Badri Dutt Pandey was an Indian freedom fighter. he was born 15 February 1882, Kankhal, Haridwar. His parents died when he was seven year old. Badri Dutt Pandey was originally a resident of Almora Uttarakhand. Therefore, after the death of his parents, he came to Almora. He studied in Almora only. In 1903, he started teaching in a school in Nainital. After some time, he got a government job in Dehradun, but soon he resigned from the job and joined journalism.
Badri Dutt Pandey worked in a newspaper called Leader in Dehradun from 1903 to 1910. In 1913 he founded Almora newspaper. He worked to give impetus to the freedom movement through this newspaper. For this reason, many times the British officers used to ban the publication of this newspaper. He transformed Almora newspaper into Shakti newspaper. Shakti weekly newspaper is being published continuously today.
Kuli Begar Pratha:- Under this practice, there were instructions from the regional Patti Patwari to the village head that during the visit of the British officers, the head of every village would get the people of his village to transport heavy goods from long distances and would not get anything troublesome in return. Therefore, the public was harassed by doing the forced labor of porters. raise the anger against this, on the banks of Saryu in Bageshwar, on 14th February 1921, people took an oath to go holy. Pandey ji threw the coolie register of the British in the river and took the oath that this tradition should not be continued.
Badri Dutt Pandey’s role in the Coolie Begar Movement of 1921 is always remembered. He was also awarded the title of Kumaon Kesari/Kurmanchal Kesari. Badri Dutt Pandey remained in jail for one year in 1921, 18 months in 1930, one year in 1932 and three months in 1941. He was also sent to jail during the Quit India Movement of 1942. Even after independence, while living in Almora, he continued to actively participate in social work.
Freedom fighter Hargobind Pant was elected in the elections for the second Lok Sabha in 1957, but he died within a few months. After this, in the by-election held in September 1957, Congress made Badri Dutt Pandey its candidate and he was victorious. Badri Dutt Pandey was considered very outspoken. He also did not avail the benefits of pension etc. given to the freedom fighters. During the 1962 China war, he presented all his medals, awards to the government. Pandit Badri datt Pandey died on 13 January 1965.
