The residents of Nimana village, now known as Jagpalpur, near here are oblivious of the history behind the ancient building housing a government school for decades. For them the major centre of Ghadari activity is merely an old structure. Even the authorities running the school do not know the importance of the building in turning the tide against British rule.

The school built by freedom fighters associated with the Ghadar Movement lies neglected and unattended. Mr Chiranji Lal Kangniwal, a librarian in the Desh Bagat Yaadgaari Hall, discovered the building and now wants it to be preserved as a national monument.

The building was constructed by freedom fighter, Piara Singh Langeri, who thought of setting up schools, especially in the rural areas, to educate as well as motivate the people there. Other such schools, like the Doaba Senior Secondary School on the Ladowali Road, Khalsa College in Mahalpur, Khalsa School in Wadala Manjari, village, Girls’ High School in Khurdpur, Adampur, and Dosanjh Kalan village school were the centre of educating the people during the Ghadari movement. But the major centre of Ghadari activity, the building from where the Government Elementary School Jagpalpur used to be run, was the hub of the meetings of freedom fighters and was the place where plans were given final shape by freedom fighters.

A reference of the building is found in the British Intelligence reports as well as in papers of the trial judgments of freedom fighters of the area.

“My father, Mr Jwala Ram, who was raised in the village, used to mention time and again of a building in Nimana from where the Ghadaris began a school,” Mr Kangniwal said. “He said there was a gurdwara on the first floor of the building. But finding the village itself was difficult because its name was changed to Jagpalpur.

The people still call it Jagpalpur-Nimana leading me to the elders of the village who told me about the building., They said the gurdwara had been shifted somewhere else and the old building lay unattended.”

The librarian said that after searching the archives, he found the information on the building. “A report on the Ghadar movement by British Intelligence Officers, Ismongar and Slattery, titled “Ghadar Conspiracy”, gives several references to the building. The Punjab government of 1919 had published the report. The building also finds mention in the book, “An Account of Ghadar” by Professor Ved Pathak.

The Ghadar leaders, operating from the area, Banta Singh Sangwal, Arur Singh Sangwal, Buta Singh Akalgarh (Ludhiana), Jawand Singh of Nangal Kalan, Ishar Singh Dhudike (Ferozepore) and Ranga Singh alias Roda Singh, were all sent to the gallows while the elder brother of Jwand Singh, had turned an approver in the case that led to the hanging of the other six including his younger brother.

Piara Singh of Langeri was captured by the British with the help of Chanda Singh, a zaildar in Nangal Kalan but the revolutionaries killed the zaildar leading them to the gallows. Hira Singh turned approver to hand the six into the hands of the British.

“All I wish is that the building, which the government authorities were thinking of demolishing, be saved and turned into a national monument,” Mr Kangniwal said.