Ghadris/Kirtis who went to Moscow

TOTAL 73 [List prepared by Amarjit Chandan. Updated 20 June 2012]

Names taken from four main sources:

1) The Ghadr Directory 1934. British Library 2) Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937. New . File No. L/PJ/12/284 British Library 3) Revised List of Indian Extremists Overseas mainly in United States, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Brazil and Argentine. Dated February 1939. File No. L/PJ/8/324 British Library 4) Hindustan Ghadar Party até Soviet Union, Raghbir Singh. An article in Punjabi based on written testimonies of leading Kirtis viz. Achhar Singh Chheena, Bujha Singh, Kehar Singh Mahla and Naina Singh Dhoot, during late 1950s now deposited in Desh Bhagat Yadgar Library, (Sirjana-71. Jul-Sept 1988).

AMBALA

Gulzara Singh. Mataurh. PS Chandigarh G-58. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

CALIFORNIA

Bud [Budh Singh] Dhillon*. Born in California. Ancestral village Sur Singh. Tehsil Kasur

[Memoirs in English available incl on the China Mission. The Gadarite, Nov 1998]

* From Black Bolshevik - Autobiography of an Afro-American Communist, Harry Haywood, Liberator Press, Chicago 1978. ISBN 0-930720-53-9

Later [in 1926], more Indian students were to come including one sixteen year old – a tall, lanky boy who took the name of Volkov. He had been born in California; his parents were Sikhs who had migrated to the U.S. and worked as agricultural in the Imperial Valley of California. They were part of a foreign contingent of the Ghadr Party, a revolutionary nationalist party of Sikhs which had been organized in 1916 [3]. The Party would pick out young men to be future leaders; Volkov was chosen and sent to Japan and stayed there a year. Then he was sent to study in the Soviet Union, perhaps by the Japanese Party. He spoke Japanese and English.

Among the Indian students was a group of half a dozen of Sikhs, former professional soldiers, survivors of the Hong Kong massacre of 1926. On the pretext of quelling an “imminent mutiny," the British colonel of the regiment stationed in Hong Kong had called the unarmed Sikh soldiers into the regimental square and turned machine guns on them. (All regiments in the Indian Army included a British machine gun company as a safeguard against mutiny.) Several hundred were killed or wounded. As I understand it, the massacre was engineered to quell the protest over the conditions which were being raised by members of the Ghadr Party and its supporters.

The group who arrived in Moscow were among the few who escaped over the walls; they had fled to Shanghai where they were taken in charge by MN Roy an Indian and then Comintern representative to China. Roy sent them to Moscow. These students some of them older grey-bearded men, had spent their whole life in the British Army. They represented a special problem for the school, because most of them had had very little education of any kind.

They were not brought into our class, but were put into a special group under the tutelage of Volkov, Sakorov and other of the regular Indian students.

It was my good fortune to meet many of these Indian students again in 1942 when I was in Bombay as a merchant seaman. Most of them were leading figures in the Indian revolutionary movement. Sakorov had been a defendant in one of the Me[e]rut trials, having been charged with “conspiracy against the king." Since his return to , he had spent eleven years in prison. Nada, another former school mate, was president of the Indian Friends of the Soviet Union and very active among the students and youth.

AMRITAR

Achhar Singh. Chheena

Jaswant Singh. Kairon. [Brother of Partap Singh Kairon. CM of East Punjab]

Pritam Singh. Dhand Kasel

Santa Singh. Gandiwind

[Bhai] Santokh Singh. Dadehar

Suba Singh. Thathiān [Went from Kenya] S-82. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937. New Delhi

FEROZEPUR

Bachan Singh. Gholia B-94. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937. New Delhi

Bachan Singh. Takhānwadh B-91. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937. New Delhi

Dalip Singh Gill. son of Uttam Singh. Budh Singhwala. Chuharhchak Alias Prem Singh Gill Azad alias Sundar Singh son of Ganda Singh

[LPJ/12/65. British Library. Dalip S Gill; activities in Europe and USA Jun 1921 - Feb 1947.]

198. Prem Singh Gill @ Prem Singh Gill Azad @ Sundar Singh. Son of Ganda Singh, village Chuhar Chak, district Ferozepur. Born 12. 1. 1900. Height 5ft 10ins. Thin build; large eyes; long and oblique nose; clean shaven; wheat complexion. Soviet citizen since 1932. Reported to be in trouble with Soviet authorities. (Russia) – Revised List of Indian Extremists Overseas mainly in United States, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Brazil and Argentine. Dated February 1939. File No. L/PJ/8/324 British Library

2 [Russian Indologist Igor Sereberyakov told me in Moscow in Sept 1989 that he learnt Punjabi from DS Gill in 1940]

…2. As regards Dalip Singh Gill, who is mentioned in the penultimate paragraphs of Mr Groves’ despatch, HM’s Government do not propose to take any steps for his release. Prior to his imprisonment as a suspect by the Soviet authorities, his activities were denoted to the spread of Communist doctrine and the introduction of Bolshevik ideas into India under Russian auspices. He has also already on one occasion been employed by HM’s Government as an informer, but with unsuccessful results.

– from Lt Col F.H. Humphreys, Kabul to Foreign Office London. April 1922 British Library. L/PS/11/213 File 1404

[In the same file another name Khushal Khan is mentioned as a British informer in Moscow. In another file (LPS/12/1588: Afghanistan: Ghadr Party Activities 1921-1934 page 89) there is a note that one Mitha Singh arrived in Kabul from Moscow in November 1931 who was married to a German woman and had three children from her. This Mitha Singh must have been Dalip S Gill. In file L/PJ/12/65 titled Dalip S Gill; activities in Europe and USA Jun 1921 - Feb 1947, his marital description matches with the file LPS/12/1588. His son had opened a German business concern in Bombay. Most probably it was a conduit to channel funds to the Kirtis/Communists. Dalip Singh was an air pilot too and he had flown a plane from Berlin to Poland as mentioned in his individual file – AC]

Kehar Singh. Mahla Kalān K-70. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Mehar Singh. Jhandeana

Nidhan Singh. Mahesri

Rattan Singh. Gholia R-45. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937. New Delhi

Ujagar Singh. Budh Singhwala U-13. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937. New Delhi

GUJRANWALA

Ferozedin Mansur

GURDASPUR

Teja Singh Sutantar

Vasdev Singh [TSS’s brother-in-law sala]

HOSHAIRPUR

Chanan Singh. Dhakkowal

Harjap Singh. Mahalpur

3 [Memoirs in Punjabi available]

Jawala Singh. Dhoot. Murdered by NKVD in Moscow. As told by to me. Moscow Sept 1989

Joga Singh. Ghamiala. Mahalpur Died of ‘blood poisoning’ in 1942 in Moscow. Teja S Sutantar’s letter dated 7 Nov 1966 from Moscow to Naranjan Singh. Quoted in Ghadri te Kama. no date and Sardara Singh. Sept 1989

Munshi Singh. Piplanwala M-59. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937. New Delhi

Naina Singh. Dhoot [Memoirs in English translation available]

Niranjan Singh. Pandori Ladha Singh [Memoirs in Punjabi available]

Raja Singh. son of Bhagwan Singh. Saidullahpur. [Kharhaudi?] PS Mahalpur R-43. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937. New Delhi

JALANDHAR

Iqbal Singh Hundal. Dhaidiāl. Police Station Adampur

Amar Chand. alias Amar Singh. Bandāla PS Nurmahal A-46. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Chinta Singh son of Sher Singh. Badāla C-28. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

[According to Karam Singh Kirti Chinta Singh (CS) belonged to the Hundal group. It is alleged Teja Singh Sutantar was arrested in Bombay because of CS.]

Puran Singh. Rurhka P-39. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Pākhar Singh. Kala Sanghiān P-40. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Niranjan Singh. son of Partap Singh (?). Batura N-42. Born 1906. Died in 1936 under suspicious circumstances. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Bujha Singh. Chak Mai Das B-88. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Bhagat Singh. Bilga Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

4 [Memoirs in Punjabi available]

Jawala Singh. Bilga J-34. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Jawala Singh. Dhadiāl. Adampur J-35. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Jawala Singh. Sidhwān Nawan Pind Nakodar J-36. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Mela Singh. Bilga

Milkha Singh. Atta

M-57. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Kartar Singh. Sarinh K-72. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Kartar Singh. Musapur K-71. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Karm Singh. Dhuleta K-69. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Ujagar Singh. alias Kirti/Aujla. Boparai Nakodar [Went from Kenya] U-12. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Devinder Singh ‘Katal’. Sansarpur [Leader of Kenyan branch. Murdered in Jalandhar by the Kirti Party allegedly for his betrayal. Belonged to the Hundal group] Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Thakar Singh. Kotli Than Singh

Sardara Singh. Sikanderpur S-83. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

[Interview with me on cassette Moscow Sept 1989. AC]

Harbans Singh. Bandala H-75. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Sohan Singh Jāchak. Dhalial Chaniaa. Nakodar

Hukam Singh. son of Munshi. Gākhewal or Rāhon [British Library. L/PJ/12/503] (Hukam Singh Mragind. brother in law – behonoyee - of Devinder Singh) H-74. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Balwant Singh. Paddi Jagir. PS Barha Pind B-89. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937. [Not sure whether he went to Moscow. Remained ‘untraced’ from May 1933 to May 1935]

5 Bawa Singh. Bhamiaa. PS Garh Shankar B-93. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

[Bhai] Rattan Singh. Raipur Dabba [Died in Rome Sept 1943] Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Jawand Singh. Kapurthala State J-33. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Banta Singh. Bhullarai B-93. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937. [Died in Moscow]

The following also died in Moscow

Inder Singh. Tuto Majara. As told by Sardara Singh to me. Moscow Sept 1989 Labh Singh. son of Bhola Singh. Jamsher. ‘Died of TB’ as told to me by Bhagat S Bilga Pākhar Singh. Kala Sanghiān. As told by Sardara Singh to me. Moscow Sept 1989 Sarwan Singh. Batura. As told by Sardara Singh to me. Moscow Sept 1989

LAHORE

Abdul Rahim A-5. The Ghadr Directory 1934. Murdered at Chamarkand on 8th Dec 1934: According to Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Abdullah. [Araeen]. Sandha Kalān. Org from Batala A-47. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Balwant Singh. Thether. PS Barki B-94. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Fazal Ilahi Qurban

Mir Abdul Majid

Tarjan Singh/Arjan Singh/ Tara Singh. Bhasin T-25. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

LUDHIANA

Amar Singh. Chauki Mann. PS Jagraon A-48. Ghadr Directory 1934. Addenda and Corrigenda up to the 1st March, 1937.

Gurmukh Singh. Lalton [Passenger of SS Komagatamaru]

Hazara Singh Hamdam

LYALLPUR

Harmohinder Singh Sodhi. alias Madan Singh

6 PATIALA

Dulla Singh. Jaladiwal

Prithi Singh (Azad). Lalrhu

RAWALPINDI

Dada Mir Haidar

SIALKOT

Abdul Gafār (Abaidullah) Sindhi

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The following pseudonyms phonetically written in Punjabi are taken from an article published in Sirjana-71. Jul-Sept 1988.

1. Harjap Singh - Safaraf 2. Harnam Singh of Kasel - Orlov/Arlov 3. Santa Singh of Gandivind - Labof 4. Karam Singh of Dhoot - Sokolof 5. Boojha Singh - Malteen 6. Bhagat Singh of Bilga - Stafilt 7. Teja Singh Sutantar - Shehtimor 8. Bachan Singh Gholia - Gordo 9. Sardara Singh - El Frezo 10. Kehar Singh of Mahla - Kiao Filobeli 11. Achhar Singh of Chheena - Larkin 12. Bachan Singh of Takhaanvadh - Antonio Pedro 13. Nidhan Singh of Mahesri - Diego Lopez 14. Mehar Singh of Jhandeana - Khalim Juma 15. Niranjan Singh of Pandori - Henry John 16. Mela Singh of Bilga - Max Shafi 17. Swaran Singh of Mandhali - 'Jos Dam Juam' [Jose Don Juan?] 18. Raja Singh of Kharhaudi – Louis Perere

Some pseudonyms used in a letter in Punjabi from Baba Gurmukh Singh to Bhai Rattan Singh, received in Comintern HQ on 9 Dec 1936. Source: Comintern Archive, Library of Congress Washington

Achhar Singh Chheena – Larkin Harbans Singh of Karnana [or Bandala?] – Frank Iqbal Singh - Nelson Joga Singh - Owen Nidhãn Singh – ‘Lopeh’ Teja Singh Sutantar - ‘Chhãtimor’

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