by Jaspal Singh
The Social and National Emancipation of the Peoples of India
The Ghadarites saw social and national emancipation of the peoples of India as the most decisive condition for a prosperous and happy life. Therefore they concentrated all their efforts and energies and urged all the peoples of Hindustan to do so irrespective of their creed, colour, language, or caste. They wanted dignity and honour for all in and outside of Hindustan, and the necessary condition for this was the liberation of India from the rule of the British and their collaborators. To liberate India from the shackles they called upon all the Indians to return to India and overthrow the British rule.
Through the pages of Ghadar Di Goonj they spread their message in poetic form. Ghadar Di Goonj was published in Shahmukhi and Gurmukhi. This poetry was hard hitting and simple:
| Kuli Kuli Pukarda Jag Saanun Saada Jhulda Kitey Nishan Kiyon Nahin Kikoon Bachangey Sada Ghulam Rahkey Saanun Rajniti Wala Giyan Kiyon Nahin Dhayi Totru Kha Gaye Khet Sada Hindustan da Koi Kisan Kiyon Nahin Marna Bhala Ghulami di Zindagi Ton Nahin Sukhan eh Man Bhulaavney Da Mulk Jaagyaya Cheen Jo Ghook Suta Dhol Vajyaya Hind Jagaawanney Da Saanun Lord Na Panditan Kazian Di Nahin Shok Hai Berda Dubavaney Da Jap Jaap Da Waqt Bateet Hoya Vella Aa Giya Teg Uthavney Da Pardhkey Ghadr Akhbar Nun Khabar Lagi Vela Aa Giya Ghadr Machavaney Da |
(Establish secret political organizations Bengalis and Marathis all should get together Hindu, Sikh and Muslims all should unite And stand together with each other) (Form secret societies in every household Arouse the people with the Mantra of freedom Start the spark in every heart Without force the scourge of British colonialism will not leave Hurry to the call of revolution) |
They described the conditions of Hindustan:
| Bhukhey Marnn Bacchey Kaall Vich Sadey Khatti Khann Saadi Englistan Walley Kannak Beejkey Khann Nun Jaun Mildey Paisa Chhadadey Nahin Laggan Valley Laayiya Tax Firangiyan Bahut Yaaro Bhukhey Marann Gharib Dukaan Valley Karo Paltan Nun Khabardar Jaakey Sutey Payey Kiyon Teg Chalaan Valley Musalmaan Pathan Balwan Dogar Singh Soormey Yudh Machaann Valley Hindustaniyan Morchey Fatey Keetey Burma, Misar Te Cheen Sudan Valley |
( Our children are dying in famines The English are enjoying the fruit or our toil We sow wheat but we get barley to eat We are not left with a penny, all is taken by the tax collectors The English have levied heavy taxes Poor shopkeepers are dying of hunger Go and arouse the army Why those who wield the sword are asleep? Brave Muslims, Pathans and Dogras Valiant Sikhs in the battlefield Hindustanis fighting on fronts in Burma, China, Egypt and Sudan) |
They exposed the so-called leaders of the Hindustanis, the collaborators of the British:
| Jattan Sidhiyan Nun Koi Dosh Nahin Sadey Leaderan Da Manda Haal Singho Rai Bandran Mulk Veeran Kita Piyar Rakhdey Bandran Nal Singho Sanun Paas Angrez De Bechaya Hai Aap Mulk De Banney Dalal Singho |
The common folk is not to be blamed Our ‘leaders’ are traitors Rai Bhadurs, copy cats of the British, have ruined our land They have sold us to the British And have become pimps of the British) |
They called upon the people of Hindustan to see through the illusions spread by the leaders of Indian National Congress such as Gandhi, Nehru and others:
| Ghairat Annakh Wala Je Khoon Hunda Dehli Takht Zaalam Saathon Khasade Naan Banner, Bipin, Gandhi, Madanmohan Varge Eh Firangiyaan De Boot Jhasde Naan Deputationaan Te Resolutionaan Te Muft Dhan Kharab Karaaya Kiyon Naram Dil Congressi Leadraan Nun Tusin Sutiyo Leader Banyaya Kiyon |
(If our leaders had fought for our self respect We would not have lost our country and rule The kind of Bannerji, Bipin Chander Pal, Gandhi And Madanmohan Malviya would not Have Licked the Boots of the British) (Deputations and resolutions are waste of money These leaders of Congress who have soft corner for the British have become leaders Because you are asleep and not conscious) |
They also pointed out the old Indian tradition:
| Kade Mangyian Milann Azadiyan Na Hunde Tarliyan Naal Na Raj Loko Karo Na Minnat Ainwe Bano Na Kaiyar Fardo Talwar Ehnan Nahin Rahnna Agge Veero Arjiyan Ne Ki Banna Liya Zalam Firangyian Ne Desh Kha Liya |
(Freedom is not obtained by begging By appeals political power is not won) (Do not petition like cowards Take the sword and they will run What have all the petitions done? Brutal British have plundered our land) |
They called upon the Hindustani soldiers to revolt:
| Tusin Lardo Jaa Key Khaatar Goriyan De Singho Bholiyo Karde Khyal Kiyon Nahin Desan Dujiyan Te Nit Karo Dhaavey Mulk Apna Laindey Sambhaal Kiyon Nahin Tibet, Cheen, Africa Nun Fateh Kardey Dita Dushmanan Hath Dakhal Kiyon Nahin Utho Azadi Da Lavo Jhaaka Ralke Kheddey Kiyon Gulal Nahin Faujan Waliyo Tusaan Di Matt Maari Lokaan Waste Karo Lardayian Vairi Tusan Da Gheriya Vich Europe Vaila Saanbh Layo Dheriyan Dhayian Kiyon |
(You go and fight for the British You brave lions just think about it You fight in far and distant lands Why not take charge of your own land? You have subdued Tibet, China, Africa for the British Why not show your valor to our enemy the British? Arise and breathe the fresh air of Freedom Why do you not play Holi with the blood of British?) (Soldiers awaken and come to your senses Why are you fighting for the others, the British Our enemy is caught in Europe Take advantage of this situation and revolt) |
They also exposed those ‘religious leaders’ who collaborated with the British in dividing the people on the basis of religion:
| Kazi, Pandatan , Ate Giyaniyan Ne Yudh Karan Da Vachan Sunawnna Na Bhaunkan Raat Diney Bhukhye Tukrdiaan De Khali Rahannge Dhidh Bharavanna Na Haddi Pun Pai Ju Thode Khalsa Ji Marda Dhan Puja Wala Khawna Na Vaja Mominan Di Kam Luchyian De Deel Dol Nun Vaikh Bhul Jawana Na Saanun Lord Na Amayan Afayan Di Ilam Ragard Forde Uttey Lawnna Na |
(Kazis, Pandits and Giyanis of Gurudwara Will not speak of fighting the British They bark like dogs day and night Looking for the crumbs from the British If you listen to them your bellies will remain empty Your bones will be eaten by cancer If you eat the crumbs that they give They wear garb of holy men but Their deeds are those of devil Do not be fooled by their garb We do not need useless degrees of BA and MA We want solutions to our problems) |
To organize the Hindustanis abroad and in India for revolution was the chief aim of the Ghadar Party. Ghadar, and other publications of the Yugantar Ashram became tools for this organizing activity. Soon there were Ghadar Party branches in China, Malaya, Siam, Europe, the Philippines, Africa, Hongkong, Singapore, Panama, Argentina, Brazil, Iran, Afghanistan, Japan, Russia, amongst other locations. Wherever there were Hindustanis, there were Ghadar Party branches. By 1916, it is estimated that one million copies of Ghadar were published per week.
Special issues of Ghadar were also printed in Nepali, Bengali, Pashto, Gujrati, as well as many other languages. The British government used every means to stop the circulation of Ghadar and other publications of the Yugantar Ashram, mainly to stop it from reaching India, but they were not successful. The Ghadarites always found ways and means of distributing their publications in India in spite of proscription and efforts by the British to stop the distribution of Ghadar.
The British Government also tried with all its might to slander, suppress, and eradicate the Ghadar Movement abroad by conniving with the Governments of Canada and the USA and by recruiting spies and their agents such as Hopkinson and others to closely watch the activities of the Ghadarites. For this purpose they also recruited a temple priest in San Francisco and some Granthis in Gurudwaras. As a result of this pressure, Lala Hardyal was arrested on March 25, 1914. Because of Hopkinson’s reposts, he was forced to leave the USA in April 1914.