Samaldas Gandhi (1897-1953) was a journalist and Indian independence activist who headed the Aarzi Hakumat or Provisional Government of the erstwhile princely state of Junagadh. He was a nephew of Mahatma Gandhi.
Samaldas was born in 1897. He was a son of Laxmidas/Kalidas Karamchand Gandhi and Nandkunwarba. Samaldas was a close follower of his uncle, Mohandas Gandhi.[1]
Careeredit
Journalismedit
Gandhi joined Gujarati evening newspaper Janmabhoomi. He served as a deputy editor and later editor of it from 1937 to 1940. Due to differences with Amrutlal Sheth, the founder of Janmabhoomi, regarding policy regarding princely states, he left Janmabhoomi in 1940 and started a new Gujarati daily Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram became popular.[1][2]
Politicsedit
He was active in politics and social activities. He was the President of Kathiawar Praja Mandal which brought awareness in Bombay regarding problem of people of Kathiawar. He was also welcome president of the Kathiawar Praja Sammelan held at Azad Maidan in Bombay in June 1947. He opposed Jam Group Scheme regarding integration of princely states of Kathiawar.[1]
When the Nawab of Junagadh Stateacceded his state to Pakistan in 1947, Samaldas Gandhi, U. N. Dhebar and members of Junagadh Praja Mandal met at the office of Vande Mataram on 19 August 1947. He was specially invited to attend Kathiawar Rajakiya Prishad on 25 August 1947. A five-member committee called Junagadh Samiti was formed on 15 September 1947 which included Samaldas Gandhi. Gandhi met V. P. Menon and proposed to form a government-in-exile, the Aarzi Hakumat or Provisional Government of Junagadh State. On 25 September 1947, the Aarzi Hukumat headed by Samaldas Gandhi was declared in a public meeting at Madhavbagh in Bombay.[1]
The five member ministry of Aarzi Hakumat went to Rajkot. Gandhi became the Prime Minister and also held ministry of foreign affairs. Aarzi Hakumat captured 160 villages in forty days, from 30 September to 8 November 1947. Junagadh acceded to the Union of India on 9 November 1947.[1]
After six months, Gandhi was appointed as one of the three civilian members for the administration of Junagadh on 1 June 1948. He was one of the seven members elected unopposed to the Constitution Assembly of Saurashtra in December 1948. All seven members voted to merge Junagadh State with Saurashtra and it was merged in January 1949. Gandhi served as the minister of revenue of Saurashtra State from 25 January 1949 to 18 January 1950. He resigned following personal differences.[1]
Later he and his publication Vande Mataram faced financial difficulties. He died on 8 June 1953.[1]
Commemorationedit
Samaldas Gandhi is widely remembered in Junagadh and Gujarat today as a hero and patriot. There are several schools, public foundations and hospitals named after him.
He married Vijayaben and had two sons, Kishor and Hemant; and two daughters, Pushpa and Manjari. Kishor Gandhi published a children's magazine Ramakadu.[1]
^ abcdefghJani, Shashikant Vishwanath (1 January 2010). "ગાંધી, શામળદાસ લક્ષ્મીદાસ". Gujarati Vishwakosh (in Gujarati). Retrieved 2 January 2022.
^Kr̥ṣṇamūrti, Nāḍiga (1966). Indian journalism: origin, growth and development of Indian journalism from Asoka to Nehru. University of Mysore.
^"Junagadh town hall dedicated to Shamaldas Gandhi". The Indian Express. 11 November 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
December 15, 2023
samaldas, gandhi, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Samaldas Gandhi news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message Samaldas Gandhi 1897 1953 was a journalist and Indian independence activist who headed the Aarzi Hakumat or Provisional Government of the erstwhile princely state of Junagadh He was a nephew of Mahatma Gandhi Samaldas GandhiPortrait of SamaldasHead of Provisional Government of JunagadhIn office 25 September 1947 9 November 1947Preceded byOffice createdSucceeded byOffice abolishedPersonal detailsBorn1897Porbandar State British India Now Porbandar Gujarat India Died1953Bombay State British India Now Maharashtra and Gujarat India SpouseVijayabenChildren4 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Journalism 2 2 Politics 3 Commemoration 4 Personal life 5 See also 6 ReferencesEarly life editSamaldas was born in 1897 He was a son of Laxmidas Kalidas Karamchand Gandhi and Nandkunwarba Samaldas was a close follower of his uncle Mohandas Gandhi 1 Career editJournalism edit Gandhi joined Gujarati evening newspaper Janmabhoomi He served as a deputy editor and later editor of it from 1937 to 1940 Due to differences with Amrutlal Sheth the founder of Janmabhoomi regarding policy regarding princely states he left Janmabhoomi in 1940 and started a new Gujarati daily Vande Mataram Vande Mataram became popular 1 2 Politics edit He was active in politics and social activities He was the President of Kathiawar Praja Mandal which brought awareness in Bombay regarding problem of people of Kathiawar He was also welcome president of the Kathiawar Praja Sammelan held at Azad Maidan in Bombay in June 1947 He opposed Jam Group Scheme regarding integration of princely states of Kathiawar 1 When the Nawab of Junagadh State acceded his state to Pakistan in 1947 Samaldas Gandhi U N Dhebar and members of Junagadh Praja Mandal met at the office of Vande Mataram on 19 August 1947 He was specially invited to attend Kathiawar Rajakiya Prishad on 25 August 1947 A five member committee called Junagadh Samiti was formed on 15 September 1947 which included Samaldas Gandhi Gandhi met V P Menon and proposed to form a government in exile the Aarzi Hakumat or Provisional Government of Junagadh State On 25 September 1947 the Aarzi Hukumat headed by Samaldas Gandhi was declared in a public meeting at Madhavbagh in Bombay 1 The five member ministry of Aarzi Hakumat went to Rajkot Gandhi became the Prime Minister and also held ministry of foreign affairs Aarzi Hakumat captured 160 villages in forty days from 30 September to 8 November 1947 Junagadh acceded to the Union of India on 9 November 1947 1 After six months Gandhi was appointed as one of the three civilian members for the administration of Junagadh on 1 June 1948 He was one of the seven members elected unopposed to the Constitution Assembly of Saurashtra in December 1948 All seven members voted to merge Junagadh State with Saurashtra and it was merged in January 1949 Gandhi served as the minister of revenue of Saurashtra State from 25 January 1949 to 18 January 1950 He resigned following personal differences 1 Later he and his publication Vande Mataram faced financial difficulties He died on 8 June 1953 1 Commemoration editSamaldas Gandhi is widely remembered in Junagadh and Gujarat today as a hero and patriot There are several schools public foundations and hospitals named after him The Princess Street in Mumbai has been renamed as Samaldas Gandhi Marg The townhall in Junagadh is dedicated to him 3 Personal life editHe married Vijayaben and had two sons Kishor and Hemant and two daughters Pushpa and Manjari Kishor Gandhi published a children s magazine Ramakadu 1 See also editIndian Independence Movement Political integration of IndiaReferences edit a b c d e f g h Jani Shashikant Vishwanath 1 January 2010 ગ ધ શ મળદ સ લક ષ મ દ સ Gujarati Vishwakosh in Gujarati Retrieved 2 January 2022 Kr ṣṇamurti Naḍiga 1966 Indian journalism origin growth and development of Indian journalism from Asoka to Nehru University of Mysore Junagadh town hall dedicated to Shamaldas Gandhi The Indian Express 11 November 2009 Retrieved 14 February 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Samaldas Gandhi amp oldid 1177266305, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
