The Story of Uttarakhand Andolan

Uttarakhand Andolan was not only the demand of a separate state of Uttarakhand
existed from late 19th century but was also the war against the insensitive governance
of British Raj and also against the ignorance of government of Lucknow and Delhi.
Though, the demands at first was to separate the Himalayan range dominated provinces.
Later, with change in objectives of the natives of the region, the Uttarakhand
Andolan changed its course in each decade. In late 1800s the name Uttarakhand was
derived for the regions of Himalayas in present Himanchal and Uttarakhand. Being
in continuous phase of change by attack of Gurkhas and Early English armies, the
dream of uniting the Kedarkhanda and Manaskhanda to a single province remained
an impossible task. The sources available in mass media doesn’t show any prior
trace of Uttarakhand in history but, the ancient vedic and Upanishads reviels the
place of Kedarkhanda and Manaskhanda as “Uttaranchal”.

The story of formation of Uttarakhand not only contains adrenalin rushing through
the young blood of Andolankaris but also the sentimental twists of the suffering of
“Pahad”. It was never the fight of formation of the new state, initial movement in
early 1930’s by Tamta Sudharni Samiti was to create better opportunities and provide
equal status to the people living in remotest of the Himalayas. The problems
like alcoholism and migration were the main objectives on which the whole Uttarakhand
Andolan setup was established. After two decade of state formation, the problems
of alcoholism and immigratipn of the natives has only increased. The regional
parties like Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) extinct just after the achievement of the
failed state Uttarakhand in 9th November 2000. The remaing UKD was then broken
and divided into the progressive and democritic just for the greed of the regional
politicians. Now there is no trace of any major regional party on which this state of
Uttarakahnd can rely on. A state which have a “Sharab Neeti” shows the way the
govenments are totally dependent on the drunkard of the states. They serve the
drunkards by establishing the shops and drunkard citizen provides them with the
votes. Uttarakhand was not only the outcome of the struggles of the Uttarakhand
andolan but also the will of the local journalists. People like Badri Dutt Pandey, a
senior journalist of AlmoraAkhbar, actively participated in early Kumaon Parishad

meetings with indian national Congress. JawaharLal Nehru and Gobind ballabh
Pant showed assertive signs for separate statuus to Himalyan states. These regular
meetings and blending of earlier Kumaon Parishad to Indian national Congress created
a massive support of the local people of Kumaon and Garhwal for Quit India
Movement. Badri Dutt Pandey was the most experienced revolutionist of the the pre
independence era. His successful movement against “Coolie Begaar” and “Coolie
Utaar” system imposed on the society of Kumaon and garhwal made him to get
awarded by the title of “Kumaon kesari”. The era of Badri Dutt Pandey, Hargobind
Pant and Gobind Ballabh Pant is called the pre chipko movement phase of Uttarakhand
movement. This phase was mostly the non aggressive phase of the movement,
meets were oraganised with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru by Kumaon parishasd to make
the country realise the problem of life prevailing in remotest Himalayas. Badri Dutt
Pandey was elected as member of parliament seat from Almora. Hence, the thread of
the movement continued for generation to come. the movement till mid 1970’s remained
a concept without any aggression, though the recommendation by Justice
Fazal Ali commission to form a new state was a silver lining for new hills oriented
state. Till 70s there was a lack of leadership and participation of minor villages of
remote Uttarakhand. The starting of the Chipko Movement in gopeshwar block of
distric Chamoli of Uttarakhand by 1972 integrated an idea of aggressiveness in the
the whole clan of Uttarakhand movement. The rebellion against the private cooperation
company by non- violent method of hugging the trees revived the deep rooted
gandhian principles. Women’s participation in this movement and a huge success of
ideologies of Gaura Devi and SundarLal Bahuguna constructed the foundation of
post Chipko Phase of Uttarakhand Andolan. Chipko integrated the groups of Uttarakhand
Andolan available in every part of the remote Uttatakhand. The rebels
trekked throught he himalyas held as Bahuguna’s Padyatra. The state of Kumaon
and garhwal was neglected to such an extent that the 50 youth leaders from Uttarakhand
youth congress protested on site in new delhi to make their voice heard. The
literature provides evidence of the region groups like Uttarakhand Vidhan Parishad
led by Rishi Ballabh Sundariyal was courted arrest at Delhi boat club. In most of the
Uttarakhand andolan’s lifeline, Delhi Boat club played an important role for meeting
and discussions. Hence in 1973, the first “Dilli Chalo” march was announced. In
reviewing the scenario during the Chipko phase, there were about a dozen of active
groups working on making an effort for a new hilly state. In 1978, the “Parliament
gherao” was executed from 1st to 8th December. With participation of only seventy
one members including 19 women were arrested and were sent to the Delhi central
jail. This was the first time when the movement saw such a drastic pace of change.
Post chipko phase of Uttarakhand Andolan was the outcomes of the efforts made by
natives of the remote Himalayas of Kumaon and Garhwal. The journalist like Dwarika
Prasad Uniyal and Girish Tewari (Girda) made Almora and Mussorie, the headquarters
for contolling the procession of Uttarakhand Andolan. Post Chipko phase
was driven by regular gatherings of Andolankaris, Journalists, Lawyers, acadmisions
and witers. Hence, after dozens of meetings and brainstorming sessions on the objective
of demanding the separate state, Uttarakahnd Kranti Dal (UKD) was founded.
This Dal was not a standing party at first because the whole body of UKD was made
from different local parties of Kumaon and Garhwal. Former Vice- Chancellor of
Kumaon Univesity, Devi Dutt Pant was selected as the first president of the group.
Devi Dutt Pant was the most influencial character available during the formation of
Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, Pant left his research work with Dr. C.V Raman to establish
an optics based laboratory in remote Himalayas. Prof. Pant accepted the job in the
new DBS college of Nainital, his research work on Spectroscopy and Photophysics
is still available in his laboratory. His research work with D.P Khandelwal is still

known in educational socities. Being a creative being in research, he starts his labs
in Nainital by the use of scraps of remains in World War 2. Being the believer in
the philosophy of “Small is Beautiful”, Pant supported the cause of forming Uttarakhand
as a separate state. He took the candidature of loksabha from UKD, but his
career failed in the political section due to his more influence of science and technology.
Later in 1980s, Forest Conservation Act gave an outrage to the people of Himalayan region as this act focused on ristricted the people’s rights in the forest to use the
sources. In 20th century, himalayan regions were totally dependent on forest sources, like wood and fodder for pets and animals. This caused an outburst and rage in the people of the Kumaon and
Grahwal, separation of the state was then seemed to be the best
available option to make the region prosperous and bring back the respect
to the natives.

Hence, the regular “Dharna” and processions became the life of Kumaon and Grahwal, Rise of Indramani
Badoni known as “Pahad ka Gandhi”, happened in later 80s of 20th century. Born in Jakohli block of princely state of Tehri. Indramani Badoni was the most educated person in his village. Being bold and a strict follower of Gandhian non-violence principles. His first ever experiments with Gandhian principles
was when he refused to pay the toll tax in Tilwada of Tehri. He was then sent
to the jail for the first time and was later released on bail of 25 paisa.

Indramani Badoni was amongst the clan who drafted the key objective for which
the new hill state of Uttarakhand will stand for. According to the literatures available,
liquor remained the key concern of the movement, as the socio-political system
of the the hills was majorly affected by the problem of alcoholism. Indramani
Badoni was focused to revive the sanctity of the hills and its social vitality. The
UKD stood emotionaly against the capitalist development. These objectives were
also seemed to be influenced by Chipko movement. Influenced by Chandi Prasad
Bhatta and Sunder Lal Bahuguna, Uttarakhand andolan made the sustainable development
of human environment as its primal concern. For such influence both C.P
Bhatt and Sunderlal Bhauguna received Padma Shri and Magsasay. In parallel to
Chipko phase,. Indramani Badoni organised on foot march of 105 days for the
awareness on alcoholism and a separate state. He was the candidate for lok sabha
with only one rupee in his pocket. The rage rolled amongst the protestors in 90’s,
inclusion of Haridwar in the Uttarakahnd state and declaration of Gairsain in district
of Chamoli was declared to be the capital of new hill state. Narayan Dutt
Tewari, protested the Uttarakhand Andolan, in words of “Girda”, “ N.D Tewari
surely was “Nauchami- Nairaina”, he protested the Statehood movement and later
on easily accepted the chair of Chief Minister of the Uttarakhand”. In 1992 and
1993, the boycott against all the elections was declared by Uttarakhand Kranti Dal.
Hence, in effect of UKD, the BJP parliamentary party introduced the motion to
discuss on separate statehood of Uttarakhand. The discussion was an effect of the .

known in educational socities. Being a creative being in research, he starts his labs
in Nainital by the use of scraps of remains in World War 2. Being the believer in
the philosophy of “Small is Beautiful”, Pant supported the cause of forming Uttarakhand
as a separate state. He took the candidature of loksabha from UKD, but his
career failed in the political section due to his more influence of science and technology.
Later in 1980s, Forest Conservation Act gave an outrage to the people of
Himalayan region as this act focused on ristricted the people’s rights in the forest to use the
sources. In 20th century, himalayan regions were totally dependent on
forest sources, like wood and fodder for pets and animals. This caused an outburst and rage in the
people of the Kumaon and Grahwal, separation of the state was then seemed to be the best
available option to make the region prosperous and bring back the respect to the natives.
Hence, the regular “Dharna” and processions became the life of Kumaon and Grahwal, Rise of Indramani Badoni known as “Pahad ka Gandhi”, happened in later 80s of 20th century. Born in Jakohli block of princely state of Tehri. Indramani Badoni was the most educated person in his village. Being bold and a strict follower of Gandhian non-violence principles. His first ever experiments with Gandhian principles
was when he refused to pay the toll tax in Tilwada of Tehri. He was then sent
to the jail for the first time and was later released on bail of 25 paisa.
Indramani Badoni was amongst the clan who drafted the key objective for which
the new hill state of Uttarakhand will stand for. According to the literatures available,
liquor remained the key concern of the movement, as the socio-political system
of the the hills was majorly affected by the problem of alcoholism. Indramani
Badoni was focused to revive the sanctity of the hills and its social vitality. The
UKD stood emotionaly against the capitalist development. These objectives were
also seemed to be influenced by Chipko movement. Influenced by Chandi Prasad
Bhatta and Sunder Lal Bahuguna, Uttarakhand andolan made the sustainable development
of human environment as its primal concern. For such influence both C.P
Bhatt and Sunderlal Bhauguna received Padma Shri and Magsasay. In parallel to
Chipko phase,. Indramani Badoni organised on foot march of 105 days for the
awareness on alcoholism and a separate state. He was the candidate for lok sabha
with only one rupee in his pocket. The rage rolled amongst the protestors in 90’s,
inclusion of Haridwar in the Uttarakahnd state and declaration of Gairsain in district
of Chamoli was declared to be the capital of new hill state. Narayan Dutt
Tewari, protested the Uttarakhand Andolan, in words of “Girda”, “ N.D Tewari
surely was “Nauchami- Nairaina”, he protested the Statehood movement and later
on easily accepted the chair of Chief Minister of the Uttarakhand”. In 1992 and
1993, the boycott against all the elections was declared by Uttarakhand Kranti Dal.
Hence, in effect of UKD, the BJP parliamentary party introduced the motion to
discuss on separate statehood of Uttarakhand. The discussion was an effect of the .