- Source: Devidutt Pant
Devidutt Pant (11 April 1907 – 14 April 1982) was an Indian freedom fighter and founder of Bikaner Khadi Bhandar. He was born in Khantoli (District Bageshwar, Uttarakhand) in the middle Himalayan range of Kumaun district at 5000’ altitude. He moved to Rajasthan around 1927.
From 1927 to 1935, Devidutt was in various villages around Jaipur State as an employee of Akhil Bhartiya Charkha Sangh that had its headquarter in a village Govindgarh-Malikpur near Jaipur. All Khadi workers were expected to join national freedom movement and go to jail whenever Mahatma Gandhi gave call. He was sentenced with hard labor of Six months during Non Cooperation Movement post Dandi March on 13 February 1932. He served this jail term in Ajmer. All prisoners were expected to carry out heavy manual labor like Grinding Wheat, Oil Pressing, Making Jute ropes etc. Among others Haribhau Upadhyaya and Hira Lal Shashtri too were in Jail who later reached greater heights in the politics of Rajputana. Prisoners were released under Gandhi-Irvine pact.
Devidutt Pant was one of the freedom fighter who was associated with the Khadi movement in India along with number of Indians. He promoted Khadi, a handspun and handwoven cloth made using Charkha, which became a symbol of India's struggle for independence from British rule.
Devidutt Pant established the "Khadi Bhandar" in Bikaner, Rajasthan, contributing to the promotion and sale of Khadi cloth. The Khadi Bhandar was not just a commercial venture but also a part of the larger Gandhian philosophy of self-reliance and economic independence. The Khadi movement, started by Mahatma Gandhi, aimed to revitalize the rural economy by promoting Khadi making as cottage industries.
Devidutt Pant's efforts in establishing and managing the Khadi Bhandar helped in creating employment opportunities in rural areas of Rajasthan. Khadi movement people to use local raw materials, like Kapaas and traditional craftsmanship.
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References
External links
देवीदत्त पंत, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ministry of Culture, Government of India
