Pandit
Vishwambhar Dayal (5 October 1899 –18 November 1959) always in the forefront of the Indian independence
struggle. He devoted his life to the nation’s independence struggle, introduce
social reforms and help the poor and needy.
He was leading figure in Unnao
district. and soon became one of the
most popular leaders in the state and beyond.
He was born at Bangarmau in Unnao
District in what is now the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. He had a brilliant
academic career, with an MA (History) and an LLB (Gold Medal) and gave up his
studies in response to the call of the Indian National Congress for the independence struggle.
When the Non-Cooperation
Movement was suspended, he returned to University and took his degree in 1924.
He attended both MA and LLB classes at Lucknow University. After completing the
two degrees in 1926, he was awarded a fellowship to do research in ancient
Indian history, but political activities prevented him from continuing.
He joined the Unnao Bar
in 1926, and soon won laurels in his profession in spite of spending most of
his time for Congress work. In 1930, he joined the
movement against the British decision to impose tax on salt production. He was
jailed. Hardly had he come out of prison than he was again arrested. He gave
his own house for Congress work where he lived and a Congress office, and an
ashram also functioned.
He was released in 1932.
On July 2, he was arrested again and sentenced to one year in jail. On his
release, he founded a farmers' organization. Once again, he was sentenced to a
year in jail for calling for non-payment of rent, but the sentence was quashed
by the High Court.
In 1921, he first became
a member of the Provincial Congress Committee. From 1921 to 1926, he was
Secretary of the Unnao District Congress Committee and then became its
President. He was Chairman of the Reception Committee of the Provincial
Congress held at Unnao in 1936. He was also a member of the All India Congress
Committee.
He represented
Unnao-Safipur constituency in the Provincial Assembly of the United Provinces
and served as a member of the Agrarian Committee appointed by the Provincial
Government to revise the existing rent and revenue policy.
Pandit Vishwambhar Dayal
Tripathi was a close associate of Subhash Chandra Bose. When Bose resigned as
President of the Indian National Congress to form the Forward Bloc in 1939,
Bose was its founding President, and Vishwambhar Dayal Tripathi its founding
Secretary.
Among the other positions
he held were:
- Chairman of a Commission which was sent to the
Andman & Nicobar to assess the possibility of development on the
islands
- Chairman of the Zamindari Abolition Commission
- Chairman of the Recognition Committee of the UP High
School & Intermediate Board of Education
- Founder of DSN College, Unnao, and many other educational institutions
