Page 42 - NIS English 01-15 July,2023

Nation Amrit Mahotsav

RAM VINOD SINGH: BECAME ADVOCATE
OF NON-VIOLENCE STARTING FROM
VIOLENT REVOLUTION

Born: 6 March, 1895, Died: May 23, 1967
ALLURI SITARAM RAJU:
ihar's famous revolutionary, HERO OF THE JUNGLE
BRam Vinod Singh, was born on
July 6, 1895, in Malkhachak village, Born: 04 July 1897, Died: 7 May 1924
Saran district. It is believed that he
had contact with Bhagat Singh and lluri Sitarama Raju was born on July 4, 1897,
Mahatma Gandhi, both of whom Ain Mogallu village near Bhimavaram, Andhra
had a significant impact on his Pradesh. In opposition to the unlawful British
life. He started as a revolutionary policies, he frequently raised his voice. He was a
but later became an advocate fearless revolutionary who fought for the rights and
of nonviolence. He was moved by Khudiram Bose's freedom of those who were not tribal. For his valour
hanging and joined the Dhaka Anushilan Samiti. During and bravery, he was known as "Manyam Veerudu"
the First World War, Ram Vinod Singh was placed under (the forest hero). Throughout his conflict with the
house arrest while studying in Bhagalpur. He was British, he demonstrated that "stop us if you have the
then imprisoned in Hazaribagh Central Jail from 1918 guts; stop us if you can." When Sitaram Raju blew the
to 1920. During the Non-Cooperation Movement, he revolutionary bugle, his slogan was "Mande Rajyam,"
abandoned his studies and joined Mahatma Gandhi's which means "our state."
call. In 1921, he founded the Gandhi Kutir Khadi Ashram He was only 24-25 years old when he began the
in his village. He is believed to have been involved in war against the atrocities of foreign rule.
the "Wajidpur dacoity" as a member of the Hindustan Sitaram Raju, an ascetic, moved to Visakhapatnam
Socialist Republican Association. He was also charged after completing primary and secondary education
in the "Tirhut Conspiracy Case," but he was acquitted. in his village. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's non-
A police team raided his home and Gandhi's cottage cooperation movement, he led the Rampa Rebellion
in Dighwara on June 24, 1930. On the grounds that he against the British in 1922, urging tribals to seek
had been sheltering Yogendra Shukla, he was arrested justice in panchayat courts instead of colonial courts.
in July 1930. He was eventually released in February The tyranny of the British sparked the tribal
1932. On November 24, 1932, the governments of Bihar rebellion, also known as the Manyam rebellion.
and Orissa informed the public about 40 revolutionaries Sitarama Raju sought justice by resorting to guerrilla
who were members of the criminal tribe, including Ram warfare. His two years of armed struggle (1922-24)
Vinod Singh. Under the Public Safety Act, the Chief so irritated the British authorities that they offered
Secretary placed Ram Vinod Singh under house arrest a reward of Rs 10,000 for his capture, alive or dead.
in his village for six months in 1933. The government On May 7, 1924, the British finally surrounded
extended his detention period which ended in 1937. him with treachery. Tied to a tree and murdered. At
On August 10, 1942, he was arrested under the the age of 27, he was martyred. On May 8, he was
Defence of India Act during the Quit India Movement. On cremated. Every year on July 4, the government of
August 12, 1942, both of Ram Vinod Singh's daughters Andhra Pradesh celebrates his birth date as a state
attacked the Dighwara police station and hoisted the festival.
national flag. As a result, Ram Vinod Singh's house On July 4, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
was blown up with dynamite. He was elected to the launched the year-long 125th birth anniversary
Bihar Legislative Assembly in 1946. Under the Prime celebrations of legendary freedom fighter Alluri
Minister's Mentorship Scheme Yuva (Young, Budding, Sitarama Raju in Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, and
and Talented Writer), Utkarsh Anand has written a book unveiled a 30-foot-tall bronze statue of him. PM Modi
titled 'Gandhi-Bhagat Ke Sathi Ram Vinod Singh' on stated during the programme, "Alluri Sitarama Raju
Ram Vinod Singh. This book is part of a series created is a symbol of India's culture, tribal identity, valour,
for young writers as part of this programme. ideals, and values."

40 New India Samachar July 1-15, 2023