Veer Chandra Singh was the leader of Garhwal rifle regiment that revolted against Britishers by refusing to open fire on unarmed satygarahis at Peshawar, preventing another Jallianwalla Bagh.
As soon as Captain Ricket ordered the soldiers to fire three rounds on Unarmed protestors, Chandra Singh shouted loudly to his regiment, ‘Garhwalis, cease fire! Garhwali, do not fire.’
Captain Ricket was astonished at the definace and asked for the reason, Chandra Singh replied:-
"We won't open fire on Unarmed Civilians, whatever be the consequences".
Chandra Singh received great applause from National political leaders post the incident, but he and his associates were ultimately court-martialed for defying a direct order and CS was given death sentence. The Garhwali soldiers were later advocated by another great icon Mukundi Lal who after tireless efforts converted the death sentence into a prison sentence. During this all the property of Chandra Singh Garhwali was confiscated and his uniform was cut off from his body. In 1930, Chandra Singh Garhwali was sent to the Abbottabad jail for 14 years of imprisonment. After which they were transferred to different jails. But his sentence was reduced and after 11 years of imprisonment, he was freed on 26 September 1941. But their entry was restricted, due to which he had to wander here and there and in the end, he went to Wardha to MK Gandhi and joined Quit India Movement of 8 August 1942, he took an active part in this movement by staying in Allahabad and was again arrested for three years.
He was liberated in 1945.
In Dec 1946, due to the efforts of local leaders, Chandra Singh was able to enter Garhwal again. On 1 October 1979, Chandra Singh Garhwali died after a prolonged illness. A postage stamp was also issued in his honor by the Government of India in 1994.
Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Uttarakhand University of Horticulture & Forestry was named in his honour. Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Govt. Institute of Medical Science & Research was also named after him, but very few people know this great soul beyond UK. He was a Chauhan Rajput.
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