Inauguration
Centre for Advanced Research on Development and Change (CARDC), New Delhi in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India is organizing several outreach programs across North India. The idea is to explore the marginalized or hidden histories of scores of people belonging to this region during India's Freedom Struggle. The intent is to celebrate their past & bring out their historical contribution in the mainstream narratives.
The program Krantiteerth, commemorating unsung heroes, organizations & places in freedom movement, was inaugurated from the premises of prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi on March 28, 2023 from 3.30 pm onwards. The occasion was marked by the gracious presence of Prof. Raghuvendra Tanwar, Chairman, Indian Council for Historical Research, New Delhi, Shri. Dharam Singh SriChawla, son of one of the closest aide of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Dr. Rajesh Tope, grandson of Tantya Tope, Shri Prafulla Ketkar, Editor, Organiser & JNU Rector 1, Shri S. C. Garkoti .
Professor Raghuvendra Tawar, Chairman, ICHR, informed & requested the students and faculty present at the event from different think tanks & educational institutions like JNU, DU to search for the true narratives and be informed about the real struggles that the freedom fighters endured to make the dream of independence come true . He insisted that the need of the hour is to simply write the truth and not the twisted interpretations carried on from colonial to post colonial times.
Dr. Rajesh Tope , great grandson of Tatya Tope was the special guest of the program. A doctor by profession but a researcher by passion, he provided an in-depth understanding of the nature of freedom movement, how it was manipulated and presented in a detrimental manner in the process of history writing started by the colonial rulers and later carried forward by some Indian historians.
JNU Rector 1, Shri S. C. Garkoti thanked the organizers for taking up such a significant project which was like a new historical journey & JNU is proud to be a launch pad for an exercise which is aimed at bringing out the hidden or unknown contributions of the freedom struggle.
Shri. Dharam Singh SriChawla , son of one of the closest aide of Sardar Trilok Singh SriChawla shared his personal memories and collective initiatives taken by his friends and family in Bangkok in the memory of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. As special guest of the program he added personal touch and value to the event.
Shri Prafulla Ketkar, Editor, Organiser explained the real meaning of Krantiteerth - Pilgrimage of unknown organisations, unfamiliar places and unsung freedom fighters that have been left out from mainstream history writing. He said that the political freedom is achieved but the awakening of 'Swa' or Self remains to be achieved. That will be possible only through thousands of events like Krantiteerth across the country.
