Sunday, 15 August 2021 | PNS | Bageshwar
Despite his age, 99-year old Ram Singh Chauhan of Paastoli village of Garud tehsil in Bageshwar district has considerable enthusiasm. A veteran soldier of the Azad Hind Fauj, Chauhan says that the country is progressing a lot after independence. Now the time has come that reservation should be provided on an economic basis, so that the poor can get their due. The freedom fighter was born on June 21, 1922. He studied only till class II in the village primary school. His father Havildar Tara Singh Chauhan was posted in the Garhwal Rifles and two elder brothers held the rank of Captain and Subedar. Recalling the times of the freedom movement, he said that at that time people were agitating everywhere to make India independent. He used to get to hear stories about them in his house. The school was also closed due to the freedom movement, so he too started going in the procession of the agitators. On January 9, 1941, at the age of 19, he joined the Garhwal Rifles. His training was just completed when heeding the call given by Subhas Chandra Bose, he joined Netaji’s army with his companions on February 15, 1942.
Now nearing 100 years, Chauhan retains energy and enthusiasm. After walking in the morning, he also recites the Ramayana and Geeta regularly without skipping a day. The only surviving freedom fighter of the district, Ram Singh Chauhan, had four sons and four daughters. Three of his sons are no more.
