Sardar Harlal Singh Dular (3 February 1901 – 21 March 1982) was a

freedom fighter A resistance movement is an organized effort by some portion of the civil population of a country to withstand the legally established government or an occupying power and to disrupt civil order and stability. It may seek to achieve its objectives ...

social worker Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social work ...

, and

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

from

Rajasthan Rajasthan (; lit. 'Land of Kings') is a state in northern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population. It is on India's northwestern si ...

, known for his significant contributions to the Shekhawati farmers movement and the abolition of the Jagirdari system. He was a member of the

Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Em ...

Early life

Singh was born into the Dular Jat family on 3 February 1901 in the village of Hanumanpura near

Mandawa Mandawa is a town in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan in India. It is part of Shekhawati region. Mandawa is located at . It has an average elevation of 316 metres (1036 ft). History The town of Mandawa was a thikana of Jaipur Sta ...

in the

Jhunjhunu district Jhunjhunu district is a district of the Indian state of Rajasthan in northern India. The city of Jhunjhunu is the district headquarters. District location The district falls within Shekhawati region, and is bounded on the northeast and east by ...

of Rajasthan. His family was deeply committed to the Indian freedom movement.

Career

Contribution to Freedom Movement

Singh played a pivotal role in the Shekhawati farmers' movement, which aimed at the abolition of the

Jagirdari A jagir ( fa, , translit=Jāgir), also spelled as jageer, was a type of feudal land grant in the Indian subcontinent at the foundation of its Jagirdar (Zamindar) system. It developed during the Islamic rule era of the Indian subcontinent, start ...

system. He faced eviction from his agricultural land and residence by the Jagirdars due to his active participation in the movement. Despite numerous false cases lodged against him and an attack in 1946, he remained undeterred.

Political Career

In 1952, Singh was elected as an MLA for

Chirawa Chirawa is a municipal town and tehsil in Jhunjhunu district of Shekhawati region in Rajasthan state of India. Its elevation is above sea level. See also * Jhunjhunu district Jhunjhunu district is a district of the Indian state of Rajast ...

from the

. He also served as the President of the

Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC) is the Pradesh Congress Committee (state wing) of the Indian National Congress (INC) serving in the state of Rajasthan.

, contributing significantly to the political landscape of Rajasthan.

Role in Jat Politics

Described by Richard Sisson as "the single most important Jat leader in Shekhawati," Harlal Singh was a prominent campaigner in the farmers' movement of colonial India. Recruited to politics by the

Jat Mahasabha Akhil Bhartiya JAT Mahasabha ( hi, अखिल भारतीय जाट महासभा) or ( hi, अखिल भारतीय जाट महासभा) is an organization of Jats in India. The organization was created to raise aw ...

, he was an active member from 1925 to 1929. During his tenure, he witnessed growing concerns that the Mahasabha, established by the

British Raj The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent; * * it is also called Crown rule in India, * * * * or Direct rule in India, * Quote: "Mill, who was himsel ...

, was being used to pacify the

Jat The Jat people ((), ()) are a traditionally agricultural community in Northern India and Pakistan. Originally pastoralists in the lower Indus river-valley of Sindh, Jats migrated north into the Punjab region in late medieval times, and subse ...

community, affirming their societal position while preventing substantial change.

Praja Mandal Movement

During the 1940s, Harlal Singh Dular served as the president of the

Praja Mandal The All India States Peoples' Conference (AISPC) was a conglomeration of political movements in the princely states of the British Raj, which were variously called ''Praja Mandals'' or ''Lok Parishads''.; The first session of the organisation wa ...

, an urban-based political protest movement. This movement was a significant part of the broader struggle for Indian independence and sought to address the concerns of both urban and agrarian communities. As president, Singh was a crucial conduit between these communities, advocating for their collective interests and independence from British rule. The Praja Mandal movement was instrumental in mobilizing the masses against the princely states' autocratic rule and the British Raj. It demanded civil and political rights, tax reduction, the abolition of forced labor (begar), and the establishment of a responsible government. Under Singh's leadership, the movement gained momentum in Rajasthan, particularly in the former princely state of Jaipur, where he later organized the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee's activities post-independence. Singh's role in the Praja Mandal highlighted his ability to bridge the gap between different societal segments, uniting them under the common cause of freedom and reform. His efforts were not only pivotal in the fight against colonialism but also laid the groundwork for democratic governance in the region.

References

Citations Bibliography *