Unsung Hero : Bauli Singh
A Martyr's Tale

Shri Bauli Singh was born in Madhauli village in Atrauli tehsil of Aligrah district in Uttar Pradesh. He had very little land to till and feed his families. So he worked as a labourer. He participated in satyagraha against emergency on December 17, 1975 in Atrauli. He was arrested by the police and was beaten black and blue. His injuries were so grievous that he had to be admitted in the Jail hospital. He was put on an iron cot and that too without a bedding. In chilly winter night of December he braved fever and pain lying on an iron cot. Even basic essentials like medicines were not provided to him. It was a situation even worse than a veterinary hospital.

Shri Bauli Singh's condition became critical on December 25. When the doctor was called he did not attend to Shri Bauli Singh as he had more urgent things to do like sleeping at his place. He did not come to see Shri Bauli Singh and next morning when other satyagrahis came to know about his near death condition they forced the Doctor to see him. But it was too late. At 9 am Shri Bauli Singh passed away.

The news of his death in jail spread like a wild fire. All prisoner in the jail were enraged to find such rampant negligence by jail authorities and the hospital. They staged a dharna inside the jail and DM and SP in the district rushed to the spot. The prisoners presented Memorandum to the authorities and then only the dead body of Shri Bauli Singh could taken away from jail premises by the jail authorities for cremation. Even then no prisoner was allowed to participate in his antim yatra and the Police cremated his body.

Bauli Singh was one of the unsung heroes who laid their lives in protest against the autocratic rule of the then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi who imposed Emergency in the country just to remain in power. The country and the votaries of democracy must thank Satyagrahis like Shri Bauli Singh who suffered and even perished just to ensure a better future and democratic freedom for the country.