Sardar Ajit Singh

Sardar Ajit Singh Sindhu was an Indian dissident and nationalist during the time of British rule in India. He was an early protester in the Punjab region of India who challenged British rule, and openly criticized the Indian colonial government. He was declared a political rebel and spent much of his life in jail.

Sardar Ajit Singh was the uncle of Sardar Bhagat Singh.

Early life

Sardar Ajit Singh Sandhu was born into a military family from Punjab in India. He was born at Khatkarkalan village in Jalandhar District. He studied at D.A.V. College, Lahore and later on Law College, Barreily. During this period he became intensely involved in the Indian freedom movement and left his law studies.

Dissident Activities

In 1907, he was deported to Mandalay Jail in Burma along with Lala Lajpat Rai. After his release, he fled to Iran, rapidly developed as a centre for revolutionary activities by groups led by Sardar Ajit Singh and Sufi Amba Prasad who had worked there since 1909.[1] The recruits to these groups included young nationalists of the likes of Rhishikesh Letha, Zia-ul-Haq, Thakur Das. By 1910, the activities of these groups and their publication, the Hayat, had been noticed by the British intelligence.[2] Reports as early as 1910 indicated German efforts to unite Turkey and Persia and proceed to Afghanistan to threaten British India.[2] However, Ajit Singh's departure in 1911 brought the Indian revolutionary activities to a grinding halt, while British representations to Persia successfully curbed whatever activity that remained in the country.[2] From there, he traveled to Rome, Geneva, Paris, and Rio de Janeiro.

In 1918, he came in close contact with the Ghadar Party in San Francisco. In 1939, he returned to Europe and later on helped Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in his mission in Italy. In 1946, he came back to India at the invitation of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. After spending some time in Delhi, he went to Dalhousie .

On August 15, 1947 he uttered his last breath; On this date India got its Independence. His last words were, "Thank God, my mission is fulfilled."

A samadhi in his memory is at Panjpula, a popular and scenic picnic spot in Dalhousie.

References

  1. ↑ Yadav 1992, p. 29
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Yadav 1992, p. 30