Delhi: Land sharks eye site linked to freedom struggle

New Delhi: A bustling market today, Katra Neel in Chandni Chowk lays bare the immense struggle that led to India’s independence. The site had witnessed a bloodbath during the 1942 Quit India Movement as the British mercilessly shot at protesters. What comes as a surprise is that those who lost their lives during the historic movement here have not been remembered once in the last 75 years.  

On August 9, 1942, Nanak Chand Mishra and his associates protested against the British rule outside Katra Neel. During the course of firing, many people died and several were injured. Mishra sustained bullet injuries. This area is also famous for Lala Chunna Mal’s haveli, which can be seen on the first storey above the cloth market. One can enter Katra Neel through a red gateway, known as Inqalabi Gate. 

A plaque on the gateway tells visitors that this was the site of the shootout. Recognised for its historical worth, this gate has been listed in the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). However, to maintain its historical value, locals had to fight legal battles with land mafia in the year 2012.

“We contribute on our own to preserve this place. However, it is painful that I have to fight against land mafia and builders to keep this historical place safe from encroachment. The government must come forward to preserve this site for the future generations,” said Harish Chandra Mehra. A bravery award winner, Mr Mehra is the son of freedom fighter Rajender Nath Mehra, who went to jail in Lahore with Mahatma Gandhi during the 1942 Quit India Movement.

“My father was here in the protest during 1942 when the shootout took place. For the last 75 years we have been requesting the government to erect a memorial. But they have put up just two sigh boards, which is hardly visible to anyone,” said Mr Mehra.

Many families have been living here since before independence. “Every year, locals from Katra Neel assemble here to celebrate the anniversary of the Quit India Movement and remember the unsung heroes who made supreme sacrifices for the nation,” said Vinod Kumar Sharma, a local resident in Katra Neel.

Unaware of the historical facts, many of the shopkeepers running their businesses in this area do not know the significance of this place. “I have been running a shop here for the last 5 years but am not aware of the historical importance of this place,” said Pratik, a shop owner. “Chandni Chowk should not just be treated as a market for the culinary offerings. It is a living example of the atrocities of the colonisers,” said Mr Mehra.