PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ New Tehri/ Uttarkashi
Commemorative programmes were organised on Saturday to mark the death anniversary of the revolutionary and martyr Sri Dev Suman here on Saturday.
Suman sacrificed his life after an 84-day hunger strike in Tehri Jail on July 25, 1944, while fighting against the autocratic monarchy of the then princely state of Tehri Garhwal.
In the main programme held at Sri Dev Suman memorial located in the district jail in New Tehri, the chief development officer, Varuna Agarwal paid floral tributes to the martyr. “Sri Dev Suman stood for truth, justice and people’s rights and sacrificed his life for the cause he espoused,” she said and exhorted the youth to work for the welfare of the society.
The CDO visited stalls set up by the self-help groups and various departments and gathered information about products and schemes. She also flagged off the marathon competition organised to commemorate the occasion and distributed prizes to the winners. Students from various schools observed the day, too.
Among the dignitaries present on the occasion was the municipal council chairman. A plantation drive was carried out in the district jail premises.
Meanwhile, in Uttarkashi, students took out a morning procession from Kirti Inter College to Vishwanath Chowk via Hanuman Chowk in the morning. Later, the martyrs was remembered at a programme organised at Hanuman Chowk where the district magistrate, Prashant Arya, along with other senior officials, paid homage. Programmes were organised too at the district headquarters, tehsils and blocks aside from other government offices.
At a programme held in the Collectorate premises, the DM said that Sri Dev Suman embodied struggle and sacrifice for a just cause. “He emanates inspiration for all and we should learn from his life and the ideals he stood for,” he added.
Further, essay, painting, speech and drama competitions were organised in various educational institutions across the district to introduce the new generation to the martyr’s contributions and the history of the Tehri Revolution.
