Mangadh Hill : Jalianwala Bagh of Gujarat

Mangadh Hill: Lesser-known story of Independence

                           

Hello all, 

                This was our trip on the day of Vasi- Uttarayan. we wanted to go out from the hustle-bustle of Uttarayan in the city. So off we went to Mangadh Hill. There are so many untold stories of our independence and Mangadh is one of them. Thanks to the government for developing such places for tourism so we value our independence, which is much needed in this time where everyone is just following blindly to one or the other. 

                             

                 

          Mangadh Hill is located at the border of Gujarat and Rajasthan.  It is also known as the Jalianwala massacre of Gujarat. Around 100 years ago on 17th November 1913, Britishers massacred 1200 Bhil tribal people on this hill. The local guru named Govind Guru (Govind Giri)  had launched a movement against Britishers among the tribal Bhils. The movement was called the "Bhagat Movement". his main aims were to promote awareness of basic Hindu rituals like vegetarianism and avoiding alcohol. He also educated them about their rights and the fight against bonded labor. aware about and during one of such gatherings in Mangadh, on 17th November, it is believed that around 1.5 lakh Bhils were gathered on the hill and surrounding jungle. But the local state and Rajwara believed that it is the movement against them and they informed the Britishers who bombarded people with machine guns and bullets. It is said that all nearby wells were flooded with dead bodies. It was one of the cruelest massacres done by Britishers in India. 

              The story has been told with beautiful murals on the hill and it is one of the must-visit places in Gujarat. 

                                        

                             

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            There is also one museum of the things made by tribal people, but we were little late so we couldn't visit that. Few gazebos are also here so you can definitely have a good picnic here and enjoy your holiday with friends and family. 

       

               

                                             

                      

                    I wonder there must be so many untold stories of our independence. BIt then the question always comes to my mind are we as independent as we should be? 

Independence 

Let’s be independent 

Independent from the images 

Independent of to be YOU 

A girl, A woman  

Or 

A boy, A man

Independent of gender 

No shame 

No pressure 

Let’s be independent 

Independent to express ourselves 

Young people 

Independent to leave the house

Parents 

To enjoy their life 

Independent of ‘grown-ups’

No shame 

No pressure 

Let’s be independent 

Independent of our choices 

Independence 

To work till late hours in the office

To manage home beautifully

To roam in mountains 

To wander in the jungle 

Independent of stereotypes 

No shame 

No pressure 

Let’s be independent 

Independent mothers and daughters 

Who is seeing, listening 

Understanding, tolerating 

All the nonsense behaviors

Let her express herself 

No shame 

No pressure 

Let’s be independent 

Independent child 

Doing chores 

Causing chaos 

Those walls with scribbling 

Those torn cushion corners 

Let them argue 

With you 

And with themselves 

No shame 

No pressure 

Let’s keep nature independent 

The way it’s always meant to be

Let’s not ruin her 

By our greed 

By our materialism 

By our stupidity 

Let’s make a nation of 

Independent adults 

Independent kids 

Independent mind 

Independent heart 

Not listening to false promises 

Not believing in fake concepts 

Not following the wrong ideology 

Let’s be independent 

Observing silently 

Assessing carefully 

Processing independently 

Independence has many faces 

Independence has many milestones 

The peak is not there yet

But let the journey continue...

                   

                               - Kaajal 

Location of Mangadh - https://goo.gl/maps/1sedK1y5WwH8VBqV9