Unfulfilled Promises: Descendants of Brave Cook Await Land After Foiling Assassination Plot Against Gandhi
Ten News Network
New Delhi, August 15, 2023: The descendants of Batak Mian, the brave cook who defied a British officer’s orders to poison Mahatma Gandhi during the 1917 Champaran Satyagraha, continue to await the land promised to them by independent India’s first President, Rajendra Prasad, in 1952.
Batak Mian, who faced brutal torture and eviction for his act of patriotism, passed away in 1957.
During the historic Champaran Satyagraha, Batak Mian’s refusal to poison Mahatma Gandhi’s milk exposed a sinister plot, saving the leader’s life and catalyzing the movement of indigo farmers against British oppression.
Batak Mian’s grandson, Kalam Ansari, shared, “Our grandfather informed Gandhiji about the plot… He was jailed, tortured, and evicted from his house. Promises made by Rajendra Prasad were not fulfilled. We now live in abject poverty.”
Rajendra Prasad had ordered 50 acres of land for Batak Mian’s family, but they received only six acres near a river in West Champaran district. Erosion claimed five acres, and the family appeals for safer land allocation.
West Champaran District Collector Dinesh Kumar Rai acknowledged the situation, stating that the administration will address the family’s concerns.
CPI(ML) Liberation MLA Birendra Prasad Gupta emphasized Batak Mian’s importance and the need for acknowledgment. A memorial museum and library were erected, but their functionality remains limited. Gupta aims to raise awareness about the unsung hero’s role in preserving Gandhiji’s life.
As the legacy of Batak Mian, an unsung hero, persists, his descendants’ hopes for the promised land endure, shedding light on forgotten sacrifices that contributed to India’s freedom struggle.
