From Personal Diary of Sh. Amarnath Vaishnavi : Documented in The Chronicles of Kashmir ( Biography ) – By Sh. Balkrishan Sanyasi
The Praja Parishad movement, launched by the Dogras of Jammu in 1949, was a historic uprising that sought the abrogation of Article 370. At the helm of this struggle was Pandit Prem Nath Dogra, the State Sangh Chalak, and among the movement’s fearless participants was the young and dynamic Amarnath Vaishnavi.
The Underground Poster Campaign
Dr. Mukherjee, the President of the All-India Bhartiya Jana Sangh, announced that groups of people would be sent to Jammu in support of the movement. To publicize this, posters needed to be printed, but no press dared to undertake the job. Amarnath Vaishnavi was given the task, and a dedicated RSS worker, Shri Sahabji, approached him, stating that the posters had to be pasted all over the city the following day. The posters carried messages such as: “Utishth Jagrata” (Wake up and get going) and “Bharat Ma ka sir, Kashmir bachane ke liye, Jammu Chalo, permit tod kar” (March into Jammu, breaking the permit, to save Kashmir, the forehead of Mother India).
With no press willing to print them, Amarnath took matters into his own hands. He assured Sahabji that 200 posters would be ready by 4 AM. He was a professional artist and an art teacher. That evening, he bought a chart, cut the stencil, applied varnish, and left it to dry before heading to school. On his way back, he purchased distemper and glue. Making an excuse to his landlord about attending a camp in Dhariwal, he packed a small bag, locked his room, and left the back window open. Under the cover of night, he re-entered through the window, blocked any escaping light, and worked tirelessly from 5 PM to 4 AM to complete the posters. At the designated time, Sahabji and two others arrived, collected the posters, and disappeared into the darkness. By morning, the posters were plastered across the city. Amarnath, like everyone else, feigned ignorance and read them as if seeing them for the first time. The CID hurriedly tore down as many as they could, but the message had already spread.
The First Andolan: A Show of Courage
The first Andolan was initiated by Shri Bishan Das, with swayamsevaks from Pathankot managing the “Jail Bharo” movement. As per the plan, volunteers would gather in Pathankot and then cross the Ravi River into Jammu via Kathua to begin their satyagraha, rejecting the permit system in J&K. However, the central government had deployed CID officers, forces, and even mounted police to suppress the movement. While authorities sought to prevent agitators from proceeding, the Jana Sangh had its own plans to smuggle them into Jammu. Pandit Amarnath personally escorted groups to Narot Jaimal Singh, a 16-mile journey, disguising satyagrahis as bhajan mandalies (devotional song groups).
One day, while standing at the railway station in khaki pants, Amarnath tested the courage of a group arriving from Uttar Pradesh by pretending to be a CID officer. When they confidently explained they were there for bhajans, he revealed his true identity and guided them to safety.A young child guided them playfully to a secret location, from where they boarded a bus. When police suspicions grew, Amarnath devised a distraction. He bought a basket of mangoes and sat by a stream, leisurely eating them. When a police officer confronted him, Amarnath claimed he had simply stopped to cool off after school. Offering mangoes to the officer, he engaged him in casual conversation, cleverly signalling his comrades to proceed. As the police remained distracted, the satyagrahis were successfully transported. By the time authorities realized, they had already crossed into Jammu.
The Arrest: A Bold Defiance
Few days later on the way to he stopped by to get his shoes polished. As he sat by the cobbler, a police jeep screeched to a halt. Shri Amarnath Tarosdar, on duty for the J&K police in Pathankot, jumped out and pressured Inspector Sharma to arrest him. Without a warrant, the inspector hesitated. When he finally approached, Amarnath boldly refused. “Am I a thief or a smuggler? I am a teacher! You illiterate fool, don’t you know how to address an educated man?” The commotion attracted a crowd. Chanting slogans of “Dr. Mukherjee amar rahe!” and “Ek Pradhan, Ek Vidhan, Ek Nishan!” the people surrounded the police. Overwhelmed, Inspector Sharma put away his revolver and resorted to pleading. Finally, Amarnath agreed to come, but not before theatrically reminding the inspector that his shoes were still with the cobbler. The humbled officer personally fetched them before escorting him to the jeep. Even inside, Amarnath continued raising slogans, with thousands following on foot.
At the police station, students brought sweets, and his school principal arrived with milk and bananas. Meanwhile, Shri Tarosdar sought to impress J&K Trade Commissioner Shri D.P. Kachroo with the arrest. Kachroo visited the sub-jail, expecting Amarnath to beg for release. Instead, when asked to sign a declaration renouncing the movement, Amarnath laughed, rejecting it outright. “Sharma Ji, if you know me, you also know that I am here because of your mistake. I will not give anything in writing. Let me sit here. I am neither a thief nor weak.” When told he might become a minister one day, he quipped, “Then you should join us too. Quit saluting your officers—who knows, your IG might one day salute you!” Sharma Ji chuckled and walked away.
Detention and Endurance
Prominent leaders like Shri Mol Chandra Sharma, Advocate Khajuria, Shri U.M. Trivedi, Shri Balraj Madhok, and others were already in Ambala Jail. Amarnath, with only a single set of clothes, was detained for months. When IG Prison and Jail Superintendent Shri Mattoo visited, Amarnath, clad only in underwear due to washing his clothes, stood behind others. When Mattoo asked why, he replied, “As a teacher, I found it inappropriate to stand in front without clothes.” Shocked, Mattoo ordered the Dy. Superintendent to issue him proper attire immediately.
After nine months, Advocate Vyas filed a habeas corpus petition, leading to their transfer to Delhi in January 1954. A three-judge bench, including Justice Das and Justice Mahajan, dismissed the charges: the so-called “secret public meeting” was a contradiction, no weapons had been used in Jammu, and the alleged financial transactions were unfounded. The court declared the accusations baseless, and at 10:45 AM, the verdict was announced. By 11 AM, Amarnath Vaishnavi and his comrades walked free, their honor intact.
A Legacy of National Integration
Amarnath Vaishnavi’s fearless commitment to the Praja Parishad movement and his unwavering dedication to national integration left an indelible mark on history. His contributions to the cause of Jammu, Kashmir, and India’s unity are remembered as a significant chapter in the struggle against Article 370.
Amarnath Vaishnavi Foundation 