🔰 1. Govind Ballabh Pant

• Born: 10 September 1887, Khunt, Almora
• Role: Prominent lawyer, politician, and freedom fighter
• Movements: Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement
• Key Contributions:
  • First Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh
  • Later became Home Minister of India (1955–1961)
  • Member of the Constituent Assembly
  • Honoured with the Bharat Ratna in 1957

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🔰 2. Badri Datt Pandey – “Kumaon Kesari” (Lion of Kumaon)

• Born: 1882, Almora
• Key Movement: Led the Coolie-Begar Movement (1921)
• Contribution:
  • Protested against the British-imposed forced labor system
  • Used journalism to raise awareness (Editor of ‘Shakti’ newspaper)
  • Played a major role in mobilizing people in the Kumaon region

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🔰 3. Sridev Suman – Gandhi of Tehri

• Born: 25 May 1916, Jaunpur, Tehri Garhwal
• Died: 25 July 1944 in jail during hunger strike
• Contribution:
  • Led the Praja Mandal Movement against the autocratic Tehri princely state
  • Inspired by Gandhian principles
  • Martyred during a prolonged hunger strike in prison

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🔰 4. Chandra Singh Garhwali

• Born: 25 December 1891, Raath region, Pauri Garhwal
• Famous Incident:
  • Refused to fire on unarmed civilians during the 1930 Peshawar protest (while in British Army)
• Significance:
  • Dismissed from army, imprisoned
  • Later joined the freedom movement actively
  • A symbol of courage and moral integrity in Uttarakhand

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🔰 5. Hargovind Pant

• Born: 1885, Almora
• Contribution:
  • Active in the national movement
  • Member of the Constituent Assembly of India
  • Advocated for Hindi as an official language

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🔰 6. Indramani Badoni

• Born: 1924, Tehri Garhwal
• Note: While not part of the freedom movement against the British, he is known as the Father of the Uttarakhand Statehood Movement
• Known as “Gandhi of Uttarakhand” for his non-violent activism in the 1990s

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🔰 7. Chiranji Lal

• Region: Nainital
• Contribution:
  • Active in the Quit India Movement (1942)
  • Organized protests and mobilized youth against the British

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🔰 8. Mangat Ram Singh

• Region: Garhwal
• Contribution:
  • Mobilized villagers against British policies
  • Participated in underground revolutionary activities

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🔰 9. Khushi Ram Joshi

• Region: Tehri Garhwal
• Contribution:
  • Prominent in the Praja Mandal Movement
  • Worked for democratic rights against princely rule in Tehri

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🔰 10. Hanuman Prasad Tamta

• Born: Almora
• Role:
  • A freedom fighter and Dalit social reformer
  • Advocated equality and justice during and after the British rule

🔰 11. Thakur Keshar Singh Negi

• Region: Pauri Garhwal
• Role: Leader in the Tehri Praja Mandal
• Contribution:
  • Mobilized masses against the monarchy in Tehri princely state
  • Actively participated in campaigns for democratic reforms
  • Arrested and tortured by Tehri state authorities

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🔰 12. Daulat Kunwar

• Region: Almora
• Role: Activist and leader during the Civil Disobedience Movement
• Contribution:
  • Took part in protests, boycotts, and public awareness campaigns
  • Imprisoned for participating in Satyagraha in the 1930s

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🔰 13. Hari Prasad Tamta

• Region: Kumaon
• Role: Social reformer and activist
• Contribution:
  • Participated in movements against untouchability and caste injustice
  • Took active part in Congress-led national movements
  • Advocated for Dalit rights and education

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🔰 14. Narayan Dutt Tiwari (In his early days)

• Born: 18 October 1925, Baluti, Almora
• Role: Political leader (Later became CM of UP & UK)
• Contribution:
  • Participated in the Quit India Movement in 1942
  • Arrested by British for anti-British activities as a student
  • Later played a key role in post-independence politics

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🔰 15. Lakshmi Nandan Bora

• Region: Garhwal
• Contribution:
  • Worked to mobilize rural youth for the national cause
  • Participated in non-violent protests and underground activities
  • Promoted Khadi and Gandhian values

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🔰 16. Ballabh Pant (Not to be confused with Govind Ballabh Pant)

• Region: Champawat
• Contribution:
  • Participated in village-level anti-British revolts
  • Promoted indigenous education and Swadeshi practices
  • Imprisoned for challenging colonial tax systems

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🔰 17. Hira Singh Rana

• Contribution:
  • Known for initiating early peasant resistance in Garhwal
  • Promoted awareness through folk songs and local gatherings
  • Played a critical role in bridging tribal-popular movements

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🔰 18. Badridutt Pande’s Journalism Movement

• Newspaper: Shakti (founded in 1918)
• Significance:
  • Instrumental in awakening the political consciousness of the Kumaoni people
  • Criticized British policies and supported nationalist causes
  • Faced frequent censorship and bans

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🟩 Key Movements in Uttarakhand During the Freedom Struggle:

Movement	Year	Region	Led By	Significance
Coolie Begar Movement	1921	Kumaon	Badri Datt Pandey	Protest against forced labor under British rule
Praja Mandal Movement	1930s–40s	Tehri	Sridev Suman, others	Movement for democratic rights in Tehri State
Quit India Movement	1942	Entire state	Local leaders	Mass participation across Garhwal and Kumaon

Forest Movements

Although not directly freedom movements, forest rights protests in Uttarakhand during British rule laid the foundation for later political awareness:

Van Andolan (Forest Movement)

• Villagers protested the British ban on grazing, firewood collection, and woodcutting in forest areas
• Women played an important role, using traditional songs and gatherings to challenge colonial policies
• These protests shaped the Chipko Movement post-independence

📝 UKPCS Prelims – Sample MCQs:

Q1. Who was known as “Kumaon Kesari”?

• (A) Govind Ballabh Pant
• (B) Badri Datt Pandey ✅
• (C) Hargovind Pant
• (D) Chandra Singh Garhwali

Q2. Who led the Praja Mandal Movement in Tehri?

• (A) Chandra Singh Garhwali
• (B) Sridev Suman ✅
• (C) Mangat Ram Singh
• (D) Khushi Ram Joshi

Q3. Chandra Singh Garhwali is remembered for which action?

• (A) Salt Satyagraha
• (B) Refusal to fire at civilians in Peshawar ✅
• (C) Leading Coolie Begar Movement
• (D) Joining INA

Study Tips for UKPCS:

• Memorize names, movements, and birthplaces of fighters
• Practice map-based questions (match the fighter with the region)
• Use Flashcards or MCQs for revision
• Refer to Uttarakhand State Board history textbooks for more context and Chetna IAS Notes

📝 Expected Mains Questions for UKPCS

1. “Discuss the contribution of Uttarakhand’s freedom fighters to India’s independence movement.”

Approach: Mention both prominent and regional figures, movements like Coolie Begar and Praja Mandal, and conclude with how their struggle reflected Gandhian ideals.

2. “Write a note on the role of journalism in the freedom movement in Uttarakhand.”

Approach: Focus on Badri Datt Pandey’s newspaper Shakti, censorship challenges, and public awakening.

Map-Based Prep:
Practice matching leaders with their districts:

• Tehri: Suman, Indramani
• Almora: Govind Ballabh, Badri Datt
• Pauri: Chandra Singh, Keshar Singh
• Nainital: Chiranji Lal
• Champawat: Ballabh Pant