Glimpse of Freedom Fight in Gadhwali Poetry

Glimpse of Freedom Fight in Gadhwali Poetry
Bhishma Kukreti


Very few Gadhwali people not only migrated ones but inhabitant of Gadhwal are aware the literature of Gadhwali language is very rich literature in terms of subjects, contents and style. We are around fifty lakhs Gadhwalis including migrated ones and even then the literature is very rich.

Take the example of poetry of freedom fight movement or non cooperative movement of Indians to gain the freedom from British slavery.

In fact, the initiation in Gadhwali literature started with the subject of bravery, eradication of poverty and enhancing prosperity, sending children to school ( for educating Gadhwali youth), abolition of bad customs.

Freedom fight movement and participation in non cooperation movement also has been the subject of Gadhwali poetry till 1947.

Very few people of India trusted on Mahatma Gandhi Jee that we Indian can get freedom by non violent methods. Atma Ram Gairola was futuristic poet who showed full faith on Gandhi Jee in his verse created in 1919 and published in ‘Garhwali’, magazine, Dehradun:

Saccha hitaisyon ar desh-bhakto, Gandhi mahatmau ar malvyaun
Swadesh seva shuchi yagya, apno kari jeewan dan deva I

Sada Nand Kukreti of Gweel Jaspur, the first modern Gadhwali story writer, the editor of Vishal Keerti Lainsdown, founder of Rashtriya Madhyamik Vidyalaya Silogi (Malla Dhangu) provide slogan for freedom fight in Gadhwali as:

Sewa swadeshi ki chha dharma bhai, wo hi sapoot ju batao gai
Dei ina sapoot tu mai, jai jai swadeshi jai jai swadeshi I

Gadhwali Folk Songs for Freedom Fight:

Our folk song creators were not behind in creating songs for freedom fight:

Mai mardhu ka chelaun, jai jai Gandhi ki bolo,
Looti latik lhi gyai syau videshi bhandelo I

Another Gadhwali folk song of freedom fight is:

Matma Gandhi bado bhagi chha, des seva ko anuragi chha
Chai paisa roj wo khando chha, bakharo doodh wo peendu chha I

No body can forget the works, dedication, sacrifice of late Shri Ansuya Prasad Bahuguna. There is a folk song for promoting Congress movement:

Bharti hoi jano sach pyai congress ma
Ansuya parsad hwala neta Gadhwal ma I

We may now, guess that there was enthusiasm among Gadhwalis for taking part in freedom fight movement. The folk song is witness that people of Gadhwal were emotionally connected with this sacred movement:

Chala Gandhi dekhi aula Gandhi ki paltan da
Paki jail kheer da, Paki jail kheer da
Agnai Gandhi subedar pichhnai Jawahar da
Chilmi ko peech da, chilmi ko peech, da
Paile tirango jhanda uthe London beech, da
Buni jail bori , da, Buni jail bori , da
Jaun tiranga jhanda loothi, angarenjo ko mori, da

There are many Gadhwali poets who contributed by their creativities in freedom movement. Late Shri Bhagwati Prasad Nirmohi, Dev Prayag, one of the poets who is remembered as great freedom fighter for freedom movement and his patriotic poetry too:

You may find the details of songs of freedom movement in Gadhwali literature and this require more researches too.