Early life
Ram Prasad Nautiyal was born to Shri. Gauri Datta Nautiyal and Smt. Devaki Devi on 1 August 1905 atA short stint with British Army
After being rusticated he left for meerut where he joined theLala Lajpat Rai's death and impact on Ram Prasad Nautiyal
While serving in British Army he got to read an article in ''Arya Gadget'' (published from Lahore) onCivil Disobedience in Garhwal and Kumanyun
After being released, he directly reached to the campus of annual Congress cession at the bank of Ravi. Where he was given a duty to look after the visitor camp for the delegates from UP. Here he got a chance to meet people from Garhwal and Kumayun, prominently Har Govind Pant, Kumayun Keshri Badri Dutta Pandey, Victor Mohan Joshi, Devi Singh Kauriya, Anusuya Prasad Bahuguna, Kripa Ram Mishra Manhar and may others. Later he was appointed as an inspector to Satyagraha guides of Kumanyun and was sent to Ranikhet. He ran several camps in Garhwal and Kumayun region. He opened his office in Dogadda (nearby Kotdwar) and continued his activities. By this time he got famous as "Kaptaan (captain) Shahab" amongst fellow revolutionaries. Civil disobedience was on its peak and entire country was following Gandhi ji, Ram Prasad Nautiyal decided to propagate this message to the public and make them aware about their rights. In several public meetings held by him and his group they persuaded public to protest against increased taxes that was dictated by British authorities. Consequently, 76 revenue and Thokedars resigned from their posts and started supporting revolutionaries in their fight against British government. Meanwhile, forest department started wire fencing around Pilan river which resulted in closing of the grazing land for the cattle breaded by the public living in the villages scattered around those lower part of Himalayan ranges. Ram Prasad Nautiyal rallied against it and uprooted the wire fencing. While an arrest warrant was circulating for him he kept his activities being underground, though police succeeded in arresting him from Bhatwadon village in Rikhnikhal block of Pauri district. He was arrested under section 208 of Indian penal court and was sent to two years of rigorous imprisonment.I am not a British Citizen
While returning from a Prabhat-Pheri from ChunaDhar (a little ahead of Dogadda) all the Satyagrahis were chanting pro-freedom slogans, suddenly came deputy commissioner of the police Ibbotson with his team. Ganga Singh Tyagi a class 9th student was holding tri-color in his hand and shouted, "Bharat Mata ki Jai", "Vande Matram". This made Ibbotson very angry, he started flogging the child. Ganga Singh fell unconscious, even at this Ibbotson came off his horse and started booting the child. On seeing this Ram Prasad got infuriated, he got DCP by his collar and flung him down the road. Luckily Ibbotson got hold of an uprooted tree and saved his life. Police tried to catch Ram Prasad but he fled away to Chunadhar hills. Later on when he was arrested, he was brought to Justice MS Gill in chains, who asked to immediately remove his chains and hand calves. Ibbotson's lawyer started reading the charge sheet; Judge asked Ram Prasad, "Do you want to say something?" He said "When Ibbotson is available in the court not as a DCP but as a petitioner than why he does not come to witness box and narrate the incident." The judge looked at Mr. Ibbotson and he had to come to witness box, and narrated entire incident truthfully. Now judge looked at Ram Prasad and said, "what do you want say in your defense?" Ram Prasad replied, "I don't consider myself to be a British citizen and saying anything in British court would be a dishonor for me. Thus he refused to be a part of any legal procedure with British authorities saying that they have no right to rule his country and their rule is unlawful.Showing black flags to then governor of the United Province Malcolm Hailey
It is in the year 1932, that the then British Governor Malcolm Haley (Governor of United Provinces from 10-08-1928 to 05-12-1934) decided to visit Pauri, as soon as the news was received in this regard Ramprasad and fellow revolutionaries prepared a plan to show black flags to Governor Haley and boycott him. In the first week of September, 1932, a meeting of revolutionaries was held in the underground office of Ramprasad at Duggada. It was decided in the discussion that entry of too many a people would not be possible in Pauri district headquarters and if more than one or two people try to enter, the administration may get suspicious and the plan may also fail. In the end the passionate and experienced Jayanand Bhartiya was chosen to carry out this work, he immediately agreed. On 5 September 1932, Ramprasad reached Pauri with Jayanand, where they stayed at the house of Advocate Kotwal Singh Negi. Here the Tricolor flag brought separately was prepared by adding and pieces of black cloth were also kept together. Early in the morning on 6 September 1932, Ramprasad, Jayanand, and companions reached near the district headquarters where a meeting was to be organized in honor of Governor Haley by inviting the pro-British 'Aman Sabha' and some press organizations. Jayanand and Anusuya Prasad Bahuguna, who disguised as planned, quietly joined the meeting and as soon as it was time for Malcolm Haley to address, he raised slogans of 'Vande Mataram!', 'Congress Zindabad!', 'Aman Sabha Murdabad!', waving the Tricolor and marched towards the stage. Meanwhile, Ramprasad and his fellow started their sloganeering – 'Governor go back!'; They managed to divert the attention of the police by waving black flags. Thus Jayanand got an opportunity to climb the stage with the cry of 'Long live Mother India!'. However, while climbing the stage he got arrested by the police. In order to save Haley, most of the policemen ran towards the stage, This gave an opportunity to Ramprasad and fellow revolutionary to escape as planned. By this day, overall about 664 comrades of Chamoli and Pauri mandals of Ramprasad's group had been in incarcerated. The responsibility of looking after the families of all these prisoners was on the shoulders of Ramprasad and other companions. In the end Ramprasad was also caught in order to provide aid to the families of other revolutionaries including Jayanand and was sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment with a fine of 200 rupees. This incident has also been recorded in the then government documents. In order to reduce the impact of this incident and to avoid grumbling in front of the higher authorities, the account of black flags and some revolutionaries being able to escape by dodging the police were covered up by the local British administration.Gujdu- The Bardoli of Garhwal
As the plan to liberate Lansdowne didn't succeed, it was difficult to stay underground in Duggada. Ramprasad was considered to be the mastermind of this conspiracy. So he turned to Gujdu-patti, his second hideout in South Garhwal. It had emerged as the second largest recruitment center of Satyagrahis and volunteers in Garhwal after Duggada. The British government increased the collection of revenue with the aim to stop the activities of the Satyagrahis and creating fear in the area and started implementing it strictly. Ramprasad mobilized the local farmers and other intellectuals in protest against this and in the second half of the year 1942, a big movement took shape, Revenue and Police Department started oppressing the movement with incarceration of the locals in bulk, seizing their houses and properties. This movement of farmers is called 'Gujdu movement' or 'Bardoli of Garhwal'. Incidentally, the village 'Barat Talla' of Gujdu Patti was also the village of the in-laws of Ramprasad Nautiyal and parental home to his life partner 'Shyama Devi'. During this movement, Thansingh Rawat and Shishram Pokhriyal (Elder brother of Shyama Devi) also contributed a lot in mobilizing the local people. On 8 November 1942, Bhairav Dutt Dhulia was arrested for helping the agitators.An attempt for Lansdowne's independence
In 1942 Gandhi started the Quit India movement and gave a slogan of "do or die". In this spree of protests, rallies and violent struggle many revolutionaries captured several strategically important places and offices throughout the country. Ram Prasad Nautiyal and his fellow rebellions had some meetings in the juggles of Pauri Garhwal region, they concluded that it was best time to take control back from British establishment in the area. They divided entire Garhwal and Chamoli region in four zones and created four teams for the respective zones. A central committee of twenty one people was also conceived to handle the entire operation; As Ram Prasad Nautiyal was a military trained person he held the main responsibility in the committee. In the final meeting of central committee the plan was given finishing touches, and a draft was issued for all the four zones established earlier. The plan said, they would first snap all the telephone lines connectingDeath of his toddler son and ailing father
While Ram Prasad Nautiyal was indulged in anti-British activities from the jungles of Kolaggad keeping himself underground, he was informed that his father was ill and might die any time, after confirming the news he came to his village, hungry from days he ate leftover food. He saw his father lying unconscious having a bed sheet over his face; he touched his father's feet, asked his mother for blessings and to allow him to leave. But family and relatives told him that his father might not live even by morning, so being eldest it was his duty to perform the rituals (at least to burn the pyre). Ram Prasad agreed to stay by 4:00 AM, while he woke up at 2:00 AM, a team of 200 police personnel sieged the house. It was decided that he must not be touched till morning on the condition of his surrender to the officials; however his family denied his presence at home. Nayab Tesildar Chandan Singh came up the stairs and shouted "Kaptaan Sahib, you are under arrest!" Tehsildar's arrogant shouting made Ram Prasad angry; he broke down the door of the room where his mother locked him to avoid his direct confrontation with heavily armed police force. He came out to the gallery grabbed Chandan Singh by his neck and threw him down the floor. While Chandan Singh fell down he opened fire at Ram Prasad, who retaliated with his pistol. On hearing gun fire his toddler son (who was already ill) fled to the nearby Manduaa fields. Entire family was traumatized on seeing such a heavy police force and the kid fell unconscious. In the morning Ram Prasad Nautiyal asked police team to arrange for Dhol-Damau and Ransingha for his departure and told that he was not an ordinary thief but a revolutionary. On seeing his aggressiveness and to avoid bloodshed police had to accede to his demands. Thus he was carried in a palanquin with Bands and trumpets to Dunav and further on a war horse.After Independence
Dr. Hardayal Pant appointed him as an organizer of regional security groups. There were 36 posts functioning under him. They had 460 rifles, 8 machine guns and 50,000 cartridges. Later on he was appointed as a guide to a panel who surveyed McMahon line along with China border, on 19 November 1949 they returned from the border. Later on he was sent to Niti Mana, where he trained 600-odd local citizens on assault rifles as area-defense groups. Then he was moved to police training center inAs an MLA from Lansdowne constituency
In first ever assembly elections in independent India in 1951 he defeated Shri Padma Datt by 5647 votes from Lansdowne East constituency. (http://www.elections.in/uttar-pradesh/assembly-constituencies/1951-election-results.html) In 1957 he got 12824 votes and won the Lansdowne East seat once again. (http://www.elections.in/uttar-pradesh/assembly-constituencies/1957-election-results.html) In his two terms as a member of Legislative Assembly from Lansdowne East constituency he worked on spreading a network of motor roads in the region and by opening cooperative societies he prioritized economic empowerment of public. ;Ram Nagar – Marchula – Beironkhal – Thalisain motor road and Deriyakhal – RikhniKhal – Beironkhal motor road Ram Nagar – Marchula – Beironkhal – Thalisain motor road and Deriyakhal – RikhniKhal – Beironkhal motor road are his measure achievements, both the motor road links were completed by the help of local public, later on when Ram Nagar-Beironkhal road was completed there were no buses to ply through the route. He campaigned for Cooperative societies and collected fund to buy two second-hand buses. Most of the parts of these roads are now given a status of National Highways. ;Users Transport society Ltd and Daalagaon drinking water scheme In 1957 he started working on Users Transport society Ltd; and got it stablished in 1958. In his leadership Users Transport Society had 24 buses plying on different routes in Garhwal and Kumayun region. Daalagaon drinking water scheme was another measure work, this scheme provided potable water to dozens of village scattered in the vicinity. For the financial inclusion and empowerment of the public he established cooperative banks in Lansdowne, Beironkhal, Naugaonkhal etc. He himself bought shares of these banks and encouraged the public to do so.Death
Due to his rebellious attitude, he started feeling uncomfortable with the ruling leaders. He was public figure who was comfortable in common public only, not in power, he left the opportunities given by the government and participated the assembly elections to work for the people. By sixties he established himself as a visionary leader by building roads, drinking water schemes and financial institutions (like co-operative banks). Later he detached from ever deteriorating active politics, and spent his last days in solitude in Kotdwar. On 12 December 1980, he died in LucknowReferences
*http://www.elections.in/uttar-pradesh/assembly-constituencies/#info_id12 *http://www.empoweringindia.org/new/constituency.aspx?eid=610&cid=31 *https://www.tribuneindia.com/article/cm-inaugurates-1500-kw-dunav-hydro-power-project/511226/amp *https://www.navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/business/business-news/trivandhar-rawat-releases-1500-kw-hydel-project/amp_articleshow/62009698.cms https://www.jagran.com/uttarakhand/dehradun-city-ironman-of-garhwal-captain-ram-prasad-nautiyal-jagran-special-22934912.html https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?3713 {{DEFAULTSORT:Nautiyal, Ram Prasad Indian revolutionaries Revolutionary movement for Indian independence Culture of Uttarakhand Garhwal division People from Pauri Garhwal district 1905 births 1980 deaths People from Uttarakhand