No Dusshera in Meerut suburb villages even after 150 yrs of 'Rising'

Meerut, May 10 (UNI) Even after 150 years since the 'Great Rising' in Meerut, most villages around the city are not celebrating 'Dusshera' to moan the public hanging of village martyrs, who rose in support of the 'Rising', by the Britishers on that day.

Elders in nearby villages recall how the then government in anticipation of ''revolt'' by the village powerful, rounded up several villagers from each village around Meerut, soon after Mangal Pandey took up cudgels against the British tyranny and raised the banner of defiance.

Gajender, a farmer by profession and the 'pradhan' of village Gagol, 25 km east of Meerut city, where in 1857 after the rebellion nine villagers were arrested and hanged in the city, told UNI how all other villagers ran away in the fear of being killed by the police after a meeting was held to support the 'Rising'.

''Nine Gurjars of the village, who formed the majority of those who were preparing for confronting the Britishers against the 'Rising', were rounded up and hanged at the collectorate in the city,'' he said, adding, one of them belonged to his family.

As it was the Dusshera Day when all of them were hanged, the village does not celebrate the festival ever since, he said.

''It reminds us of the sacrifice they gave for their motherland and inspires our youth to follow their footsteps if sometimes a situation like this arises,'' he added.

However, the exception is made in those families where a newborn takes birth on the 'dashmi' day, the normal Hindu tradition, he said.

Meanwhile, another village elder Raghu Prasad, who had worked in the Army, said most of the villages in Western Uttar Pradesh, a la Gagol, do not also celebrate Dusshera albeit for a different reason.

''In Meerut region, Ravana's in-laws were residing at 'Treta Yug'. And since Sri Ramchandraji slayed the demon king on 'Vijaydashmi' (Dusshera), people here do not celebrate the festival that marks the victory of truth over evil,'' he said.

UNI