Raghubar Dayal Srivastava, S/o Sri Danika Prasad of village Raghupur/ Rukumddinpur, P. S. Maharajganj, Pargana Gopalpur, Tehsil Sagri, Distt. Azamgarh was born on 15 August 1911. He participated in the Satyagrah Movement in the year 1930 at Police Lines, Azamgarh under the leadership of a veteran freedom fighter of the district, Late Shri Sitaram Asthana. He was arrested and convicted to concurrent jail terms of 3 months and 4 months respectively U/S 447 IPC ad U/S 3 of Police Act 1922. He served the full jail terms and while in prison, he did not yield to pressure, including physical torture to seek pardon and or to give up his participation in the freedom struggle.
After release from the prison, Shri Raghubar Dayal Srivastava dedicated himself to reform the ‘intermediary’ system that existed in those days under which land revenue was collected from tenants for which they were never issued receipts. This exposed them to manipulation at a later stage. Ignoring the financial necessities of his own family and relatives, who were dependent on income from Zamindari system, Shri Raghubar Dayal raised this issue and sought relief for tenants.
At the risk of his life and property, he also participated in the Quit India Movement of 1942. Despite the risks involved, he extended full support to freedom fighters who were being brutally targeted by the British law enforcement authorities, and also provided them refuge at his home.
The prison term and his activities during this turbulent phase of the freedom struggle took a toll on his life. Shri Raghubar Dayal passed away in the year 1949 at the young age of 38.