March 6, marks the Balidan Divas of four prominent figures who left an indelible mark on Bharat’s history through their contributions in religion, independence, and governance. Pandit Lekh Ram Arya, Thakur Dariyav Singh, Ambika Chakraborty, and Sachchidananda Sinha dedicated their lives to their respective causes, ensuring their legacy continues to inspire generations.
Pandit Lekh Ram: The martyr who fought for Vedic dharma
Pandit Lekh Ram Arya, a scholar and devout follower of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, was born in 1858 in Saidpur, Jhelum (now in Pakistan). He dedicated his life to Arya Samaj’s mission, propagating the ideals of Vedic Dharma and combating religious conversions. His fearless commitment to truth earned him the title of “Arya Musafir.”
During his time in Peshawar, Pandit Lekh Ram received instructions from Maharishi Dayanand to spearhead movements against cow slaughter and promote the Hindi language, both of which he took up with zeal. He firmly believed in using reason and logic to counter religious dogmas and social evils like untouchability and caste discrimination. His unwavering stand against conversion efforts made him a key figure in the Shuddhi movement.
Tragically, his commitment to Arya Samaj made him a target of religious extremists. On March 6, 1897, he was brutally assassinated in Lahore. Despite his untimely death, his legacy in the fight for religious and cultural preservation lives on.
Thakur Dariyav Singh: A forgotten hero of 1857’s first War of Independence
Thakur Dariyav Singh was a warrior and freedom fighters who took up arms against British rule during the great uprising of 1857. Born in 1800 in Singraur, Fatehpur, he was the talukdar of Khaga and an influential figure in the struggle for Bharat’s first war of independence.
He played a key role in planning and executing attacks against British establishments alongside leaders like Nana Saheb and Kesari Rana Beni Madhav Singh. On June 8, 1857, he led a force that captured the Khaga treasury and raised the flag of independence. The following day, his troops attacked the Fatehpur court and prison, liberating many prisoners.
For nearly a month, the freedom fighters successfully ran an independent government in Fatehpur before the British launched a brutal counterattack. Thakur Dariyav Singh and his men bravely resisted, but when overwhelming British forces under Major Renard attacked Khaga on July 11, his palace was destroyed. He managed to evade capture but was later apprehended. On March 6, 1858, he was hanged by the British for his role in the rebellion.
Though his name has faded from mainstream history, his bravery and sacrifice are commemorated in Fatehpur, where a medical college is named in his honor, and June 8 is observed as his Vijay Diwas.
Ambika Chakraborty: A freedom fighters who shook the British Empire
Ambika Chakraborty was one of the fearless freedom fighters involved in the Chittagong armory raid of 1930, led by Master Surya Sen. Born in 1892, he was deeply influenced by the idea of armed resistance against colonial rule, rejecting the non-violent approach of the Congress.
On April 18, 1930, Ambika Chakraborty, along with his comrades, attacked the British armory in Chittagong, disrupting their communication lines to weaken colonial control. He fought bravely in an armed encounter in Jalalabad on April 22, where he was injured but managed to escape. However, he was later arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment in the notorious Cellular Jail of the Andamans, where he endured years of torture until his release in 1946.
Post-independence, he joined the Communist Party and served in the Bengal Legislative Assembly, championing the rights of the oppressed. He tragically lost his life in a road accident in Kolkata on March 6, 1962, but his role in the fight for freedom remains etched in history.
Sachchidananda Sinha: A freedom fighters in nation-building
Unlike the other three, Sachchidananda Sinha chose the path of constitutionalism to serve his country. Born on November 10, 1871, in Arrah, Bihar, he pursued law in London and actively participated in the early political movements of the Indian National Congress. He was a key figure in the formation of the Bihar and Orissa Province and played an instrumental role in shaping legislative policies.
As a journalist, he edited the Hindustan Review and wrote extensively on Bharatiya affairs. A moderate leader, he preferred constitutional methods to attain self-rule and was among the first Bharatiyas to hold a finance portfolio in a provincial government. He was elected to the Constituent Assembly and served as its interim President before Dr. Rajendra Prasad took over. Sinha passed away on March 5, 1950, shortly after Bharat adopted its Constitution. His contribution to nation-building, journalism, and education remains invaluable.
