Page 60 - NIS English 16-30 June,2023

Nation Amrit Mahotsav

SWAMI SAHAJANAND SARASWATI

BY ORGANISING FARMERS, HE INFUSED A NEW
CONSCIOUSNESS IN THE FREEDOM MOVEMENT

Born: 22 February 1889, Died: 26 June 1950

wami Sahajanand Saraswati, who opposing the Zamindari system. He
Sorganised the farmers, was born worked to unite farmers from all over
on February 22, 1889, in Ghazipur, the country, transcending caste, religion,
Uttar Pradesh. Earlier, his name was creed, and sect. Swami Sahajanand
Navrang Rai. Sahajanand was a talented fought the British Empire by making Bihar
intellectual, a good writer, and a dedicated his workplace. In 1937- 38, he launched
revolutionary who fought for the interests the Bakasht movement in Bihar. The
of farmers and dedicated his life to movement was against zamindars
defending farmers' rights. He raised evicting tenants from Bakasht lands. This
a new consciousness in the freedom movement gained traction, and the Bihar
movement by organising lakhs of farmers Tenancy Act and Bakasht Land Tax were
against the exploitation perpetrated by enacted to protect farmers' rights.
foreign rule. Sahajanand was an active Sahajanand Saraswati led the
member of the freedom movement. When successful strike at Bihta's Dalmia Sugar
zamindars were forcibly collecting taxes Mill. Subhash Chandra Bose and the All
from farmers, he used the slogan "Kaise India Forward Bloc decided to mark April
loge malgujari, lath hamara zindabad". 28 as All India Swami Sahajanand Day
"The one who produces food and clothing to protest his arrest by the British Raj
will now make laws; this India belongs to during the Quit India Movement. "Swami
him now," he said. Sahajanand Saraswati is such a name in
With the formation of the Bihar our country that oaths and resolutions
Provincial Kisan Sabha in 1929, he should be taken," Subhash Chandra Bose
launched the Kisan Sabha movement. said. He was the undisputed leader of
This outfit united the peasants in their India's peasant movement, and he has
fight against the landlords. At the since become the ideal of the masses
Congress session in Lucknow in April and a hero to millions. It was an honour
1936, the All India Kisan Sabha was to choose him as President of the All
formed. Sahajanand Saraswati was India Anti-Compromise Conference in
elected as its first president. The Kisan Ramgarh. It is an honour to have him as
Manifesto, published in August 1936, a friend, mentor, and guide. Following
called for the abolition of the zamindari his example, a large number of peasant
system and the cancellation of rural leaders have joined the Forward Bloc." He
loans. He led the labourers while also passed away on June 26, 1950.
58 New India Samachar June 16-30, 2023