Forgotten Heroes of Individual Satyagraha in Uttarakhand: Ispecial reference to Bhowali town of Nainital District

Abstract

The independence movement of India was not only a set of campaigns that occurred across the whole nation but it was such a movement where a quantity or sum of localized struggles rooted in Gandhian ideals of non-violence and satyagraha. In present day Uttarakhand, there lies two ranges; that is Garhwal and Kumaon range. In Kumaon, these struggles took distinctive forms which includes Individual Satyagraha, resistance against exploitative colonial practices like Coolie-Beggar and grass roots organization through regional bodies such as the Kumaon Parishad. Despite their significance, many local participants remain underrepresented in mainstream historical narratives. This research paper addresses the historical neglect of local satyagrahis in Bhowali of district Nainital during Gandhi’s 1940 Individual Satyagraha. It highlights five of such forgotten heroes of Individual and collective Satyagraha in Bhowali Town of Nainital district in Uttarakhand. It also examines their life history, contributions and contextualizes their actions within historical and political developments.