Pandit Sundarlal Sharma (21 December 1881 — 28 December 1940)[1][2] was a key figure in the independence movement from Chhattisgarh.[3] He was largely responsible for ushering in political and social consciousness to Chhattisgarh. In 1920, he started the canal satyagraha, also known as the Nahar satyagraha, at a village called Kandel in Dhamtari Tehsil. Chhattisgarh has a university in the name of Pandit Sundarlal Sharma.[4]
Biography
editPt. Sundarlal Sharma was born in a village of Chandrasur near Raipur and spent most of his life in Raipur. He was under influence of Mahatma Gandhi, and, in particular, he organized Gandhi's visit to Raipur in 1920. At the time, he has already been active in the local level politics, with the goal of implementing social reforms such as abolition of castes and integrating untouchables into society. Later, he entered politics at the national level and represented Madhya Pradesh in the Indian independence movement. He was acquainted with the leading Indian reformers of the time, including Gandhi, Madan Mohan Malaviya, and Lala Lajpat Rai.[citation needed]
In 1920, Sharma started the Kandel Nahar Satyagraha in Kandel, Dhamtari. This was an act of civil resistance against an irrigation tax by the British Raj.[5]
In 1921-22 he was arrested by the authorities, which is considered to be the first arrest in Chhattisgarh related to the independence movement.[4]
References
edit- ^ Hashmi, Amir (2021). Johar Gandhi (The Journey of Mahatma Gandhi in Chhattisgarh). New Delhi, India: Meer Publication. pp. 144–146. ISBN 979-8778794061.
- ^ "Pandit Sundarlal Sharma Samman". Directorate of Culture and Archaeology. Government of Chhattisgarh. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ Ashish Singh; Shruti Chakraborty (14 August 2018). "Independence Day Special: Did you know of Chhattisgarh's Jal Satyagraha?". The Statesman. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Pandit Sundarlal Sharma". Pandit Sundarlal Sharma (Open) University. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ Dheeraj Sharma (2019). January 2019 Exams Exclusive. p. 39.