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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Achhina (talk | contribs) at 18:04, 27 December 2024 (←Created page with 'Achhar Singh Chhina, born on October 2, 1899, in Amritsar, Punjab, was a significant figure in the Indian communist movement and an active participant in the struggle for Indian independence. He was significantly involved in numerous demonstrations against British rule and greatly influenced by the Ghadar Party's revolutionary ideas. Chhina received his early education at Khalsa College, Amritsar, where he actively participated in protests against British r...'). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Achhar Singh Chhina, born on October 2, 1899, in Amritsar, Punjab, was a significant figure in the Indian communist movement and an active participant in the struggle for Indian independence. He was significantly involved in numerous demonstrations against British rule and greatly influenced by the Ghadar Party's revolutionary ideas. Chhina received his early education at Khalsa College, Amritsar, where he actively participated in protests against British rule, including a boycott of the Prince of Wales' visit. In 1921, he traveled to the United States, along with S. Pratap Singh Kairon and S. Jaswant Singh Kairon, to pursue his engineering studies at the University of California, Berkeley College of Engineering. He also completed his graduation in Political Science and Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. During his time in San Francisco, he associated himself with the Ghadar Party and embraced their revolutionary ideals, eventually becoming an active member. After completing his studies, Chhina joined the Ford Motor Company in Detroit, Michigan, where he worked until 1930. In 1931, he established a Ghadar Party unit in Detroit and became the president of the unit after uniting the local Indian community and promoting the ideology of Indian freedom. However, after meeting with Teja Singh Samundri, his desire to deepen his understanding of political science and economics led him to Moscow, Russia, where he went to pursue further studies in a communist society and explore the differences between communism and capitalism. In 1932, Chhina left the United States for the Soviet Union to pursue his master's in socialist studies at Far Eastern Federal University. Upon completing his studies, he returned to India in 1936 but was arrested and detained in Lahore for two months. Following his release, the British government restricted his movements, confining him to his village in 1937. In March 1938, Chhina, along with Mohan Singh Batth, led a conference in Fatehwal village, Amritsar, organized by the Communist Party of India. Individuals connected to Mir Maqbool, a local landlord and parliamentary secretary for the Unionist Ministry, interfered with the conference. In the ensuing chaos, two attackers were killed by the communists. Chhina and 47 other communists were charged by the police, leading to a highly publicized case. Prominent leader Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew formed a defense committee to fight the charges. However, Chhina had to go into hiding to evade the police. Eventually, he was acquitted, although some of his comrades were convicted. In the 1940s, Chhina's support for Subhas Chandra Bose's ideology led him to Russia, where he worked towards securing support from Moscow for the freedom movement against British rule. Upon his return to India, he was arrested and taken to Lahore Fort and subsequently Campbell Jail. He was released on May 1, 1942, as part of the Communist Party's support for World War II. Chhina then became the President of the Punjab Kisan Sabha (1948–1947), an organization advocating for farmers' rights. In 1946, he organized the Harsha Chhina Mogha Morcha, a significant protest movement. Once again, he was arrested and detained for three months. In 1948, Chhina served as secretary of the Punjab Communist Party. After India gained independence, he was arrested by the Indian government and imprisoned in Ambala Jail as the Communist Party was declared illegal. While in prison, he was elected a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Ajnala in 1952. He was re-elected in 1957 and served as an MLA until 1962. Throughout this period, he remained actively involved in Punjab politics. Achhar Singh Chhina continued his political involvement until his death on March 11, 1981. His contributions to the communist movement in India, his participation in various protests and movements, and his resilience in the face of arrests and imprisonments mark him as an important figure in Indian history.