HARNAM SINGH TUNDILAAT

Bhai Harnam Singh, known as Tundi Laat (March 1882 – 18.9.1962), son of Bhai Gurdit Singh, was born at village Kotla Naudh Singh (district Hoshiarpur). He began his career as a soldier in the British Indian army but resigned after a few years. In 1906, he moved to the U.S.A. When the Ghadr Party was formed, on March 31, 1913,, he was selected as the secretary of the local unit of the organisation. On December 31, he was nominated a member of the central executive. When the organisation planned an armed revolt against the British, he left the U.S.A. and entered India via Colombo in December 1914. When major action of the Ghadr movement failed, he, along with Kartar Singh Sarabha and Jagat Singh of Sur Singh, escaped to Afghanistan. In February they started their return journey. In March 1915, they were arrested. He was tried under Lahore Conspiracy Case and was awarded death sentence and forfeiture of property. Later, the government commuted the death sentence into life imprisonment. He was sent to Andamans. In 1921-22, he was transferred to Punjab. He was released on September 15, 1930, on health grounds. After his release he joined Kirti Kisan Party and later on, the Communist Party. In 1941 he was arrested again. He was released in 1945. He died in 1962.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)