Chauri Chaura Smarak Gets A Virtual Inauguration By PM Modi

In Gorakhpur, on February 4, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be virtually inaugurating the year-long centenary celebration of Chauri-Chaura incident.

February 4, marks the 99th anniversary of the Chauri-Chaura incident that took place in Gorakhpur district of the then United Province, now Uttar Pradesh, in British India. In 1922, nearly 3000 protestors were participating in the non-cooperation movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi. Using non-violent civil disobedience, Satyagraha, protestors were challenging the oppressive government regulations such as Rowlatt Act.

In response to the demonstration, the police opened fire on the protestors. Three civilians were killed. This enraged the demonstrators which led them to set the police station on fire. Twenty-two policemen were killed due to this.

After the incident, Mahatma Gandhi had to withdraw from the Non-cooperation Movement. Around 228 demonstrators were persecuted and 172 of them were sentenced to death by the British Government by the Gorakhpur Sessions Court.

Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, has planned series of events during the whole year, starting February 4, to express gratitude towards those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country. The centenary is accounted to the most ambitious program of the Chief Minister.

“The series of events will endeavor to give due respect to the martyrs of the Chauri Chaura incident and others who are little-known or unknown,” a government spokesman said here on Thursday. The beautification of the Chauri-Chaura Shaheed Smarak Samiti is planned and the chief minister wants to develop it as a heritage tourist spot.

The idea is to create awareness in school children of the importance of the incident in our history and acknowledge the lives that were sacrificed to fight the Britishers. The Smarak will have candles and lamps lit up at all the martyred monuments and statues of legendary leaders.