Jagdishwar-Nigam-ballia
August Kranti News Ballia: On this date, the Uttar Pradesh district of Ballia witnessed the independence of the entire country of India from British dominion. The memory of Jagadishwar Nigam is being remembered, and there is a demand to rename the district public library as the “Shri Jagadishwar Nigam District Public Library”. Jagadishwar Nigam was a revolutionary figure under whose leadership Ballia became the first place in India to achieve independence. While the rest of India gained freedom from British rule on August 15, 1947, Ballia had already achieved independence in 1942. This is why Ballia’s role in the freedom movement is considered significant.
Jagadishwar Nigam, the former Collector of Ballia, was the central figure behind this change. He wrote a book titled “The Administrator – Jagadishwar Nigam versus British Rule, August 19, 1942” last year, which details how Ballia gained independence for 24 hours on August 19. As the Collector of Ballia during British rule, Jagadishwar Nigam played a crucial role in establishing Ballia as a republic amidst the revolutionary movements. He was an officer of the 1923 ICS batch and transferred administrative control to Chittu Pandey in support of the uprising.
Jagadishwar Nigam Shook the Foundations of British Rule by Hoisting the Tricolor on the Collector’s Office
The book “The Administrator – Jagadishwar Nigam versus British Rule, August 19, 1942” recounts the administrative revolt initiated by Collector Jagadishwar Nigam during the Quit India Movement in 1942. Under British rule, Ballia was labeled as a rebellious district, but it was Nigam’s actions that defied this characterization. In 1923, as an ICS officer, Jagadishwar Nigam served as the Collector of Ballia and hoisted the tricolor on his Collector’s office, shaking the foundations of British rule.
The Book Authored by Jagadishwar Nigam’s Granddaughters
The book was written by Jagadishwar Nigam’s granddaughters, Raj Darbari and Janice Darbari. They have compiled interesting anecdotes shared by their mother, Sheila Darbari, who is the daughter of Jagadishwar Nigam. Last year, Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan lauded this book, recognizing Jagadishwar Nigam’s pioneering role in India’s Quit India Movement and praising the effort to bring his life story to the general public.
August 19 is Celebrated as Victory Day
The proposal to grant independence to Ballia on behalf of Jagadishwar Nigam was presented to the British administration, although full acknowledgment was only granted in 1947. Ballia also paid tribute to its 84 martyrs and revolutionaries. The uprising in Ballia on August 19, 1942, was a significant success, and since then, the people of the region celebrate this day as “Victory Day”. Many freedom fighters witnessed the 21st century’s India. Various social activists have now requested the government to rename the Ballia district public library as the “Shri Jagadishwar Nigam District Public Library, Ballia,” and this demand has gained approval for consideration.
