Devidutt Pant
Devidutt Pant | |
|---|---|
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 April 1907 Khantoli, Uttarakhand, India) |
| Died | 14 April 1982 (aged 75) Bikaner, India |
| Spouse | Lilawati Pant |
| Residence(s) | 51 Sadulganj, Bikaner |
Devidutt Pant (11 April 1907 – 14 April 1982) was an Indian freedom fighter and founder of Bikaner Khadi Bhandar. He was born in Khantoli (District Bageswar, Uttarakhand) in the middle Himalayan range of Kumaun district at 5000’ altitude. He moved to Rajasthan around 1927.
From 1927 to 1935, Devidutt was in various villages around Jaipur State as an employee of Akhil Bhartiya Charkha Sangh that had its headquarter in a village Govindgarh-Malikpur near Jaipur. All Khadi workers were expected to join national freedom movement and go to jail whenever Mahatma Gandhi gave call. He was sentenced with hard labor of Six months during Non Cooperation Movement post Dandi March on February 13, 1932. He served this jail term in Ajmer. All prisoners were expected to carry out heavy manual labor like Grinding Wheat, Oil Pressing, Making Jute ropes etc. Among others Haribhau Upadhyaya and Hira Lal Shashtri too were in Jail who later reached greater heights in the politics of Rajputana. Prisoners were released under Gandhi-Irvine pact.
Devidutt Pant was a prominent figure associated with the Khadi movement in India. He played a significant role in promoting Khadi, a handspun and handwoven cloth, which became symbolic of India's struggle for independence from British rule.
Devidutt Pant established the "Khadi Bhandar" in Bikaner, Rajasthan, contributing to the promotion and sale of Khadi cloth. The Khadi Bhandar was not just a commercial venture but also a part of the larger Gandhian philosophy of self-reliance and economic independence. The Khadi movement, championed by Mahatma Gandhi, aimed to revitalize the rural economy by promoting spinning and weaving as cottage industries.
Pant's efforts in establishing and managing the Khadi Bhandar helped in creating employment opportunities in rural areas, encouraging self-sufficiency, and reducing dependence on foreign goods. Additionally, the Khadi movement emphasized the use of indigenous raw materials and traditional craftsmanship, fostering a sense of national pride and cultural identity.
| A News Paper cutting published on 15 Apr 1983 on his first death Anniversary |  |
| Picture with Lalita Shastri (wife of second prime minister 'Sri Lal Bahadur Shastri' of India) |  |
| Abhinandan Patra given posthumously |  |
References
[edit]1. Reference from Government of India's MINISTRY OF CULTURE website