On the 106th birth anniversary of Ghazipur’s “Iron Man” and legendary communist leader Sarju Pandey, the district paid tribute to a man whose life embodied sacrifice, integrity, and unwavering commitment to public service.
Sarju Pandey, a prominent figure of India’s freedom struggle, spent nine years in jail, including rigorous imprisonment and corporal punishment. According to the District Magistrate’s certificate dated August 4, 1973, he served three and a half years in prison and received 15 lashes, enduring incarceration in Ghazipur, Basti, Varanasi, and Lucknow jails. After Independence, he spent another six years in prison due to various political cases, living a total of nine years in solitary confinement.
Rejected Ministerial Post and Petrol Pump License
Sarju Pandey’s honesty became legendary. When a Union Minister offered him a petrol pump license, he refused, saying,
“People will say my words and actions don’t match. I will not allow that stain on my character.”
Later, when Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru offered him a ministerial position, he politely declined, reaffirming his commitment to equality and social justice. Throughout his 30-year public life, he did not accumulate any personal wealth.
A Revolutionary Voice for Farmers and Workers
According to late literary scholar Dr. P.N. Singh, Sarju Pandey met Swami Sahajanand Saraswati in 1937 at Pali village, which shaped his role in strengthening the farmers’ and workers’ movement.
He made history in 1957 by winning both the Rasra Lok Sabha seat and the Muhammadabad Assembly seat on a Communist Party ticket. He defeated Congress stalwart Shaukatullah Ansari, a close associate of Nehru.
In Parliament, when Nehru asked, “Who is this Sarju Pandey who has won two seats?”
A voice rose from the back benches: “I am Sarju Pandey.”
He went on to become a four-time MP and served 10 years as MLC. Despite repeated offers to join Congress and become a minister, he remained dedicated to his ideological mission of fighting inequality.
Annual Tribute at Sarju Pandey Park
Every year, his birth anniversary is celebrated at Sarju Pandey Park located in the Ghazipur Court premises.
Rishi Pandey, Secretary of the Sarju Pandey Memorial Justice Committee, informed that this year too, prominent academicians and public representatives will participate in the tribute ceremony.
Sarju Pandey’s legacy stands as a timeless symbol of courage, integrity, and commitment to social justice—values that continue to inspire generations in Purvanchal and beyond.
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