A village of freedom fighters awaits its due

LUCKNOW: Not far from the place where Khan Bahadur Khan was hanged in Bareilly, lies Ameer Nagar village in Nawabganj tehsil of the same district on the Pilibhit border.

It is birthplace of freedom fighters Girdharilal, Natthulal Kapoor, Ramprasad and Natthulal Sharma, who played a crucial role in the Quit India Movement in 1942 in west UP. The village is also famous as ‘krantikariyon ka gaon’.

However, the locals said their ancestors’ selfless contributions failed to bring prosperity to their own families.

“It was just after India gained its freedom that my grandfather Natthulal Kapoor passed away. I am told that he contributed a lot in the freedom movement. But unfortunately, we are yet to get any recognition,” said Rajendra Prasad, grandson of Nathulal Kapoor and a farmer by profession.

“My grandfather used to be in British Police. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, he quit his job and devoted his life to the country. He not only led the movements here but also ensured its effectiveness—be it Swadeshi movement, Quit

India movement or any others,” said Prasad. He said other villages, including Girdharilal, Ramprasad and Natthulal Sharma, too, joined him in the movement. Of the four freedom fighters only two, Natthulal Sharma and Ramprasad, got pension.

Ram Prakash, head of Ameer Nagar village, said the only road or lifeline to the village was washed away in a devastating flood in 2008.

“Since then, we had been demanding a bridge. The bridge got sanctioned this year, but there is still lot more to be done ito bring prosperity to the village,” he added.