Garhwal remembers Dev Suman

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, July 25

The death anniversary of freedom fighter Sri Dev Suman, who fought against the tyranny of the Garhwal rulers, was observed as Balidan Diwas across the Garhwal region today. The day is also observed as Suman Diwas.

Born on May 25, 1916, Dev Suman was remembered fondly at his native Jaul village in Patti Bamund of the district. Village residents, relatives and others offered floral tributes and performed yajna at his memorial.

Shedding light on his life, speakers brought to the fore how Dev Suman participated in the “salt satyagraha” in 1930 in Dehradun. He was arrested and sentenced to 15-day imprisonment. After seeking blessings from Gandhiji in Wardha, he returned to continue his struggle against the tyrannical rule of Garhwal rulers. He, however, was barred from entering the state of Tehri and arrested every time he tried to do so.

On December 27, 1943, when he was trying to enter Tehri he was stopped at Chamba, arrested and locked up in the Tehri jail on December 30, 1943, and was subjected to inhuman torture. On February 21, 1944, Suman was tried for treason. In the prison, he was mistreated in all possible manners and on May 3, 1944, Suman launched his historic indefinite fast to protest the misbehavior of the jail authorities. His condition started deteriorating and by July 11 it became critical. He was persuaded to end his fast but he refused to do so.

After 84-day hunger strike, Suman breathed his last on July 25, 1944. His body was thrown into the Bhilangna river without a funeral. Tourism Minister Dinesh Dhanai also remembered the martyr by offering floral tributes at his portrait in New Tehri. In Uttarkashi, students of various schools held prabhat pheris (morning walkabouts) around the town raising slogans in memory of the freedom fighter. All state government establishments also observed the Balidan Diwas and offered tributes to the freedom fighter.

Uttarkashi DM Dipendar Chaudhry garlanded the statue of the martyr at Hanuman Chowk under the aegis of Sri Dev Suman Sahitya Kala Manch. He said Sri Dev Suman was a revolutionary and full of courage and determination. It was due to his struggles that the Tehri rule came to an end, bringing freedom for the people.