Page 61 - NIS English 16-31 February,2023

Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Nation
STEADY GROWTH REVOLUTIONARY VIJAY SINGH PATHIK

IN INDIA'S TEA
PRODUCTION LIT THE FIRE OF FREEDOM
WITH HIS PEN

There is a story in India that just as the British
came and left the English language, in the BORN: 27 FEBRUARY 1882, DIED: 28 MAY 1954
same way, grandmothers used to say that the
Britishers came and left India addicted to tea.
Tea was undoubtedly discovered in China, but ijay Singh Pathik, known as 'Rajasthan Kesari' and
between 1835-40 in India, the then Governor 'Rashtriya Pathik', was born on 27 February 1882
Lord William Bentinck formed a committee in Vin a village called Guthawali Kala in Bulandshahr
India to apprise the people of Assam about tea district of Uttar Pradesh. His father's name was Chaudhary
after which tea plantation started in Assam. Hamir Singh Rathi and his mother's name was Kamal Devi.
After this, the Indian Tea Association was
established in 1881, and tea was spread into the Since childhood, Pathik was strongly influenced by the
international market. India today is the second patriotism of his grandfather, Dewan Indra Singh Rathi,
largest producer of tea. India has been exporting who was martyred in the First War of Independence in
tea worth more than Rs 5000 crore continuously 1857. The original name of Vijay Singh Pathik was 'Bhoop
for the last five years. Tea gardens also have Singh', but after the 'Lahore Conspiracy' he changed his
an important role in strengthening the path of a name to Vijay Singh Pathik, and then he was known by
developed and self-reliant India.
Only 41.90 crore kg of tea was produced in this name till the end of his life. Due to love and respect,
India in 1970-71, which has increased to 128.03 he is also known as 'Rajasthan Kesari' and 'Rashtriya
crore kg in 2020-21. Tea is an integral part of Pathik' among the people.
Indian heritage as tea is not just a beverage for Vijay Singh Pathik was one of the brave revolutionaries
Indians, it is an emotion, symbolizing India's who fought for India's independence. He came in contact
Atithi Devo Bhava culture. The tea sector with revolutionaries like Rash Behari Bose and Sachindra
has played a significant role in employment
generation in the country. Not only the growers, Nath Sanyal in his youth. Long before Mahatma Gandhi's
cultivators, and exporters but many startups are 'Satyagraha Movement', Vijay Singh Pathik had started
based on tea. the task of awakening the farmers for freedom through
a movement known as 'Bijolia Kisan Andolan'. He played
Tea Production
Tea Prod uction a key role in taking the freedom struggle to the villages
(In Lakh Kilo) and towns. He went from village to village and organized
(In Lakh Kilo)
people and motivated them to join the peasant movement.
It is believed that in this movement the British had to bow
down and accept the demands of the farmers.
Vijay Singh Pathik was also a good poet, writer, and
journalist who used his writing to spread the message of
freedom to the common people. He started his journalism
during the freedom movement and brought out a weekly
paper named 'Rajasthan Kesari'. Afraid of his popularity in
*Figures for the year 2020-21 based on 4th Advance Estimates.
Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the government banned
India is the second largest producer of tea in it. Pathik also made his mark as an author by writing
n
the world. several books. Due to his efforts 'Rajasthan Seva Sangh'
India's Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri teas are
n was established in Ajmer in 1920. This organization raised
considered among the finest teas in the world. its voice against the evil practices spread in society.
Darjeeling tea has also got a GI tag. Vijay Singh Pathik died on 28 May 1954. In 1992, the
Various steps taken for the tea industry
n
include the Plant Protection Code, a suitable Government of India issued a postage stamp in memory
environment for plantations and ensuring the of the revolutionary poet Vijay Singh Pathik.
safety of workers, etc.

New India Samachar February 16-28, 2023 59