Memorials of Freedom Fighters In Ruins

The city of Allahabad ignores the martyrs who fought for its independence. . Ajeet’s city Allahabad is in a mad rush to get a modern look. As a part of that, roads are widening and buildings are coming up in every vacant spot.The rapid urbanization is demolishing many historic monuments. Among them are memorials, busts and plaques built in the memory of those local leaders who fought for India’s freedom struggle and made great sacrifices. As a local himself, Ajeet Bahadur feels that with these small monuments falling apart, a part of the city’s history, especially that of  Dalit and Other Backward Castes is getting lost forever. Says Ajeet, “These monuments are the only symbols of the contribution that my community members made to our country’s freedom struggle. They took part in demonstrations and revolutionary activities and were punished with death after being cought. But you never read about them in the history books.” Ajeet’s video shows the example of a certain freedom fighter called Mahaveer Prasad Kanojiya who was from a poor Dalit family. Kanojiya took part in a train robbery in 1925 to get arms for Indian freedom fighters. He, along with several other revolutionaries, was caught and hanged, but nobody in the city now knows about him. The jail where he spent his last days has been turned into a warehouse. Ajeet says that such neglect hurts the community because for them it is important that the world recognizes their contribution and leadership to the building of a nation. To watch more of Ajeet’s videos, click here
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