Amar Shaheeed Bhagat Amarnath ( 27th Sep.1918-1st
June 1970)
Although India won freedom in August, 1947 by forcing out the British Crown,
but the real freedom from the rigid religious fundamentalists & autocratic
mind set forces remained to be won. The Hindu Religious Texts did not change
even an iota of their inhuman sanctions against their own religion brethren
classified as Shudras(both touchable and untouchables) , now clubbed as Scheduled Castes , Scheduled tribes & Other Bach
ward Classes. Their rights as per the Constitution of Free India adopted in
January,1950 are being systematically denied even now.. The situation in the
country was worst before Independence with little change even after political
freedom gained in 1947 so the Dalits had to wage political struggle to gain the
legitimate rights as per the cannons of law. Basically these deprived sections
of the Hindu Society were slaves to the British slaves as defined by Baba Sahib
Dr .B.R. Ambedkar. The British slaves got freedom in 1947 & their slaves
are still striving to gain it.
Although the reservation in
services for the S/C’s, S/T’s was effected from 1944 and with the enactment of
the Indian Constitution it was this right
was voted to be enforceable by Law. However it remained elusive in J&K
state as long as 1970. So in J&K state revolt against this was raised. A
deputation of Megh Samaj met the Glaxy Commission in 1931. This commission was
formed by Maharaja Hari Singh to study the reasons of unrest prevailing in the
state and also to make recommendation for their redressal. The commission suggested to give proper share to Kashmiri
Muslims in the employment but remained illusive fot thr rights of Harians as
the untouchable were then address. Jagat Ram Aryan was nominated to Praja Sabha
in 1932,he put forth demands of welfare
of his people narrating their condition as most deplorable . These efforts
succeeded in getting some relief as opening of entry to Hindu temples to Harijans( Now SCs), admission
of their children in schools with grant of Scholar ships to school going children,banning of seprate sitting in
schools of Harijan students. But no respite was given in services to these
slaves to the British Slaves. Later Babu
Milkhi Ram joined the team of Dalit leaders. For the first time the Dalits in
J&K organized fast unto death thrice, first at Chhan Rorian in 1955 in
Parade Ground &third time in Karan Park Jammu in 1957, against
excesses being perpetuated on them by upper caste peoples and government under
their control. A large number of Dalits participated in these fasts and
processions. It is said 165 pounds of Dalit Blood was lost for the
noble cause of Dali emancipation in J&K State in fasts. After the agitations, fast
unto death in 1955 to 1957 Dalits succeeded to win on their own Marh ( Reserved) Assembly Election in 1957
under the banner of Harijan Mandal. Amar Shaheed Bhagat Amar Nath
blew the bugle in May 1970 which created a strong wave in J&K forcing the
J&K State to issue Reservation in services orders in 1969 and 1970. This
struggle continued for 63 years in one form or the other &
finally J&K Legislature passed law in 2004 giving legal teeth to the Rules
of Reservation in services by issuing Jammu
and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004 Dated19/23
March, 2004 .
Shaheed Bhagat Amarnath
The
son of soil, Bhagat Amarnath was born on Friday the 27th Sep.1918 at village Champa
near Batote Tehsil. Ramban Distt Udhampur ( Now
Ramban ) in a Bhagat or Megh family now
one of the Recognized Scheduled Castes.
His parents were respected Shri Moti Ram and Shrimati Janki Devi. After completing his school education up
to Middle standard; he joined service in NAC Batote and later in the Health
department. He got married to Shrimati Shanti Devi at a young age. The coupe was blessed with a son and a daughter. His
family including his wife still lives at Champa .He resigned from the Govt. job
and joined social service. He joined Congress party and was elected as Congress
Block President and later was made theDistrict Secretary of this party. To fulfill his dreams of uplifting and
betterment of the depressed classes
educationally, socially, economically, he came to Jammu from his native place
with this explicit motive, and to secure justice for
Dalit Samaj of J&K in particular and country in general. He worked in
Bhartiya Depressed Classes league, an all India Origination founded in 1935 by
Babu Jagjivan Ram a union Minister and later Deputy Prime Minister. This
organization as unit of INC had spread its wings all over India for the welfare
of the depressed classes’ peoples. Bhagat Amar Nath was made President of this
Organization for J&K with HQ on Jogi gate Road Shahidi Chowk Jammu. This
party General Secretary was Chodhary
Guran Ditta Mal an MLA and Vice
Chairman of S/C’s Welfare Board. All other Dalit leaders including M.L.A’s
Ministers of J&K were its office bearers. A Weekly Urdu News Paper named “PASMANDGI” was started from Jammu to
raise forceful voice against denial of the just rights of depressed Classes
peoples in J&K State. The write ups
in Pasmandgi paper helped in uniting
the Dalit masses. An All India one day convention of the Bhartiya Depressed
Classes league was held in 1968 in
Parade ground Jammu which was presided over by Babu Jagjivan Ram and was
attended by over 20,000 peoples. Besides Babu Jagjivan Ram, Bhagat Amarnath, Pandit Trilochan Dutt also addressed the gathering. Bhagat Amaranth
spoke forcefully pleading for granting due rights to the Depressed Classes
persons in recruitments and promotions in services, grant of scholarships to
the deserving students up to all levels of education including university
level, stopping illegal dislocation of small farmers from their
rightful possession and many more problems faced by common people.Bhagat ji created a close contact with Jammu based Dalit viz. Babu Parmanand, Babu Milkhi Ram, Bhagat chajju Ram, Bhagat Chajju Ram, Mahasha Pashori lal and Mahasa Nar Singh , Jagat Ram Aryan ( Kishatwar) and others. But the government was not acceding to the just demands of the Dalit leaders. He had gained close association & friendship with Ayub Khan, then Health Minister of J&K State. Bhagat Amaranth was earlier Kabir Panthi and later was initiated as follower of Radha Soami Satsang Beas. He was a complete vegetarian and abstained from any type of intoxicants.
Despite issue
of G.O No 252-GD of 1969 dated 3-2-1969 and Govt. Notification
No 37 GR of 1970 dated 28th April 1970 for providing reservation
in services for the SC’s , ST’s and OBC’s the state Govt. was still reluctant to implement the reservation rules in
services in letter and spirit . Bhagat Amar Nath took it very serious and a
comprehensive note on the ill-conceived intention of the state Govt. Containing detailed demands was submitted to
the State govt. by him . When the State government failed to give positive
respond, he intensified his nonstop agitation in the entire Jammu province by
leading many processions, demonstrations, public meetings for the expeditious
redressal of core issue including reservation in services . An ultimatum with
deadline was given to state Govt. to take remedial measures soon else he shall
go for fast unto death. When convinced that the state government was not taking
his threats seriously he under took fast unto death.
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