Acharya Gopeshwar Kothiyal: Freedom Fighter and Founder of Yugvani

 Bhishma Kukreti

  Yugvani weekly has a prominent place in awakening for freeing Tehri Riyasat. Yugvani was an expressive medium for week Tehri people. Acharya Gopeshwar Kothiyal was one of the founders of Yugvani weekly magazine.

              Acharya Gopeshwar Kothiyal was born on 9^th February 1899 in Kujani (Narendra Nagar) Tehri Garhwal. His father name was Chhote Lal Kothiyal. Gopeshwar took his initial education from Tehri Garhwal. He went to Kashi Vidyapeeth Varanasi for higher education. He took Acharya degree from Kashi Viadyapeeth.

                       A Congress Worker

 Gopeshwar Prasad Kothiyal entered into Congress and did participate in freedom movement.He was disciple and follower of Mahamana Madan Mohan Malviya. He came to Dehradun and used to participate in c freedom movement as secret worker. He used to publish a cyclostyled newspaper ‘Sarhadi’ around 1944 as vehicle for freedom movement.

                         Tehri Riyasat Movement

     In Dehradun he entered in Tehri Riyasar freedom movement. His idle was late Shri Dev Suman. After death of Shri Dev Suman, Gopeshwar Kothiyal started writing against the suppression of Tehri King in Tehri Garhwal. In 1947, Acharya Gopeshwar Kothiyal, Professor Bhagwati Prasad Pathari, Tejram Bhatt and Dr. Krishna Singh started publishing Yugvani.

               Yugvani started publishing articles against Tehri Riyasat and its suppressing activities and policies.  Tehri Riyasat banned Yugvani in Tehri Riyasat, . Tihri Riyasat became part of free India.

                Renowned Editor and Critics

  

  After 1947, Acharya Gopeshwar Kothiyal took complete charge of Yugvani. His editorials were always inspiring. He was famous literature critics too.

                    As Garhwali Prose Creator

 Acharya Kothiyal also contributed in writing stories and articles in Garhwali language. Acharya Kothiyal used encourage Garhwali literature to write in Garhwali for Yugvani.

              Social Worker

  Acharya Kothiyal was also member of Tehri Jila Parishad and used to take part in tens of social activities.  He was founder members of Jajla Public Inter Collage , Tehri Garhwal and Vishwanath Sanskrit Vidyalaya Dehradun. He was also founder member of Garhwal Sabha, Dehradun.  Kothiyal was chairman of Garhwal Sabha for many years. Gopeshwar Kothiyal was also founder member of Ramlila Parishad Dehradun.

   Acharya Gopeshwar Kothiyal was also president of Shramjivi Ptrakar Sangh Dehradun for 1998-99.

 Acharya Kothiyal expired on 19^th March 1999 at the age of 90 years.

Now, Yugvani is one of the most read monthly magazines of central Himalaya edited by Sanjay Kothiyal

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