Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali - The Peshawar Incident

April 23 has a special meaning for all of Uttaranchalis. On this day in 1930, the British rulers asked Garhwal Rifles to march forward and crush an agitation on SALT SATYAGRAHA by the Balooch people (PATHANS) in Peshawar. Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali refused to open fire on the demonstrators and he ordered a cease-fire instead.

Legendary Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali was followed by a large number of the soldiers in his action. He was tortured and was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment by the Britishers along with 59 other serving soldiers. Barrister Mukandi Lal went from Lansdown to Peshawar fought his case and saved him from the death penalty.

Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali will be remembered for posterity as a brave soldier and a revolutionary, who had shown great courage, patriotism as a freedom fighter while serving as a soldier. He was born in 1891 in Rauni Sera village of district Garhwal (now in district Chamoli). This great soldier and freedom fighter died on 1st October 1979 at the age of 88 years.

Even though he worked for the British Army, greatly influenced by the Gandhi. The indomitable freedom fighter of Garhwal, Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali, was enamoured by the place - Dhoodhatoli. As was his last wish, a memorial in his name has been erected here after his death. The place is situated at an altitude of 3100 mts., near, Thalisain, from where Doodhatoli is at a distance of 24 kms by trek.

Reference : http://www.freeindia.org