Special edition of “Rashtradev” on freedom fighters
Article by Manoj Rastogi on contribution of Moradabad in freedom struggle
The freedom struggle has a special place for Moradabad. There are numerous such historical memories and locations that still serve as reminders of the historical events that took place in Moradabad during the first liberation struggle. The street, whose name is Gal Shaheed and is known as Martyr's Street, serves as a constant reminder of the revolutionary events that have occurred.
According to historians, Katar Shaheed, who participated in the 1857 uprising alongside Nawab Mazju Khan, was killed there before Gal Shaheed. Mr. Wilson served as the Special Commissioner in Moradabad during the First War of Independence in 1858. People were willing to make sacrifices at that time since the revolutionaries were making all kinds of attempts to push out the British. They were unconcerned about their lives and property. Mr. Wilson was forcefully putting down the revolution in Moradabad, and revolutionaries were detained and subjected to torture over very minor offences.
The rebels were hanged or shot immediately in four locations throughout Moradabad, and hundreds of them were beheaded and thrown away. The British constructed four hanging houses at that time, one each in Jigar Park, Shahbulaki's Ziyarat, Jailkhana in Kachari, and Gal Shaheed in Moradabad. Gal Shaheed, was situated close to Moradabad's Asalat Pura Hai.
At this location, now known as Gal Shaheed, Mr. Wilson executed revolutionaries by hanging or beheading them. They were hanged in a tamarind tree. Since that tree is still standing and serves as a reminder of the martyrs, this region is known as Gal Shaheed, which means the soil of the martyrs. In the local cemetery a number of freedom fighters were laid to rest in the graves. Currently, a police station called Gal Shaheed Thana has been built here, and the neighbourhood is called Gal Shaheed, which serves as a reminder of our eternal martyrs.
Article by Manoj Rastogi on contribution of Moradabad in freedom struggle
Tamarind tree on which freedom fighters were hanged
Source: Manglesh Lata Yadav, DRP, CCRT