Today is Chitragupta puja, a day every kayastha family celebrates with immense pleasure to worship Shree Chitragupta Ji Maharaj. Hindu Mythology believes that the entire world was created by Lord Brahma who first created 16 sons from various parts of his body. Shree Chitragupta ji, Lord Brahma's 17th son is believed to be created from his own belly. Thus, Shree Chitraguptjee is the divine incarnation in human form called Kayastha since he is the only one created in entirety [Kaya] from the Lord Bramha's body.
The eight sons of Chitragaupta Ji : Shrivastava, Ambastha, Gaur, Mathur, Saxena, Bhatnagar, Asthana and Karn has been assigned seven duties in our Puraan. " विद्या, यानि साक्षर होना, श्रुति में विश्वास रखना, धीर होना, परोपकारी होना, देने की आदत डालनेवाला होना, राज्सेवी होना, तथा क्षमाशील होना ! " The statement has the underlying meaning that we, Kayastha are born not just for the upliftment of our own community but also for the whole society consisiting of people of different caste, creed, religion, sex, language and colour.
The past is the witness to the contribution of Kayastha to our society. Many great men like Dr. Rajendra Prasad; the first president of Independent India, Jay Prakash Narayan, Lal Bhadur Shastri, Subhash Chandra Bose, Great Swami Vivekanand, Hariwansh Rai Bachchan were Kayasthas who gave in their own way their bit to the society which is truly remarkable.
And today I would tell you about another Kayastha whose contribution may not be that big in the eyes of many, but for my family hes a HERO, stupendous HERO, especially for my grandfather. I don't know how many of you have been to PATNA or know the history of Shaheed Smarak but for people who have been associated to Patna or Bihar can easily make out what I am talking about.
Okay!!! Let me tell you a story.....story that has inspired me a lot.....
"बात आजादी की लड़ाई के समय की है - सन् १९४२ की. सन् १९४२ के जन आन्दोलन का रंग ही कुछ और था. यह आखरी लड़ाई थी- निर्णायक लड़ाई. गाँधी जी जैसे अहिंसा में विश्वास करने वाले ने 'करो या मरो ' का नारा लगाया. देश के कोने-कोने में आजादी का बिगुल बजने लगा. आजादी के परवाने मस्ती में आग में कूदने लगे. बिहार प्रान्त भी पीछे नहीं रहा. पटना में एक वृहद् सभा बैठी गयी और यह तय किया गया कि ११ अगस्त १९४२ को पटना सचिवालय से यूनियन जैक झंडा उतारकर तिरंगा झंडा फराया जायेगा. प्रातकाल से ही टोली बनाकर अपार जन समूह पटना नगर के सचिवालय की ओर चल पड़े. इन दीवानों को कौन रोकता? वन्दे मातरम् और इन्कलाब-जिंदाबाद के नारों से सारा शेहर गूंज उठा. सचिवालय पहुंचकर सात युवक आगे बढे. हाथ में तिरंगा झंडा लिए. देखते-देखते शान से झंडा फराया गया. वन्दे-मातरम् के जयघोष से सारा वातावरण ओत-प्रोत हो गया. ठीक उसी समय, धांय- धांय गोलियां चली और वह सात युवक धराशायी हो गए. Jagatpati जी उन सात में से एक थे. यह सिर्फ 19 साल के थे जब वह Shaheed हो गए. "
This Amar Shaheed JAGATPATI KUMAR was born in a small village of bihar named Kharati situated near a small river called Punpun in the family of Zamindaars. He was the youngest son of Late Sukhraaj Bhadur,a local zamindaar. His this act of bravery is still remembered by the people of that small village.
And now you will all wonder why I am so much moved by this story, and by the act of this particular brave man. Yes... this great man wasnone other than my grandfather's uncle(mama) who selflessly gave his life for his country and his people. I don't know his birthday so I think this day is the best day to pay SHRADHANJALI to a Kayastha Hero and his act of bravery!!!!
I am really proud of my Great Grandfather....
The foundation stone of Martyr's Memorial was laid on August 15, 1947, by the governor of Bihar, Mr. Jairam Das Daulatram. The sculptor Mr. Deviprasad Roychoudhry built the bronze statue of the seven students with the national flag. These statues were cast in Italy and later placed in Patna outside the Secretariat building in Patna.
Following are the martyrs, whose names are engraved on Martyr's Memorial.
Umakant Prasad Sinha - Ram Mohan Roy Seminary,class IX
Ramanand Singh - Ram Mohan Roy Seminary, class IX
Satish Prasad Jha - Patna Collegiate School, class X
Jagatpati Kumar - Bihar National College, 2nd year
Devipada Choudhry - Miller High English School, class IX
Rajendra Singh - Patna High English School, matric class
Ramgovind Singh - Punpun High English School, matric class IX
At the end, I would like to request you all to help your society in a way you can so that this place becomes a better place to live!!!
Following are the martyrs, whose names are engraved on Martyr's Memorial.
Umakant Prasad Sinha - Ram Mohan Roy Seminary,class IX
Ramanand Singh - Ram Mohan Roy Seminary, class IX
Satish Prasad Jha - Patna Collegiate School, class X
Jagatpati Kumar - Bihar National College, 2nd year
Devipada Choudhry - Miller High English School, class IX
Rajendra Singh - Patna High English School, matric class
Ramgovind Singh - Punpun High English School, matric class IX
At the end, I would like to request you all to help your society in a way you can so that this place becomes a better place to live!!!
