Page 50 - NIS English 01-15 May,2023

RAMESH CHANDRA JHA BHAI BALMUKUND

INSPIRED TO FIGHT FOR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR

FREEDOM BY WRITING BLAST INCIDENTS

Born: 8 May 1928; Died: 07 April 1994 Born: 1889; Died: May 8, 1915

amesh Chandra Jha, an Indian freedom fighter and hai Balmukund, a revolutionary freedom fighter, was
Rliterary figure, was born on May 8, 1928, in Phulwaria Bborn in 1889 in Kariyala village, Jhelum district, now
village in Bihar's Champaran district. He wrote poems, in Pakistan. His father's name was Bhai Mathuradas,
ghazals, stories, and novels. His writings were full of and he worked as a teacher. Balmukand was a member
patriotism, inspiring people to fight the British. Ramesh of a revolutionary party and was active in nationalist
Chandra Jha's father, Lakshmi Narayan Jha, was a well- activities. He was trained to use weapons and throw
known patriot and freedom fighter who was arrested bombs. His mentor was Ras Bihari Bose. Balmukund
several times by the British. Lakshmi Narayan Jha was was chosen as a leader to work in Punjab, particularly in
arrested when Mahatma Gandhi came to Champaran Lahore. During the freedom struggle, he was in charge
for Satyagraha. Ramesh Chandra Jha became involved of putting up posters and distributing pamphlets about
in the freedom struggle since his childhood, influenced freedom.
by his immediate environment and father. In Bhai Balmukund's family, dying for one's own
Ramesh Chandra Jha became a student leader and principles was a family tradition. Bhai Parmanand,
was expelled from school for protesting the British. He a founding member of the Gadar Party, was Bhai
was accused of stealing when he was only 14 years Balmukund's cousin. His family was related to Bhai
old. He began working for the country's freedom. His Mati Das, a famous Sikh martyr. That is why he added
activism is said to have upset British rule. He was the title Bhai to his name. Bhai Balmukund's interest
imprisoned in 1942 for his active participation in the in the national movement began as a student. After
Quit India Movement. He studied Indian literature graduation, he went into teaching, but his involvement
while imprisoned, and after independence, instead in the national movement turned him into an ardent
of entering politics, he chose the field of writing. As nationalist.
a result, following independence, he began writing He was among those who agreed to throw one bomb
poems, ghazals, and novels. Bharat Desh Hamara, Jai at Montgomery Hall in Lahore during the Christmas
Bharat Jai Gandhi, Jawan Jagte Rahe, and Chalo Dilli Week dance and another during the Viceroy's visit to
are among his major works. Kapurthala. A bomb was thrown at Lord Hardinge as
His novel Apne Aur Sapne: Champaran Ki Sahitya he was leaving Chandni Chowk in Delhi on December
Yatra tells the story of Champaran's rich literary 23, 1912. The Viceroy was only slightly injured in this
heritage. In his poems, stories, and ghazals, there is incident, but his assistant was killed. Another bomb
a tone of patriotism and nationalism on the one hand, was thrown at some Europeans in Lawrence Garden,
and expression of human values and life struggles on Lahore, five months later, on May 17, 1913. Balmukund
the other. The main voices of Ramesh Chandra Jha's was arrested in Jodhpur after an investigation, where he
poems are the struggles of ordinary people's lives, their was working for the education of Jodhpur Maharaja's
dreams, and their hopes. On the 25th anniversary of sons. He was later tried in Delhi. Balamukund was
independence, August 15, 1972, he received the Tamra sentenced to death for the bombing's events. On May
Patra Award. Apart from that, he received numerous 8, 1915, he was executed by hanging. Bhai Balmukund
honours. On April 7, 1994, he passed away. had only been married a year before he was hanged.

48 New India Samachar May 1-15, 2023