On his birth anniversary, meet Bhagat Singh’s uncle Ajit Singh, who started Pagri Sambhal Jatta movement

Who was Ajit Singh?

Born on February 23, 1881 at Khatkar Kalan village in Punjab (it is now part of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district), Ajit Singh was a prominent freedom fighter, revolutionary, and nationalist leader. He played a significant role in inspiring his nephew Bhagat Singh.

Ajit was the elder brother of Kishan Singh, Bhagat Singh’s father. From 1909 to 1947 he remained in exile, as he was targeted by the British for his role in the Pagri Sambhal Jatta movement. He came to India in March 1947 but died in Dalhousie due to ill health on August 15, 1947, the day India got independence.

What was the Pagri Sambhal Jatta movement?

In 1907, Ajit Singh started the Pagri Sambhal Jatta movement in protest against three agricultural laws imposed by the British. ‘Pagri Sambhal Jatta’ literally translates to ‘take care of your turban, o farmer’, and invokes self respect and honour.

The three laws were: The Punjab Land Alienation Act, 1900; The Punjab Land Colonisation Act, 1906; and The Doab Bari Act, 1907.

Farmers at the Shambhu border pay tributes to ‘Chacha Ajit Singh’. (Photo: Express)

The Punjab Land Alienation Act restricted the rights of farmers to sell or mortgage their land freely. It favored moneylenders and landlords, making it difficult for peasants to escape debt. The Punjab Land Colonisation Act gave the British control over land ownership in the newly developed Chenab Colony (now in Pakistan). Farmers had to transfer their land to the British government upon death instead of passing it to their heirs. The Doab Bari Act, 1907, too, took away farmers’ ownership rights over their lands, effectively reducing them to contract workers.

Along with this, the British raised taxes on agricultural land and water for irrigation, increasing the financial burden on farmers. Many small farmers and peasants were forced into debt and land loss.

Soon, farmers started protests against these laws, demanding their repeal. Ajit Singh and Kishan Singh (Bhagat Singh’s father) formed the Bharat Mata Society, a revolutionary group for farmers. Lala Lajpat Rai and other leaders also supported the movement. The slogan “Pagri Sambhal Jatta” was coined by Banke Dayal, a nationalist poet, and became a symbol of resistance.

Impact of the movement

Pagri Sambhal Jatta was one of the first major farmer movements against British rule, laying the foundation for future resistance in Punjab. The agitation led to mass protests and civil disobedience. Due to intense pressure, the British government withdrew some of the oppressive clauses of the laws.

The movement inspired future protests, including the Ghadar Movement and Bhagat Singh’s revolutionary activities.

Both Ajit Singh and Lala Lajpat Rai were arrested in May 1907 and exiled to Burma (now Myanmar), but due to public pressure, were released in November 1907. Ajit Singh, however, escaped to Persia, then Turkey, Brazil, Germany, and later settled in Italy. He worked closely with revolutionaries in Europe and was associated with Lala Hardayal and Madame Cama.

Pagri Sambhal Diwas

From 2021 onwards, February 23 has been observed as Pagri Sambhal Diwas. In 2021, farmers were protesting at the Delhi borders seeking repeal of the now-scrapped three farm laws, and hence had observed Ajit Singh’s birth anniversary as Pagri Sambhal Diwas. At present, farmers have been protesting at Punjab and Haryana borders since February 13, 2024, seeking MSP as a legal guarantee among other demands.

“Rich tributes are paid to him. Pagri Sambhal Jatta has been a slogan of resistance since 1907,” Jagmohan Singh, general secretary of BKU Dakaunda, the second-largest farmer union in Punjab, told The Indian Express.

A two-day convention on Ajit Singh was also organised at Sangrur by BKU Dakaunda ( Manjit Dhaner) faction, which concluded on February 23.