Ramcharitra Mahto, a distinguished freedom fighter from Jehanabad district, was born in 1901 in Kurmi Bigha village, Ghosi block. His father was Shri Meghan Mahato, and he received his primary education at the Ghosi Madhya Vidyalaya. He played a significant role in the Civil Disobedience Movement initiated by Mahatma Gandhi. He was sentenced to six months in prison for picketing foreign liquor shops and burning foreign goods. Upon his release, Ramcharitra continued his activism and, after being inspired by Jayaprakash Narayan’s socialist ideas, he left the Congress to join the Socialist Party. He focused on mobilizing the people of his village and surrounding areas against the British colonial rule.
In 1942, with the onset of the Quit India Movement, Ramcharitra assumed leadership in the Ghosi region. Under his leadership, local patriots burned down the Ghosi police station, destroyed a liquor shop and vandalized the office of Inspector of Education Department. To evade arrest, he went underground but was eventually captured by British colonial police in January 1943. He was sentenced to two years of imprisonment under the Defence of India Rules and was incarcerated in the Bhagalpur Central Jail.
After India gained independence, Ramcharitra Mahto remained engaged in social and political activities. He played a key role in the Sampoorna Kranti movement, which led to another jail sentence. In recognition of his contributions to the freedom struggle, Hon’ble Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi awarded him a copper plate in the year 1972.
Ramcharitra Mahto passed away on 17 March 1996.
Statue of Ramcharitra Mahto situated in Kurmibigha village.
Jail certificate issued by Gaya Jail Superintendent.
Source: Shashikant Kumar, Contributor for CCRT.