Bhilwara, Rajasthan: The Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram has demanded that Mangarh Dham be declared a National Memorial. The demand was made through a resolution passed at the ongoing meeting of the Central Executive Committee of the Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram in Bhilwara, Rajasthan. National President of Kalyan Ashram Satyendra Singh Ji shared details of the resolution during a press conference.
The resolution stated that on November 17, 1913, the British Government carried out a massive firing at Mangarh Dham to crush the Bhagat Movement led by Sant Govind Guru Ji of the Vagad region, in which more than 1,500 janjati women, men and children were killed. The incident took place six years before the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and remains an important chapter of the unique sacrifice of the janjati community in the freedom struggle.
The Kalyan Ashram said that the Bhagat Movement, under the leadership of Govind Guru, not only created awareness against the repressive laws of the British Government but also awakened the janjati community towards its culture, faith and life values. The Mangarh incident further expanded the consciousness of resistance against British rule in the janjati regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
The resolution noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Mangarh Dham on November 1, 2022, and paid tribute to the tribal community that sacrificed its lives. The President also visited Mangarh Dham on October 4, 2024, and paid homage to the martyrs. The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has also spoken of recognising Mangarh Dham as a national heritage site.
The Kalyan Ashram demanded that the Government declare Mangarh Dham a National Memorial and ensure its preservation and development in accordance with its historical and cultural significance. It also urged the governments of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh to give appropriate space to the history of Mangarh in school and college textbooks.
The Central Executive Committee also appealed to social and religious leaders and public representatives to rise above differences and make collective efforts on the issue. National Vice-President of Kalyan Ashram Techi Gubin and President of Rajasthan Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad Thawarchand Damor were present at the press conference.
Notably, the meeting of the office-bearers of the Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram began in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, on October 2. The meeting commenced with the blessings of Nimbarkacharya Peethadhishwar Anant Vibhushit Shri Shyamsharandevacharya Shri Shri Ji Maharaj Ji.
National President of Kalyan Ashram Satyendra Singh Ji, Vice-President Techi Gubin Ji, Dr H K Nagu Ji, General Secretary Yogesh Ji Bapat and National Organising Secretary Atul Ji Jog were present on the dais.
At the beginning of the meeting, workers from Arunachal Pradesh offered the prayer. All dignitaries were welcomed. More than 300 state-level office-bearers from across the country are participating in the meeting. The meeting will continue until the evening of October 3.
