In the Magadh region the impact of the 1942 movement was possibly deepest and most extensive in Kurtha. Many young men embraced martyrdom during the process of hoising the Tricolour on the Thana. After Independence too, this region has witnessed the martyrdom of Jagdev Prasad, Virendra Vidrohi and Manju Devi who gave their lives for the struggles of the deprived and the oppressed.
On 29 January, eve of Mahatma Gandhi's martyrdom day, a symposium '75 Years of Independence: Dreams and Challenges' was organized at the Abhilasha Utsav Hall in the memory of martyr Shyam Bihari Benipuri and all other martyrs of the freedom struggles. The symposium was conducted by AIKM National Secretary and CPIML State Standing Committee member Dr Ramadhar Singh. Tributes were paid to 1942 martyrs Vaiz-uz-haq, Yadunandan Mahto, Ramcharan Yadav, Prof Rampyare Singh, Shyam Bihari Benipuri, Pt Yadunandan Sharma, Abdul Bari, Satyadev Sharma and Karu Singh. Tributes were also paid to Triveni Sharma Sudhakar who was also involved in the same movement. Family members of the martyrs were honoured with 'anga-vastra' presentation.
Taking part in the discussion, Arwal MLA Mahanand Singh said that the present government is making a malicious attempt to rewrite history and change the Constitution. Attempts are being made to teplace Mahatma Gandhi with Nathuram Godse and Jawaharlal Nehru with Savarkar. Freedom was won at the cost of martyrdom of lakhs of martyrs. We must remain alert to save this freedom, our Constitution and India's composite culture. He said that the present government is bent upon pushing the country into the flames of communalism.
Leaders and activists participated in the discussion including peeople's campaign leader Kumar Parvez and educationist Rajkishore Sharma. They highlighted how the freedom struggle was waged strongly from the Kurtha region which fell in the Jehanabad zone of the old Gaya District. Journalist Jaiprakash Singh shared his reminiscences of martyr Shyam Bihari Benipuri's comrade Triveni Sharma who also took part in the August Kranti movement.
