A village in Haryana’s Bhiwani districts unfurled the Tricolour on Independence Day for the first time in 71-years since Independence on Wednesday.
Never before had the village celebrated Independence Day. That’s because this place dubbed as ‘village of rebels’ had resolved not to celebrate Independence Day as a mark of protest and that vow has continued for decades now.
On Wednesday, a village native, Anamika, unfurled the national flag for the first time in her village Rohnat to mark the end of a long-standing resolution.
Anamika, who has an M.Tech degree and works in Chennai in the income tax department, was asked to do the honours since she is the most educated among the villagers. She said all her life she only saw and read about Independence Day fervour, but all that was needed to be on this occasion was missing in her village.
The British regime had auctioned the village entire land to outsiders and natives of the village have remained deprived of their land even after the British left India, which is why they never celebrated Independence Day in 7 decades. This time they did, but on the assurance of concrete steps to resolve the land issue, from the Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar who visited the village a few months ago.
The British had labeled Rohnat as a ‘village of rebels’ for their role in the revolt of 1857. It is believed that in May of 1857, forefathers from Rohnat broke into the Hisar jail and freed freedom fighters who were incarcerated for opposing the British. Some British officers were killed at Hansi which led the British to unleash a reign of terror. Natives in large numbers were killed, maimed and many hung by trees and run over a road roller on the road in the town.
Nearly 21,000 acres of their land was auctioned to outsiders by the British to teach this village a lesson. The villagers tried to get back their land after India got freedom, but till date, they remain struggling. Officials say the agriculture land that was auctioned could not be returned owing to legal complexities.
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