Bettiah, August 23 (HS). On the auspicious occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of the great hero of Champaran Satyagraha, Pandit Rajkumar Shukla, Mother Tahira Charitable Trust social organization paid tribute to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, immortal martyrs and freedom fighters on Saturday.
Paying tribute to Pandit Rajkumar Shukla, Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, immortal martyrs and freedom fighters, advocate Dr. Ejaz Ahmed said that Pandit Rajkumar Shukla was born on 23 August 1875, about 150 years ago. His entire life was dedicated to the freedom of the motherland and to free the society from social evils. In 1897, the British dethroned Maharani Janaki Kunwar and brought Bettiah Raj under the Court of Wards. When this area of Champaran came under the Court of Wards, the atrocities and torture of the British increased.
The British had imposed 42 types of unconstitutional taxes on the people of Champaran and forced them to cultivate indigo, which made the farmers' fields barren and crops did not grow for many years. Under the leadership of Pandit Rajkumar Shukla, Peer Mohammad Munish and Sheikh Gulab, the farmers and labourers got an opportunity to unite against the curse of indigo cultivation and the atrocities of the British in Champaran. The efforts of Sheikh Gulab, Pandit Rajkumar Shukla and Peer Mohammad Munish forced Mahatma Gandhi to come to Champaran.
On this occasion, tree plantation was done by Satyagraha Research Foundation, Mother Tahira Charitable Trust and various social organizations.