IMMORAL MARTYRS OF THE HYDERABAD SATYAGRAHA

IMMORAL MARTYRS OF THE HYDERABAD SATYAGRAHA

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RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------70 years ago, on September 17, 1948, Hyderabad State (present-day Hyderabad city and Karnataka state) merged with the Indian Union. The majority of the population in the then Hyderabad State was Hindu, but the state was Muslim. The Nizam wanted to merge his state with Pakistan and, since 1930, had been exerting various pressures on Hindus to convert to Islam.

The first Arya Samaj was established in Hyderabad city in 1892. By 1938, more than 250 Arya Samaj centers had opened in the then Hyderabad State. Simultaneously, the Arya Samaj began raising its voice in the interests of the Hindu majority. A Shuddhi movement was launched for those who had been forcibly converted to Islam. The speeches of the renowned scholar Pandit Ramchandra Dehlvi played a significant role in the homecoming.

Considering the Arya Samaj to be the biggest obstacle to transforming Hyderabad into an Islamic state, the Nizam ordered strict restrictions on the organization. It also prohibited holding conferences and performing havans at new locations. Even waving the saffron flag with the chanting of Om was punishable by imprisonment.

On October 9, 1938, the Arya Samaj, under the leadership of Mahatma Narayan Swami, launched its first satyagraha against the Nizam. This was followed by six more satyagrahas. Of the 12,000 satyagrahis, 7,000 were from outside Hyderabad state. A large number of these were brahmacharis from Gurukul Kangri, Haridwar. Hundreds of activists were imprisoned, some of whom died during the hunger strike.

Today, the country is unfortunate that those who have never studied history talk about changing it... The history of the world's respected nations has always been replete with the characters of those individuals who made the greatest sacrifices to fulfill high and sacred goals and, when the time came, gave their lives in this struggle, leaving behind a legacy of sacrifice that can guide their followers.

Martyrs are never touched by death; rather, they die and become immortal. History bears witness to this. The blood of such great souls was never wasted; in time, it flowed in such a fierce force that the forces of violence, oppression, and brutality were automatically drowned. These individuals continued to move forward, overcoming the difficulties of their life's mission, to spread religion, good advice, establish democracy, and bring peace, love, and truth to ordinary people. They always supported the oppressed and upheld the highest ideals of humanity. By sacrificing their body, mind, and wealth for these causes, they clearly demonstrated their zeal for service and their profound love for the altar.

The martyrs of the Arya Samaj became immortal after their deaths, and the garden of Vedic religion, watered with the blood of these martyrs in Hyderabad, has now become a vast garden, spreading a new message of Vedic religion in the state. Here, we provide a brief introduction to some Arya Samaj martyrs who, though no longer present, will remain in everyone's hearts, and it seems we will never forget them.

Ved Prakash Ji original name was Dasappa. Dasappa was born in Gujoti in 1827. His mother's name was Revati Bai and his father's name was Ramappa. How could his poor parents have known that their son would grow up to become a martyr and immortalize himself by serving in the path of Vedic religion? Dasappa received his education through the eighth grade through Marathi medium. As he grew older, he became increasingly drawn to religion. He regularly attended Arya Samaj satsangs. The attraction to Vedic religion made him a staunch devotee of Maharishi Dayanand. After becoming an Arya Samajist, he came to be known as Ved Prakash. His extraordinary love and devotion to the Arya Samaj led to the foundation of the Arya Samaj in Gunjoti, but the local envious Yavanas became jealous of him. Ved Prakash possessed a well-built body and good qualities, and was quite adept at wielding a stick and sword. This skill proved helpful during many dire crises. He was repeatedly attacked by opposing groups, but he managed to protect himself.

A Pathan named Chhote Khan from Gunjoti used to look at women with inappropriate intent. One day, Ved Prakash Ji stopped him from doing so and warned him not to cast such evil eyes on the Mat Samaj in the future. This move did not go down well with the goons, and they all became his enemies. Ved Prakash Ji opened a paan shop for Hindus in Gunjoti, and Chand Khan (a paan merchant) became his enemy and secretly plotted against him. One day, Yavanas suddenly attacked the house of the local Arya Samaj minister. Ved Prakash Ji received information about this and went unarmed to stop the attackers. Two or three Muslims caught him near the minister's house, and eight or nine men pinned him down and killed him. It is particularly noteworthy that on that day, the police, in the presence of a respected local priest, attacked the house of the local Arya Samaj minister. Hindus were called to the police station and held in custody. The attackers and murderers were identified and witnesses were presented in court, yet the murderers were declared innocent. Ved Prakash's blood was the first to be shed so mercilessly in Hyderabad, and this began a series of sacrifices by brave Aryans.

Dharam Prakash’s original name was Nagappa. Nagappa was born in Kalyani in 1839. His father's name was Sainanna. From the time he joined the Arya Samaj, he became known as Dharam Prakash. Kalyani was the estate of a Muslim Nawab. Muslim atrocities were rampant there. Seeing these atrocities, Dharam Prakash began preparing to stop them. He began teaching Hindus the art of warfare. The Muslims of Kalyani, angered by the physical exercises of the Hindus, resolved to assassinate him. This brave warrior of Kalyani was attacked several times, but the attackers were unsuccessful. Kalyani's Khaksars began to wait for his assassination. On the night of June 27, 1837, Dharam Prakash was returning home from a satsang at the Kalyani Arya Samaj when the Khaksars surrounded him in a street and killed him with spears and lances. Ved Prakash's murder sent a wave of grief and sorrow through the Arya Samaj. The murderers were also acquitted by the court.

Mahadev Ji was a resident of Akola. When he had the opportunity to attend several satsangs of the Sakol Arya Samaj, he was captivated by the Vedic religion. It had such a profound impact on his mind and heart that, after becoming an Arya Samajist, he became obsessed with propagating the Vedic religion. His youthful enthusiasm and courage kept him moving forward on this path. Mahadev Ji's speech was radiant. People listened with rapt attention and interest to whatever came out of his mouth. Seeing a young Aryan man so engrossed in the work of propagating it, people yearned to follow suit. While Mahadev Ji's preaching work was progressing, Muslims became his unwarranted enemies. He was attacked numerous times with the intent to silence him forever, but he always evaded them. One day, Mahadev Ji was on his way to preach his beloved religion when an unknown person came from behind and stabbed him. On July 14, 1938, this Aryan youth departed this world forever at the age of Shyam Lal Ji--Dharamveer Shyam Lal Ji was born in Bhalki in 1903. His father's name was Bhola Prasad and his mother's was Chhotubai. His early education was in Marathi. He came from a well-known family. One of his maternal uncles was an Arya Samajist, whose influence led Shyam Lal Ji's elder brother, Bansilal Ji, to become a follower of the Vedic religion and a devotee of Swami Dayanand, and he became known as the Arya Samaj's most beloved leader. Through his efforts, the Arya Samaj was established in Gulbarga. He himself served as its minister and managed its affairs. He became a lawyer in 1925 and began practicing law in Udgir. While pursuing his personal livelihood, he also promoted the Arya Samaj. In 1926, he contracted a skin disease that worsened to the point where his entire body swelled. He went to Lahore to seek treatment. While he was in Lahore, Swami Shraddhanand was martyred in 1926. Swamiji's sacrifice had a profound impact on him. Returning from Lahore, he established the Arya Samaj in Udgir and pledged to propagate the Vedic religion throughout his life. The then Muslim Tehsildar of Udgir incited local Muslims to attack his house, but the attack failed. After establishing the Arya Samaj Udgir, his tireless efforts led to the first Vijayadashami procession. He was attacked again during the Holi procession, but this time he escaped unhurt. Shyam Lal also established a school, a gymnasium, and a free hospital for the untouchables. The annual festival of the Udgir Arya Samaj was held in 1928, and after this, the police began pursuing him. In the same year, a false case was filed against him under Section 104, and a bail and surety of two thousand rupees were taken from him. Shyam Lal Ji left Udgir and began preaching in places like Bhalki, Kalyani, Aurad, Shahjahani, Latur, and Ausa. He was attacked several times by Muslims, and there were many occasions when Hindus refused to give him shelter. He spent many nights walking on the road and then continued preaching during the day. In 1935, during a visit to Manik Nagar, Muslims tried to stab him, but a young man intervened, got himself injured, and saved him. In 1938, the police filed a false case against him, and the court sentenced him to a long-term sentence. He died while he was serving his sentence in prison. Pt. Shyam Lal Ji's name will be written in golden letters in the history of Hyderabad Arya Samaj because, through his tireless efforts, struggle, and devotion, he remained concerned with strengthening and expanding the Arya Samaj until his last breath.

Venkatrao Ji was a resident of Kandahar district, Nanded. He participated in the Satyagraha organized by the State Congress and was punished. He passed away on April 18, 1938, due to beatings by prison officials.

Vishnu Bhagwan Ji was a resident of Tandur (Gulbarga). He participated in the Satyagraha in Gulbarga and was imprisoned there. From Gulbarga, he was transferred to Aurangabad and then to Hyderabad jail. There, along with other Satyagrahis, he was beaten so severely that he could not bear it. He passed away on May 2, 1939, at the age of 30.

Madhavrao Sadashivrao Ji was a resident of Latur. At the age of 30, he participated in the Arya Satyagraha and was imprisoned in Gulbarga Jail. On May 26, 1939, he fell ill from working hard in jail, barefoot, under the scorching sun. No medical treatment was provided, and he died of this disease. He passed away due to the cruelty of the Nizam government. Upon hearing of Madhav Rao Sadashivrao's death, countless men and women went to pay their last respects, but were stopped by the police, and his body was cremated in the jail.

Pandurang Ji, a young Arya Satyagrahi from Osmanabad was imprisoned for his Satyagraha. He contracted influenza in Gulbarga Jail, but no medical treatment was provided. His condition became critical. On May 25, 1939, he was sent to the Civil Hospital, where he died on May 27. Countless men and women came to pay their last respects, but the police forced them back, and the police performed his last rites.

Radhakrishna Ji was a Rajasthani from Nizamabad. He was born in 1903. His father's name was Jeetmal. In 1934, he became an Arya Samajist and from then on became obsessed with propagating it. He founded the Arya Samaj in Nizamabad. This led to his falling under the police's radar. He was prosecuted during Muharram and released on a one-year bond of two thousand rupees. During the Arya Satyagraha, he was enthusiastically involved in collecting donations. On September 2, 1931, an Arab stabbed him to death, and it became widely known that the police were involved in the conspiracy.

Laxman Rao Ji waged a Satyagraha to secure religious rights. Unable to endure the harsh prison treatment, he died in Hyderabad jail on August 3, 1939.

Shivchandra Ji was born on March 3, 1916, in Dubalgundi. Your father's name was Annapakshappa. He passed the matriculation examination in 1935 with a first-class degree. He also received a government scholarship. He became a teacher at a school in Humnabad. During school breaks, he studied Arya Samaj literature. He worked with great enthusiasm and devotion for the Arya Samaj. He brought Satyagrahis from Sholapur to Hyderabad and sent news of the Satyagraha outside Hyderabad. On March 3, 1942, during a Holi procession, Muslims attacked him, resulting in his martyrdom. He was shot along with his companions Laxman Rao, Ramji Agade, and Narasimha Rao.

Ram Krishna was born into a Brahmin family in the village of Lavasi and had become an Arya Samajist only two weeks before his martyrdom. One day, the Pathans declared that they would destroy the temple that day. "Those who believed in religion should come and save it from their hands." All Hindus panicked and hid in their homes, but when Ram heard this declaration, he was filled with rage. The priests had never allowed him to enter the temple, and being an Arya Samajist, he had no interest in the temple or its idols. However, he considered this declaration by the Pathans a challenge to the entire Hindu community and, to protect the community's honor, he camped at the temple gate. Bullets rained down upon him. Even though wounded, he drove away the Pathans and saved the honor of the Hindu community. By sacrificing himself, he protected the temple and upheld the dignity of the caste he was born into.

Bhim Rao Ji was a resident of Hipla, Udgir. The sister of his friend Manik Rao had been converted to Islam by Muslims. Bhim Rao purified her. Because of this, the Muslims, enraged, set his house on fire, killed him, chopped off his hands and feet, and burned him in the fire.

Manik Rao Ji was also a resident of Hipla (Udgir). His sister had been converted to Islam. When her sister was purified, the Muslims targeted Manik Rao Ji with bullets.

Satya Narayan Ji was a resident of Ambolga (Vidar). He worked for the Arya Samaj with great enthusiasm, which is why the Muslims became his enemies. During Muharram, he was returning from the market when a Muslim attacked him from behind with a sword. He was immediately rushed to the hospital but died on his way there.

Mahadev Ji was a resident of Tiwade. He was imprisoned in Gulbarga for participating in Satyagraha. He died in 1939 due to the torture of the jailers.

Arjun Singh Ji was a gem of the Arya Samaj. He was born in Aurangabad's Taluka Kannad. He lived in Hyderabad since childhood. Due to his enthusiasm and devotion, he was appointed commander of the Hyderabad Dayanand Mukti Dal. In 1861, after successfully managing the pilgrimage to Jangli Vithoba, he was returning home when some armed Muslims attacked him on the way. He was immediately sent to the Osmania hospital but passed away the next day.

Govind Rao Ji was a resident of Nilanga, Bidar district. He participated in Satyagraha and was imprisoned. Unable to endure the atrocities there, he passed away.

Gondirao Ji and Laxman Rao Ji both risked their lives in Satyagraha. This is a very brief introduction to the Arya Samaj martyrs. It can easily be imagined how he became the target of atrocities by the Nizam government and Muslims in Hyderabad and how he shed his last drop of blood to keep the Vedic flag high.