People’s Society. Chhabil Das was influenced most by Lala Lajpat Rai and remained in close contact with him. He preferred Urdu daily Bande Matram than English weekly The People, also brought out by Lalaji. Jamna Das Akhtar was his collegue in Bande Matram.  Dwarka Das Library was another institution built by Lala Lajpat Rai, where he donated five thousand of his own books first. This was the place used most by revolutionaries. There is some contradiction in reference to Bhagat Singh’s admission to National college, it is written that he was only tenth and not Inter, yet he was given admission in BA Hons, at another place it is written that he was ninth pass and given admission in Inter/BA, but he passed Inter and than jumped into revolutionary activities. But his command over English is underlined in both references, he was interviewed for admission by Bhai Permanand and Chhabil Das and lot many questions were asked on History and Bhagat Singh replied in English, impressing the selectors. In chapter-Revolutionary Pen-author has listed some of Chhabil Das books and pamphlets, apart from mentioned earlier, he wrote-Bhukha Bahisht-Hungry Heaven-on Kangra’s beautiful place. Biggest sin of the wordl-Poverty, Few conversations with youth, Indian peasant, Greatest man of the world, Message of twentieth century, How India was enslaved, Wealth of nations, Blowing hot and cold and few more, all in Urdu. Chhabil Das was propaganda secretary of Punjab Congress party during 1926 to 1934. Comrade Sohan Singh Josh was general secretary of the party-Akalis, Communists and Congress-all three mixed in Congress partyin those days. Chhabil Das was arrested in June 1929, the last peasant school they organised was at Haripur village of Gurdaspur district. He was made part of ‘war council’ of Congress party after it declared 26^th January as Independence day in 1930 at Lahore. Chhabil Das remained under strict police watch during 1926 to 1936. In police files of those days, Naujwan Bharat Sabha and its activists Bhagat Singh and Abdul Majeed were also mentioned in CID files.

      Author has mentioned passing away of Chhabil Das on 11^th December 1988 at Jalandhar and of Sita Devi on 20^th March 1974 at Delhi, where she was living as Rajya Sabha member in those days. There has been reference to Chhabil Das’s school days and his talent, though he was considered a bit naughty. He stood second in Matriculation examination of Panjab University in 1917. He stood third in FA examination from same University at Dyal Singh College Lahore, where he studied during 1917-1920 after matriculation. He read most of classic English and world writers during his college days. From Shakespeare to Victor Hugo, Ruskin, Shelley, Milton, Keats, Tennyson, Tolstoy, Ibsen etc. Chhabil Das spent lot of time in Kangra valley and wrote Hungry Heaven book to depict the sufferings of hill people. In chapter-MLA, Parliamentarian and patriot, author has focused on the role played by her mother Sita Devi in Punjab Assembly from Lahore to Shimla, as MP in Delhi. She stayed on in Lahore after partition as she was then MLA there. Manorma Diwan’s film maker daughter Saba Diwan has made documentary for Doordarshan-‘Sita’s Family’, which depicts her role as mother also. Manorma Diwan in one chapter-Progressive, Liberal and Modern has depicted both her parent’s life and views on life. They had three daughters, Manorma Diwan being the third daughter and son Ashok, which was favoured more than daughters, author has shown weakness of her father for male child quite frankely, though daughters were not denied any facility in life, not overtly discriminated.  In chapter-Struggle in independent India-first general elction of 1952 is described, in which Swarn Singh won for parliament from Jalandhar and Sita Devi for Punjab assembly with comfortable margin. Pandit Nehru also campaigned for her in that election. Lala Jagat Narain contesting on Jansangh ticket defeated Sita Devi in 1957 elections. Later she was elected to Punjab Vidhan Parishad and in 1971 to Rajya Sbha. She was part of Bhim Sen Sachar group of Congress which was opposed by Gopichand Bhargav group. Chhabil Das remained attached to Bhim Sen Sachar as his advisor during his Chief Minister and Governor days. In chapter In the eyes of Comrades and Revolutionaries, author has mentioned Jagjit Singh Anand, Press Asia International formed by Manorma and her husband Dewan Birendernath, mention is made of Manorma sister Dr. Santosh Sood, who taught in Panjab University Chandigarh’s Political science department. In chapter-Student and Inspirer, author has returned to Bhagat Singh again, who was Chhabil das student and inspirer as well, even in jail, he was asking for books, while seeing review of a book on Lenin in The Tribune in jail, he asked his lawyer Pranath Mehta, to being that book, which he was reading before being executed. His command over English is praised again. He is mentioned as most favourite student of Chabil Das and was very cheerful person as per his teacher. Chhabil Das was unhappy at Mahatma Gandhi attitude after his execution. Author has expressed her unhappiness at Bhagat Singh being projected as Sikh revolutionary. She has given reference to Comrade Ramchandra book-Ideology and Battle Cries of Indian Revolutionaries and said that pages 112-115 of that book Bhagat Singh’s own written two English poems have been reproduced. As per author’s father Bhagat Singh wrote very good poetry in English. He also wrote scripts and songs for Dramatic group of National College, in which he performed also. All teachers of National College agreed that they never saw such talented and all qualities holder student like Bhagat Singh. Author has given brief description of Chhabil das books in this chapter, who underlined Karl Marx, Fredrick Engels, Lenin as the greatest human beings of the world, apart from Rousseau and Voltaire. She has mentioned Comrade Ramkrishan, who used to add B.A.(National) title to his name and Hindi writer Yashpal as his favourite coleagues. In last chapter-Nice man and loving friend, author has refred to couple’s and other friends caring attitude, mention is made of Brijnarain, Giani Hira Singh Dard and Devdutt Atal, who formed Bal Bharat Sabha,Dhanwantri, Comrade Paras Ram, Ganpat Rai,  are also mentioned. The concluding phrase of the book is-Their Revolutionary journey was successful!

 Five books have been refered in reference section, which include three by Comrade Ramchand, one by Satyaketu Vidyalankar’s History of Arya Samaj and one report on Servants of People’s society by Satyapal.

    Not written in much organised form, still the book is valuable for knowing the personalities of freedom struggle.

 

 

 

 

2.  Azadi ki Basti(Hindi)-Freedom Residence, Manorma Diwan, 2006, Remadhav Ghaziabad, pages 172, price 100/ Rupees

 

     IN 2006 EXPRESSING HER DISMAY AT INCREASING COMMUNALISM, Manorma DiwAN WROTE IN BRIEF introduction to this book that ‘her relation with Lahore is such that even after such long gap, it keeps getting more strengthed’!

    This is proper  book of memoirs and her memoirs are jotted down in 15 chapters. While there are repetitions in both her books published in same year and on same theme, yet this book seems to be stylistically more appealing. First chapter is –in Lajpat Rai Bhavan-in Lahore, almost like first chapter of her book Inqlabi Yatra, additional information is former Vice President Krishan Kant mother Satyavati celebrating her 100^th birthday on 23^rd February 2005, she lived for few more years. Second chapter is on her –‘Revolutionary Parents’, discussed in detail in other book. Here 1942 arrests scene is created impressively.  In chapter Inqlab Zindabad, focus is on National college set up on 16^th May 1921, Lala Lajpat Rai, Chancellor, Bhai Permanand VC, Acharya Jugal Kishore-Principal, Chhabil Das-Registrar and Professor, later Principal after Jugal Kishore retired, Number of students 153, closed in 1926. Bhagat Singh admitted in 1922 at the age of 15 years without Matric, admitted in first year, he passed Inter-FA in 1923 and started doing BA. Bhagat Singh-Chhabil Das-Teacher-taught, but friends, family relations with BS family. Both brothers-Kultar-Kuljit(Kulbir) digressed, no memorial at Hussainiwala till 1967(1965-YB Chavan laid foundation). No film yet on Chandershekhar Azad/Aruan Asaf Ali, Lahore’s Ratan cinema showed KL Sehgal’s Shahjahan, Viplov Thakur, daughter of Comrade Paras Ram in HP? Toady-British touts were called. Manorma Diwan entered Lahore women’s jail to be with her mother due to young age. She met many women criminal cases convicts and even saw how a woman prisoner was hanged, affecting her mind condition for some time, she disclosed it to her mother much later. In chapter-Tiranga on British jail-author describes the valour of women prisoners, who put on Triclolour Congress flag on British jail in Lahore on 9^th August 1943, to mark Quit India anniversary-a big event. One chapter is on Aruna Asaf Ali,Freda Bedi and Rameshwari Nehru, all great fighters in Lahore. Aruna remained Mayor of Delhi in 1958. Baba Pyare Lal Bedi was from famous Bedi clan of Dera Babab Nanakand his mother Phool Kaur was daughter of Kapurthla Diwan(Prime Minister) Harikishan Das. His brother Trilochan Bedi was ICS officer. Studyin in Oxford, he got involved with British girl Freda, whom he married and who took part in freedom struggle with Pyare Lal bedi. In last years Freda became Buddhist. Mention is made of Naujwan Bharat Sabha and Congress activist kedarnath Sehgal defeating RSS candidate Beliram. Freda died in 1977 and her last rites were performed in author hme in Delhi. Comrade Ramchand was from Nurpur kangra and organised NBS with Bhagat Singh, remained Punjab MLA, wrote three books on revolutionaries at the age of 80 years on his own expenses. Ashq couple, Hansraj Rehbar visits to home are mentioned. Women leader Shanno Devi, who remained Deputy Speaker of Punjab assembly is also here. Rameshwari Nehru was married to Jawahar cousin Brij Nehru and her relinquished Lahore MLA seat was offered to Sita Devi, mother of Manorma in 1945.

   In chapter revolutionary Bal sabha and Nanhe qaidi, Manorma and Santosh joined Bal Sabha, as Indira made in Anand Bhavan in Allahabad. But her sister Vijya even at 13 years of age was active with Communists and was even jailed young, but she was not bothered. In one chapter-Where these People have Gone-author remembers Khan Abdul Ghafar Khan, Iftarudin of Lahore, at whose house Nehru used to stay. Sarojini Naidu. One chapter is dedicated to Our Dede(Dadi-grandmother/paternal), who was conservative, but tolerated everything. On Hindu Code Bill, not only Ambedkar, Sita Devi also faced RSS wrath. In chapter-A big political family-author mentions Lala Achint Ram family-his wife Satyavati, son Krishan Kant, daughter Subhadra,Suman Krishan kant, Avtar-Pushpa-InderGujral family, Seth Radhakrishan in Amritsar, Comrade Ramkrishan, his wife Savitri died in 2004. Harikishan Premi etc. were all part of this big family. In chapter devoted to Kabir,  Guru Nanak and Christ, author notes impact of these liberal saints. Mention is made of Bhagat Singh’s letter of 24^th July 1930 to his friend Jaidev to bring many mentioned books from Dwarkadas library. In one chapter Anarkali, Noorjahan, Jindan and Pandei are depicted as great women from Lahore, but discriminated as women. Anarkali tomb made in 1604 by Salim(Jahangir), which took ten years to complete, now in Punjab archives, Pandei lived close to Anarkali tomb. Noorjahan tomb is in bad shape. Another chapter is Shalimar Bagh vs. Bulleshah-beauti of Shalimar garden and Bulle’s sufi poetry is mentioned and last chapter of these memoirs is- The tales of Tobha Tek Singhs-author blames Lord Mountbatten for partition of the country and thinks it to be his conspiracy. First communal riots in Baluchistan in 1946 finds reference, where ‘Chaman ke angoor’-Grapes of Chaman(a town) were famous.Partition and its fall out the migrated millions are mentioned and Manto story as symbol Family lived with Amarnath Sood after migration in Dharmshala, then in Amritsar before settling in Jalandhar.

        These are scattered memoirs but one can feel the touch of Lahore and days of freedom struggle, feel of revolutionaries and warmth of those days. Important books.