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Pauri Garhwal, Oct 26 (IANS) A ‘Martyrs Remembrance Ceremony’ was held in Uttarakhand’s Pauri Garhwal on Sunday to honor those who made unparalleled sacrifices during India’s freedom struggle.
The ceremony was filled with deep reverence and emotion as Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid tribute to the martyrs, freedom fighters and Gaurav Sainans (military veterans) by unveiling a memorial stone in Rikhikhal block of Pauri Garhwal.
The atmosphere echoed with the stirring tunes of the Garhwal Rifles Infantry Regiment Band, a unit whose origins date back to 1887 when it was raised as the 39th Regiment of the Bengal Army.
The ceremony was attended by the families of freedom fighters from the Himalayan villages of Pauri, their eyes moist with pride and remembrance and they bowed their heads in gratitude to the sacrifice of their motherland and their ancestors.
During the freedom struggle, countless individuals from the hill state of Uttarakhand left their homes and families to take up arms against the British Raj.
Many never returned, some coming home in coffins, while others were lost to history. Many soldiers who fought bravely for India’s independence were captured and imprisoned by the British Army in then Burma (now Pakistan), and endured years of torture and isolation.
Among those who faced this pain was Vishan Dutt Devrani, son of the soil of Baman village of Rikhnikhal. Born in a zamindar family, he gave up comfort and privilege to join the Azad Hind Fauj and served as a nursing sergeant in the Army Medical Corps. He joined the force in June 1931 and served until July 1946.
When the British Army issued ‘shoot at sight’ orders against members of the Azad Hind Fauj, Vishan Dutt and his comrades were captured and jailed in Myanmar.
From February 1942 to September 1945, he endured extreme hardships in a prison in Burma.
After his release, Vishan Dutt returned home in 1946 bearing the scars of imprisonment. The trauma of those dark years never left him and he died soon after his return, leaving behind two young sons.
Nevertheless, his patriotic spirit lived on – generations of his family continued his legacy, with his grandson serving in the Indian Army until last year.
Rikhanikhal produced many such heroes. Kaliram Devrani of Baman village served in the 8 Guerrilla Regiment, while Leela Nand of Kalgad village and Gunanand of Rikhanikhal also played important roles in the freedom movement.
Their bravery and contributions, though often unsung, are deeply engraved in the history of India’s freedom struggle.
Paying tribute to these heroes, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, “I salute all the brave martyrs who sacrificed their lives to protect the country, and also salute the families of these soldiers and the dependents of the freedom fighters. Devbhoomi Uttarakhand has always been known as the land of heroes. The brave soldiers of Uttarakhand have made unique contributions in all the wars.”
Reflecting on his personal connection with military families, CM Dhami said, “I have witnessed first-hand the challenges faced by a military family. I have a deep sense of compassion for the brave soldiers. It has been my endeavor to ensure that this feeling is reflected in our plans and government actions.”
During the programme, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of development projects worth more than Rs 46 crore and inaugurated projects worth more than Rs 56 crore. He emphasized that these initiatives will serve as milestones in the progress of Rikhanikhal and surrounding areas.
CM Dhami affirmed, “Our government will leave no stone unturned in protecting the interests of serving soldiers, veterans and dependents of martyrs.”
The event concluded with a shared feeling of pride and gratitude – a tribute not only to the martyrs of the past but to the enduring spirit of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand.
–IANS
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