Awadh Behari

Avadh Bihari, born in 1889 at Delhi, was son of Shri Govind Lal. He was a teacher, who took an active part in nationalist activities against British rule. He was a member of the Revolutionary Party. He directed revolutionary activities in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. He was an associate of Rash Behari Bose. He participated in the plot to throw a bomb on Lord Hardinge, the Viceroy of India. Known as the Delhi Conspiracy, it was carried out on December 23, 1912, when Lord Hardinge was passing through Chandni Chowk, Delhi, in a State procession marking the inauguration of Delhi as the capital of India.[1]

Revolutionary activities and death

After passing the B.A. examination, Awadh Behari took a step towards becoming a teacher and started studying for the B.T. degree at the Lahore Training College. He gave proof of his merit by winning a gold medal for securing the highest marks in the examination. In appreciation of his qualifications, he was appointed as lecturer in the training college. soon got a good opportunity to attain his objective. He was already acquainted with the revolutionaries in Delhi. His contact with the Punjab revolutionaries also became quite close. He started kindling the fire of revolution in the hearts of his students. With a view to bringing influential people into the revolutionary organisation, he first built contacts with them and started taking part in social reform activities and then started influencing them with his ideas. Among these men of Delhi were, Master Ganeshi Lal Khasta, Hans Raj and, Lala Hanumant Sahay. Lala Hanumant Sahay was a highly placed businessman. Once he joined the revolutionary organisation, it was never short of funds.[2]

Awadh Behari also acquired expertise in making and exploding bombs. In those days, with the assistance of Rash Behari Bose, the revolutionaries from Bengal were teaching the revolutionaries of Punjab the art of making bombs. Awadh Behari also came into contact with Rash Behari Bose through Master Amir Chand. He was involved in the plan to blow up the Viceroy of India, Lord Hardinge. Awadh Behari played a major role in the bomb attack on Lord Hardinge on December 23, 1912, in Delhi and in the Lawrence Gordon Bomb Case on May 17, 1913, in Lahore. Apart from this, Awadh Behari was also deeply involved in writing and publishing the seditious pamphlet "Liberty". Some code-words were decided so that Awadh Behari's revolutionary work could be carried out properly. For instance, the sentence, 'The deal is decided for rupees four hundred and eight annas and ten pies' indicated that there would be a meeting at ten minutes past eight at Awadh Behari's house. It had been decided before that 'one hundred rupees' would refer to Master Amir Chand's house and 'four hundred rupees to Awadh Behari's house. Hours and minutes were indicated by annas and pies. Due to the fact that a member of the group, Dinanath gave way, Awadh Behari was arrested by the police on February 19, 1914. His house was searched during which pamphlets called Liberty' and 'Talwar' were discovered. The pamphlet 'Talwar' carried the picture of the martyr Madan Lal Dhingra who had been executed in London. Originally, the pamphlet had been printed in Berlin and sent out. Petrol and some detonators were also discovered at his house. In the pamphlets that were seized, it had been said that Englishmen should be killed using all possible means. Awadh Behari was also tried under the Delhi Conspiracy Case and his end was the same as in the case of his teacher Master Amir Chand. For him it was a matter of delight that he was having the good fortune of facing the gallows along with his master at whose feet he received training about life and revolution. Awadh Behari was hanged on May 11, 1915, in the Ambala Jail. He bowed respectfully to his guru and with a smiling face, went to the gallows.

References
  1. Mahotsav, Amrit. "Avadh Vihari". Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  2. Srikrishan 'Sarala' (1999-01-01). Indian Revolutionaries 1757-1961 (Vol-2): A Comprehensive Study, 1757-1961. Prabhat Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-87100-17-1.
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