Prabhudayal Vidyarthi
| Prabhudayal Vidyarthi | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 1925 Jogiya Udaipur, Siddarthnagar, Uttar Pradesh |
| Died | 7 September 1977 Lucknow, UP |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Spouse(s) | Kamla Sahni (also a politician) |
| Children | Two daughters |
Prabhudayal Vidyarthi (1925–1977), aka Prabhu Dayal Vidyarthi, was an Indian independence activist, Gandhian, writer, social worker and politician. He heard Mahatma Gandhi speaking of a "Free India" in 1935 and later was a close aide of his. He followed Thakkar Bapa from Uska, in Basti district, to be with Gandhi, who was perplexed to see such a young boy wanting to fight for freedom and took him in at Segaon, Wardha and personally tutored him.
Vidyarthi was arrested in 1942 at Sevagram, Wardha by the British at the outset of the Quit India Movement. He was immediately put in an isolation cell and tortured. A postcard was issued to honour his arrest. He wrote his first book on Gandhi during his jail term.
After India's independence from British rule, Prabhudayal returned to his village and started working with local villagers at the behest of Gandhi. He convinced local zamindars (landlords) to help farmers get their land back. Many attempts to kill him were made as this did not go well with zamindars. In 1951-52, Jawaharlal Nehru asked him to contest in the first Indian General Elections.
He was the youngest member of Sevagram Wardha. He was also the youngest person elected to the Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh in the first Indian general election. He is widely known as "Purvanchal ke Gandhi" as he was the only person from Purvanchal (Eastern UP), to have lived with Gandhi. He returned to Purvanchal only after India had attained freedom.
He died, aged 52, on 7 September 1977, due to heart failure at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
Vidyarthi wrote many articles and books on Gandhi, the last being Devdoot Gandhi. He also wrote a book on Mahadev Desai, assistant to Gandhi, named Bapu ke Mahadev and Sevagram based on the Ashram life. His work was mainly published by The Pustak Bhandar in Laheriasarai. His articles on general topics would regularly appear in The Hindu, Harijan, Balsakha, and other publications. He also did some translation work for C. F. Andrews. His work can be found in CIET archives and the National Library, New Delhi.
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