Surinder Nath Kaar’s name is figured amongst thinkers and strategists in the history of the Gadar Party. He was a great orator. Besides, his vast knowledge about international political affairs stood him in high stead. This great revolutionary was born in 1889 in the Bikrampur Province of West Bengal.
Influenced by the political-awareness movement, he plunged into the freedom struggle with an avowed aim to free India from the fetters of slavery. He did his B.A. from Seattle University in 1914. Here, he came in contact with other revolutionaries who had come there from different parts of India. In collaboration with three Indians, he brought out a charter of demands against the British. This charter of demands opened the eyes of the Indians besides making them realise the power of his pen. This was the time when Gadaris were making all out efforts to discredit the British because of their policy of colonization. There was only one slogan in the air at that time. : “Indians, gird up your loins for independence.”
The whole political scenario underwent a change when America plunged into the World War - I as an ally of the Britain. Now, it was difficult to wage a war against the colonizers from the American soil. American agencies started looking for revolutionaries. Finally, Surinder Nath Kaar was arrested in San Francisco Case. His arrest took a heavy toll on his health. He was already not enjoying good health. Inhuman treatment meted out to him in the jail further deteriorated his health. He had a bout of lung–infection in the jail. T.B. too took him in its grip and incapacitated him. He was released when his condition further deteriorated. After his release, he came to New York. Here, he kept engaged in political activities and got an MA degree.
His first priority was to work towards the release of other revolutionaries after his release from the jail. He started working with “Friends of India’s Independence”- an organization which had come up to free the revolutionaries from American imprisonment. Here, he worked along with three comrades : - Professor Tarak Nath Dass, Santokh Singh and Bhagwan Singh. He attempted to raise an army of Indian sympathizers in America and succeeded to great extent in this mission. Surinder Nath Kaar became the editor of ‘The Bulletin’ which this organization used to publish. Through this ‘Bulletin’ he tried to expose the beastly attitude of the Colonisers (British) besides building up a wave in favour of ‘democratic-rights’ of the colonized in the hearts of the Americans.
He became the editor of ‘Independent Hindustan’- journal which voiced the opinions of the colonized Indians. This opportunity came to him when the journals published by the Gadaris in Urdu and Punjabi language came to be discontinued due to reasons beyond the reach of the Gadaris. He wrote many books during his life-time. His works were translated into many languages. He took the reins of his party during crisis. The party was facing economic crisis and was forced to shut down ‘Independent Hindusthan’. Even during this period of crisis he continued to write to keep masses engaged with Gadar Movement.
His health was deteriorating; as he was working over-zealously to spread the message of revolutionaries. He was moved to Berlin by his comrades. Here, he became the member of the editorial board of ‘Vanguard’ – a journal. But, he resigned owing to ideological differences. He, then, became the sub-editor of another journal named ‘Indian-Independent’. The German government issued an order to put a ban on the publication of this paper and its editors including Kaar were asked to leave Germany.
With his powerful writings, he won over the hearts of Indians. He became a blue-eyed boy of students. With their efforts he became the President of “Hindustan, Association for Central Europe”. Alas! He was confined to bed at that time. A bout of pneumonia took his life away. It was a sad day for revolutionaries.
It is a different matter that Indians have forgotten this legendary son of mother India. But, he was an acclaimed personality during his times. His death saddened all. People from all walks of life came to Hindustan house where his body was kept to pay their last tributes. A crowd of Germans too came to pay homage to the departed soul. The sea of humanity that gathered to pay their last respect to the departed soul pointed to the fact that he was able to ‘ignite’ the spirit of freedom in the hearts of the Indians, Americans and Germans. The news of his death was published in all the major newspapers of the world.
Compiled by Prof. Rajan Kapoor.
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