NewDelhi February 4 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the centenary celebrations of the Chauri Chaura incident via video conferencing on Thursday. The prime minister will also release a postal stamp on the occasion.
“The centenary celebrations and various events planned by the state government will begin in all 75 districts of the state (Uttar Pradesh) from February 4 and will continue till February 4, 2022,” the PMO said.
Uttar Pradesh is looking to create a world record on the occasion, with all its districts singing Vande Mataram. A video will be recorded of people singing the first stanza of Vande Mataram in salute posture while paying homage to the martyrs of Chauri Chaura incident and freedom struggle.
Essay writing, debate, poetry recitation, painting and other competitions are also being organised in schools for the celebrations throughout the year.
In addition, exhibitions, book fairs and other events will also be held too.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also asked for the incident to be part of UP school syllabus to sensitise the younger generation about the sacrifices made by many unsung heroes during the freedom struggle.
Apart from that, students of 400 government and aided high schools in Gorakhpur division will be taken on a tour of Chauri Chaura revolt and related sites. Private schools will be included in due course.
What was the Chauri Chaura incident?
A landmark event in the country’s fight for Independence, the Chauri Chaura incident of 1922 marks the martyrdom of India freedom fighters, participating in the non-cooperation movement, who were fired upon by the British India police. In retaliation, the protesters set fire to the Chauri Chaura police station in Gorakhpur district of the then United Province (now Uttar Pradesh) on February 4, 1922, killing 22 policemen and three freedom fighters present there.
A large number of freedom fighters were put on trial by the colonial administration and many of them were executed and many more condemned to life in prison for the incident. The violent incident had caused Mahatma Gandhi to call off the movement.