Remembering Shaheed Punjaram who blocked British Army entering Nagpur
   Date :15-Aug-2022

Shaheed Punjaram 
 
 
 
By Dheeraj Fartode
Nagpur, August 12, 1942. Two days after Mahatma Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement, the British policemen started beating freedom fighters in Nagpur. In retaliation, the freedom fighters started pelting stones at the police parties. As the situation went out of control, the Army was called in by the British administration. Disgusted by oppression of the British Empire, a 24-year-old man from Nagpur stood against the British Army. His name was Punjaram Doma Samrit, a native of Mauda in Nagpur district. He was living in a rented accomodation in Hansapuri in Nagpur.
On that historic day, Punjaram and his supporters gathered at Naal Saab Chowk against the oppressive British Government. When the British Army gathered at the Naal Saab Chowk, Samrit and his supporters launched a heavy attack and blocked entry of the Army personnel.
When the Army started firing at the freedom fighters, Punjaram asked his friends to hide in a shed and he walked to the front. It was his tactic to divert the attention of Army personnel and save the lives of his friends.
 Punjaram went ahead and fought a battle with the help of a cement pipe with the armed army men. As Punjaram was unable to overpower the army men, one of them fired a shot at him. The bullet pierced through his right hand. Punjaram was injured and blood started oozing from the injury. Punjaram’s friends somehow managed to bring him back and took him to an unknown place. However, the infection caused due to bullet injuries spread in his body. He was arrested by the British government after receiving a tip-off about his location. He was put behind bars at Central Jail Nagpur. Punjaram’s condition deteriorated due to infection and he was admitted to Mayo hospital. He succumbed to the injuries on September 4, 1942 at the hospital.
Soon after the death, his wife Sundarbai took charge of the family. She worked hard for the livelihood of the family. For some years, she sold curd and vegetables and even worked as a labourer. Later, she got a job at Modell Mill where Punjaram was working as an employee.
Union and State Governments had taken the cognizance of Punjaram’s bravery. The name of Naal Saab square was changed to Shaheed Purnjaram Samrit square. A memorial was also constructed in the memory of Punjaram. However, some residents encroached upon the land and demolished the memorial. Punjaram’s name was also carved on the Hutatma Smarak at Gandhi Sagar.