Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 8 Aug: On thse anniversary of the historic August Kranti Divas during India’s freedom struggle, the Dehradun Municipal Corporation today dedicated a road in honour of the great freedom fighter and national poet Shri Ram Sharma ‘Prem’. This road connects Patel Road with Darshan Lal Chowk and will now be known as ‘Shri Ram Sharma Prem Marg’.
The road was formally inaugurated by Mayor of Dehradun Municipal Corporation, Saurabh Thapliyal, who described Shri Ram Sharma Prem as an inspiration and the pride of Dehradun. The Mayor highlighted that Shri Ram Sharma faced brutal torture and imprisonment during the August Kranti of 1942 for his active role in the freedom movement.
Dr Atul Sharma, renowned people’s poet and son of Shri Ram Sharma Prem, recited a powerful poem penned by his father during the August Kranti of 1942:
“Is baar jawani ne khud hi kar daala apna path prashast — San biaalīs ka nau agast.”
(“This time, youth paved its own path — the Ninth of August, 1942”)
Social worker Ravindra Jugran shared that Shri Ram Sharma Prem moved to Dehradun in 1946. In 1942, he had famously removed the Union Jack from the Central Secretariat, New Delhi, and hoisted the Indian Tricolour, for which he was arrested by the British and sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment. During his time in jail, he composed revolutionary poems that ignited the spirit of freedom.
His daughters, story writer Rekha Sharma and poet Ranjana Sharma, recalled that two poems written by Shri Ram Sharma Prem in jail — “Amar Shaheed Sridev Suman” and “Mussoorie” — were once part of the curriculum at Garhwal University.
Jagmohan Singh Negi, President of the Uttarakhand Rajya Andolankari Manch, described Shri Ram Sharma Prem as a role model for the youth. Pawan Rawat, Vice President of the Uttarakhand Power Junior Engineer Association, said that dedicating the road to this great freedom fighter on the occasion of August Kranti is truly meaningful. He added that one of Shri Ram Sharma’s famous poems, “Karo Rashtra Nirman, Banaaye Mitti Se Ab Sona”, is sung across the country.
Nishant Thapliyal, Chairman of ITM, stated that the poems written by Shri Ram Sharma Prem during his imprisonment have been compiled and published in five volumes, edited by Dr Atul Sharma.
Present at the road dedication ceremony were Ward Councillor Trilok Singh Bargali (Vani Vihar), former Councillor and Senior Citizens Jan Seva Samiti President Hukum Singh Gadiya, PD Lohani, Neetu Uniyal, and several other dignitaries and local residents.
