Context
As part of the ongoing farmers’ protest, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) is celebrating February 23 as ‘Pagri Sambhal Diwas’.
What was Pagri Sambhal movement?
- Pagrhi Sambhaal Jatta was a successful farm agitation that forced the British government to repeal three laws related to agriculture back in 1907.
- The three farm-related acts at the centre of the storm in 1907 were the
- Punjab Land Alienation Act 1900
- Punjab Land Colonisation Act 1906
- Doab Bari Act
- The movement was led by Ajit Singh (Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s uncle Ajit Singh), Kishan Singh (Bhagat Singh’s father) and Ghasita Ram to spark a revolution against the British.
- The movement later became popularly known as the Pagdi Sambhal Jattamovement after Banke Dayal’s poem by the same name was read out at a rally in 1907.
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Important facts on Ajit Singh
- Ajit Singh was born on 23 January 1881 at Khatkadkalan village. In those days this village was part of Jalandhar district but now falls in Nawan Shahar district.
- In 1903, when the Viceroy Lord Curzon invited all kings and princes to declare their allegiance to the Raj, Ajit Singh and Kishan Singh came to Delhi, clandestinely met many of these kings and tried to mobilise them to build up another revolt on the lines of 1857.
- In 1906, Ajit Singh participated in the important session of the Congress held at Calcutta, to seek out and forge links with patriots who wished to go beyond the Congress’ methods of petitioning the British rulers.
- In Italy, he created Azad Hind Lashkar of 11,000 army men and met Netaji Subhas Bose in Italy.
- In Switzerland, he interacted with Lala Hardyal and Champak Raman Pillai. He also met Lenin, Trotsky and Mussolini.
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