Charles Freer Andrews (12.2.1871 – 5.4.1940), born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, was an Anglican missionary. He left England for Calcutta in 1904. He joined Saint Stephen College Calcutta as a Lecturer. Here, he came into contact with common folk of the sub-continent. He was shocked at the treatment given to the local people by the British officials. After the massacre at Jallian Wala Bagh, on April 13, 1919, he developed sympathy for the people of the Punjab, specially the Sikhs. He wrote extensively against the brutality of the army and the administration. He was not allowed to enter the Punjab till September 1919. He visited the Sikh Homeland in September 1919 and toured several villages. He attended services in Gurdwaras and was highly impressed by the Sikh nation. In 1922, during the Gurdwara Reform Movement, the Sikhs had to launch an agitation for their right to Guru Ka Bagh Gurdwara. In order to awe the Sikhs, the police, under the command of Mr. Beaty, began brutal beating of the Sikh volunteers. The beating of the Sikhs began on August 26, 1922. On September 12, 1922, C.F.Andrews visited the sight of the beating of the Sikhs. He compared the beating of the Sikhs with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The next day, he met the Governor of the Punjab and expressed his concern over the brutal treatment of the Sikhs. On September 14, beating was stopped. In 1929, Andrews went to Vancouver, Canada and supported the rights of the Sikh immigrants of Canada. He died at Calcutta, in 1940.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)