Photo Source: Babushahi Network
Observe birth anniversary of Ajit Singh as Kisan Day: Prof Chaman Lal
New Delhi, February 15, 2021: While expressing support and solidarity with the ongoing farmers protest all over the country, Prof. Chaman Lal, Honorary Advisor, Bhagat Singh Archives Delhi, and retired Professor from JNU, New Delhi has urged the farmers' organizations and Indian people in general to celebrate 140th birth anniversary of great freedom fighter and peasant leader Sardar Ajit Singh on 23rd February 2021 by declaring it a Kisan Day and holding memorial meetings, lectures and processions and focusing on farmers demands to mark the day.
Sardar Ajit Singh, uncle of Shaheed Bhagat Singh was born on 23rd February 1881 at Khatkar Kalan village of Jalandhar district in a family of freedom fighters. His grandfather Fateh Singh was part of Maharaja Ranjit Singh army and continuing the tradition all three brothers Kishan Singh, Ajit Singh, and Swarn Singh were part of the freedom struggle, all suffering long jail terms, and Ajit Singh remained exiled for 38 years and had returned to India only in March 1947 at the invitation of interim Prime Minister of India-Jawahar Lal Nehru.
Ajit Singh due to ill health had passed away on the early morning of 15th August 1947, after listening to Pandit Nehru's speech-Tryst with Destiny and bade goodbye by saying Jai Hind at Dalhousie.
Ajit Singh became known as a fiery peasant leader due to the 1907 Pagdi Sambhal Jatta movement of farmers of Punjab against three black laws of that time and was exiled first to Mandalay in Burma along with Lala Lajpat Rai and then he went to exile to South America and other countries.
“Due to his powerful speeches and organization of peasants in pre-partition Punjab in 1907, all three black laws were withdrawn by colonial Government. The farmers' movement of 2020-21 against the present three black anti-farmer laws is inspired by Ajit Singh's earlier 1907 Pagdi SJatta movement. It will be an appropriate tribute to the great patriot and peasant leader by the farmers in organizing various events on the day. Punjab Government should also organize events in schools, colleges, and Universities and declare the day as Kisan Day,” said Chaman Lal.