Page 49 - NIS English 01-15,April 2023

Amrit Mahotsav Nation

SAGARMAL GOPA C. F. ANDREWS

HIS SACRIFICE RAISED 'DEENBANDHU'

AWARENESS OF THE OF THE POOR

FREEDOM MOVEMENT AND OPPRESSED

Born: November 3, 1900; Died: April 4, 1946 Born: 12 February 1871, Died: 5 April 1940

Fstate of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Sagarmal led F oreigners actively participated in the Indian
reedom fighter and patriot Sagarmal Gopa,
alongside
movement
their
independence
was born on 3 November 1900 in the princely
own countrymen. Among these foreigners is
the outlawed Praja Mandal and inspired people Gandhian freedom fighter C.F. Andrews, who was
in Jaisalmer and surrounding areas to join the born in England on February 12, 1871. Charles Freire
freedom struggle. In 1921, Sagarmal joined Andrews was C.F. Andrews' full name. On March 20,
Mahatma Gandhi's non-cooperation movement 1904, he arrived in India and enrolled at St. Stephen's
College in Delhi. Andrews saw his arrival in India
and encouraged the people of Jaisalmer to join. as a second birth. He felt as if he had arrived in a
Akhya Raj, Sagarmal's father, worked in the court dreamland the moment he arrived here. Andrews, a
of Maharawal Jawahar Singh, the ruler of Jaisalmer British social reformer, understood the Indian people's
at the time. During his youth, he observed his home social, economic, and political problems during his
state's disinterest in independence movement. This long stay in India.
deeply hurt him, and a flame of rebellion began to He fought British rule along with Mahatma Gandhi,
ignite within him. Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and other prominent Indians.
In the princely state, Jawahar Singh prohibited Andrews was close friends with Rabindra Nath
the printing and reading of magazines. However, Tagore. On several occasions, Tagore invited him to
defying Maharaja's ban, Sagarmal mentioned Santiniketan. In Africa, Andrews also collaborated
Jawahar Singh's atrocities in his book "Gundaraj of closely with Mahatma Gandhi. He had been successful
Jaisalmer," and inspired the public to join the freedom in getting basic rights for the Indians there. He gave his
movement by publishing several books. Sagarmal entire life to free India and serve the poor Indians. This
is why Indians referred to him as Deenbandhu, or friend
was a staunch opponent of Jaisalmer State's anti- of the poor and oppressed. C.F. Andrews also took part
people policies, and as a result, the princely states in a number of movements led by Indian leaders.
of Hyderabad and Jaisalmer State barred him from He not only supported the Indian independence
entering their territories. Sagarmal moved to Nagpur movement, but he was also a staunch opponent of
with his family, but when his father died, he came to British policies. He was also a well-known author. He
Jaisalmer to perform his last rites on May 25, 1941. wrote about a dozen such works with hundreds of
He was then arrested on treason charges and articles that had a strong connection to everyday Indian
sentenced to six years in prison. For years, he was life and global issues. Mahatma Gandhi once said of
tortured in prison. He passed away on April 4, 1946. Andrews, "He was a good son of England, and he also
With Sagarmal Gopa's sacrifice, the people of the became a son of India. I've never met a better man or a
country gained a new consciousness and joined more devout Christian than him." Andrews is thought
the freedom movement. His martyrdom redirected to have brought Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath
Tagore together. On the one hand, Andrews took on
public rage and strengthened resolve to abolish all the task of interpreting Mahatma Gandhi's principles
forms of slavery. In 1986, the Indian government in the West and exploring the possibilities of dialogue
issued a postage stamp in his honour. The grand between Indian leaders and the British government; on
walls of the Red Fort were decorated with artwork the other hand, he supported Rabindranath Tagore's
related to prominent freedom fighters from various establishment of Visva Bharati. He passed away on
states and union territories in 2022, where tributes April 5, 1940. The Indian government has also issued
wer paid to Sagarmal Gopa's unique contribution. a postage stamp in his honour.

New India Samachar April 1-15, 2023 47