Friday is the death anniversary of Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, who played a leading role in the freedom movement. Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, a journalist by profession, is considered the ideal of journalism. As was his personality, he had chosen death in the same way. His life was taken while stopping a riot that spread before independence. On his death, then Mahatma Gandhi had said that he should also get the same death.
initial journey- Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi was born on 26 October 1890 in UP. His early studies took place in Urdu. After finishing his schooling, he went to Allahabad, but due to poor financial condition, he had to work along with studies. From here he got inclined towards journalism. First he collaborated in editing the weekly newspaper Karmayogi. After this, he got a job in the currency office of Kanpur and at the same time kept writing articles. He adopted the student name while writing.
Establishment of Pratap: Ganesh Shankar came back to Kanpur in 1913. Here he started his career as a journalist. From here his mind turned towards the freedom movement at a rapid pace. The article and his ideas in Pratap quickly gave it recognition and Pratap’s office also became a refuge for the revolutionaries. The eyes of the police also remained on him but he continued to do his work without fear. He had contact first with Batukeshwar Dutt and then with Bhagat Singh. Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, who followed the path of Gandhi, now also started following the path of revolutionaries. However, he remained against violence. But he kept on helping the revolutionaries.
Jail five times Vidyarthi had to go to jail five times for his articles and freedom movement. In one case, eminent people like Pandit Motilal Nehru, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Shri Krishna Mehta testified in his favor, but still the British government put him in jail.
death in riots This incident is of the year 1931. There was a riot in Kanpur. Actually, Bhagat Singh was hanged on 23 March, in protest against the same a bandh was called in the whole country. During this bandh, violence erupted in Kanpur, to stop which they came out on the streets. At many places he was also successful in stopping it, but at one place he was surrounded by rioters from both sides. The people present with him tried to get him out of there to save him but remained there. He said that one day everyone has to die. After this, the mob took his life by beating him with knives and axes. When his body was found two days later, it was difficult to identify.
described himself when- His short life was spent as a constant struggle against oppression and inhumanity. He described himself in these words- “I am a fighter against oppression and injustice, whether by bureaucrats, landlords, capitalists or upper caste people. I have fought all my life against tyranny, against inhumanity and may God give me the strength to fight till the end”.
What did Bapu say? According to author Piyush Babele, Gandhiji said on the martyrdom of Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi that he died for such a great purpose that such death made him jealous. Gandhiji said that such a death is a matter of great pride and he should also get such a death.