K.Bashyam Arya (Aged 92) also known as Bashyam, was born in 1907 in the village of Cherangulam in the Mannargudi district of Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur district. He was an Indian freedom fighter who is known for his act of climbing to the top of the flagpole at Fort St. George, now the headquarters of Chennai, in 1932 and lowering the British flag, the Union Jack, and hoisting the Indian national flag. Arya was also a painter of Mahakavi Bharathiyar.
The Simon Commission led by ‘Simon’ arrived in India from England, which led to protests across the country with slogans calling for the Congress and the Indian Trade Union Congress to accept the call and return it with a black flag. The Simon Commission also arrived in Trichy, where National College students led by Bashyam staged a protest. The students were fined 2 euros for their actions, and the headmaster was fined 5 euros. Bashyam refused to pay the fine, and even after Chief Minister Sarnathan paid the headmaster’s fine, Bashyam left the college, feeling that it was an insult to his patriotism.
Arya was then drawn towards the national liberation movement and joined revolutionary organizations, where he trained as a sniper in the Panchanthanki Valley, located 7 miles from the Ayyalur railway station. He bought guns from the child of Muthukumarasamy, a close friend of Mahakavi Bharathiar. Bashyam won the sniper competition in the “University Training Core” force and also gave training to his friends. He became a member of the Revolutionary Association and took the oath of office by signing the blood in front of the Kali film.
In 1931, Bashyam moved to Chennai and stayed at Tamayanar’s house. Despite police surveillance, he wore Khadar and sold Khadar clothes, urging people not to buy foreign clothes. Shopkeepers spat betel leaf saliva on him and set him on fire with cigarette butts. During a protest in front of a toddy shop in the Ice House area, a shopkeeper smashed a toddy bottle on Bashyam’s head.
When Dr. Hardikar, the leader of the Hindustan Seva Dal, came to Chennai, Bashyam joined him as a Seva Dal volunteer. While training in Bagalkot, the London Round Table Conference failed, and Gandhi, who had returned home, was arrested, leading to widespread repression across the country. As a result, political movements and meetings were banned, and Hardikar dissolved the service platform. He sent volunteers to their areas to tell them to go to jail for violating the restraining orders.
Bashyam returned to Chennai and joined the then Communists Ameer Haider Khan, CS Subramaniam, and Puducherry Subbaiah. It was during this time that the August Revolution of 1942 began, and Bashyam was involved in smuggling guns, demolishing rails, and destroying bridges. He passed away in 1999.
K. Bashyam Arya
(1907 – 1999) – (Tamilnadu)
K.Bashyam Arya (Aged 92) also known as Bashyam, was born in 1907 in the village of Cherangulam in the Mannargudi district of Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur district. He was an Indian freedom fighter who is known for his act of climbing to the top of the flagpole at Fort St. George, now the headquarters of Chennai, in 1932 and lowering the British flag, the Union Jack, and hoisting the Indian national flag. Arya was also a painter of Mahakavi Bharathiyar.
The Simon Commission led by ‘Simon’ arrived in India from England, which led to protests across the country with slogans calling for the Congress and the Indian Trade Union Congress to accept the call and return it with a black flag. The Simon Commission also arrived in Trichy, where National College students led by Bashyam staged a protest. The students were fined 2 euros for their actions, and the headmaster was fined 5 euros. Bashyam refused to pay the fine, and even after Chief Minister Sarnathan paid the headmaster’s fine, Bashyam left the college, feeling that it was an insult to his patriotism.
Arya was then drawn towards the national liberation movement and joined revolutionary organizations, where he trained as a sniper in the Panchanthanki Valley, located 7 miles from the Ayyalur railway station. He bought guns from the child of Muthukumarasamy, a close friend of Mahakavi Bharathiar. Bashyam won the sniper competition in the “University Training Core” force and also gave training to his friends. He became a member of the Revolutionary Association and took the oath of office by signing the blood in front of the Kali film.
In 1931, Bashyam moved to Chennai and stayed at Tamayanar’s house. Despite police surveillance, he wore Khadar and sold Khadar clothes, urging people not to buy foreign clothes. Shopkeepers spat betel leaf saliva on him and set him on fire with cigarette butts. During a protest in front of a toddy shop in the Ice House area, a shopkeeper smashed a toddy bottle on Bashyam’s head.
When Dr. Hardikar, the leader of the Hindustan Seva Dal, came to Chennai, Bashyam joined him as a Seva Dal volunteer. While training in Bagalkot, the London Round Table Conference failed, and Gandhi, who had returned home, was arrested, leading to widespread repression across the country. As a result, political movements and meetings were banned, and Hardikar dissolved the service platform. He sent volunteers to their areas to tell them to go to jail for violating the restraining orders.
Bashyam returned to Chennai and joined the then Communists Ameer Haider Khan, CS Subramaniam, and Puducherry Subbaiah. It was during this time that the August Revolution of 1942 began, and Bashyam was involved in smuggling guns, demolishing rails, and destroying bridges. He passed away in 1999.
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