Important Facts For Prelims
Birth Anniversary of Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh
- 02 Dec 2024
- 3 min read
Why in News?
Vice-President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar recently paid tributes on the 138th birth anniversary of Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh(1886-1979), a visionary nationalist.
Who is Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh?
- Background: Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh was born on 1st December 1886, in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh.
- He was a freedom fighter, revolutionary, writer, social reformer, and internationalist.
- Contribution to Education: Founded Prem Mahavidyalaya in 1909, a technical institute at Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh. It is India’s first polytechnic, to promote indigenous technical education.
- Freedom Movement Contributions:
- Participated in the 1906 Congress session in Kolkata and promoted indigenous industries. Mahendra Pratap was also deeply involved with the Swadeshi movement and would constantly promote small industries with indigenous goods and local artisans.
- Mahendra Pratap was deeply involved in India’s struggle for independence. In 1915, during World War I, he proclaimed the first Provisional Government of India in Kabul, Afghanistan, with himself as its president, opposing British colonial rule
- He sought support from countries like Germany, Japan, and Russia for India’s fight against British colonial rule.
- He is said to have met Vladimir Lenin in 1919, two years after the Bolshevik Revolution.
- He also formed the Executive Board of India in Japan in 1940 during the Second World War.
- Internationalist and Peace Advocate: Mahendra Pratap was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1932 for his global advocacy for peace and his efforts to expose British atrocities in India and Afghanistan.
- The nomination described Raja as a “Hindu patriot”, “editor of the World Federation”, and “unofficial envoy of Afghanistan”.
- In 1929, Mahendra Pratap launched the World Federation in Berlin, which later influenced the creation of the United Nations.
- Political Career: After independence, he worked hard to promote the idea of Panchayati Raj and served as a Member of Parliament from Mathura (1957).
- Legacy: Remembered for his crucial role in the Indian independence movement, especially through international diplomacy and creating awareness.
