Raja Mahendra Pratap
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Raja Mahendra Pratap (1 December 1886-29 April 1979) was a freedom fighter, journalist, writer and revolutionary social reformist of India. He was popularly known as Aryan Peshwa. He was born in Thenua gotra Hindu princely family of state of Mursan in Aligarh Janpad of Uttar Pradesh on 1st December 1886. He was third son of Raja Ghansyam Singh. Raja Harnarayan Singh of Hathras adopted him as son. He was married to a Sikh family of Jind princely state of Haryana in 1902 while studying in college.
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Education
Raja Mahendra Pratap got his education under British Headmasters and Muslim teachers all from Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College Aligarh founded by Sir Sayyed Ahmad Khan. With this background he shaped into a true representative of secular society. To bring India at par with European Countries, Raja Mahendra Pratap established a free indigenous technical institute, ‘Prem Mahavidyalaya’ in his palace at Vrindavan on May 24, 1909.
Freedom movement
Raja Mahendra Pratap was very much against social evils especially untouchability. To eliminate this evil he dined with a Tamata family of Almora in 1911 and Mehtar family of Agra in 1912. He was influenced by the speeches of Dada Bhai Noroji, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Maharaja Varoda, and Vipin Chandra Pal. The speeches of these great leaders made him a patriot who turned Swadeshi. He started the movement to burn the foreign made clothes in his state.
He tried sincerely to liberate his motherland from British Raj. On 20th December 1914, at the age of 28, Raja Mahendra Pratap left India for European countries to liberate India from the clutches of the British colonial rule with outside support. On 1st December 1915, his 28th birthday, he established the first Provisional Government of India at Kabul in Afghanistan, during First World War. Anti-British forces supported his movement. Due to his revolutionary ideas he had good relation with Lenin. Lenin invited Raja Mahendra Pratap to Russia on its liberation and welcomed him. He had become a big menace for the foreign rule in India. The British Government of India declared a reward on his head, attached his entire estate and declared him a fugitive.
In Japan
He went to Japan in 1925. He published "World Federation Monthly Magazine" in 1929. Raja Mahendra Pratap tried his best to utilize the world war situations to free India. During Second World War he stayed at Tokyo in Japan and continued his movement from "World Federation Centre" to free India from British rule. He formed the Executive Board of India in Japan in 1940 during Second World War. At last the British government had to kneel to Raja Mahendra Pratap and he was permitted to come to India from Tokyo with respect.
Back to India
He returned to India after about 32 years by the "City of Paris" Ship and landed at Madras on 9th August 1946. On reaching India he immediately rushed to Vardha to meet Mahatma Gandhi.
After independence also he continued his struggle for transfer of power to the common man. His vision was that the Panchayat Raj was the only tool, which will give the real power in the hands of people and will reduce corruption and beauraucratic hurdles. He was elected as Member of Parliament from 1957-1962. He was president of Indian Freedom Fighters’ Association. He was president of All India Jat Mahasabha also. He died on 29th April 1979.
Man of vision
Raja Mahendra Pratap was a man of grand vision, who devoted his entire life to the service of mankind. This life-long revolutionary wanted to bring radical changes in the society and world order. His idea of ‘World Federation’ was a revolutionary one where he treated entire world as a family. His view was that this idea would cut the expenditures on police and armed forces that can be used for the development of nations. Raja Mahendra Pratap was a dedicated journalist and a prolific writer who wrote a large number of books on varied topics.
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