We have come a long way since India became independent on 15th August 1947. But it is ironical that the present generation of India does not even know how many young people and freedom fighters laid down their lives for the sake of the country. Even more ironical is the fact that not even five percent population of this huge nation actually remembers those who died during the freedom struggle.

No wonder then that the late President K R Narayanan lamented the apathy of our countrymen towards the unsung heroes martyrs of our freedom struggle during his visit to Cellular Jail by saying that “Nobody, especially the present generation, can imagine the hardship, the torture they have gone through and the ultimate sacrifices they made during such an arduous journey. If we can transmit to the new generation of Indians, at least a little bit of their patriotism, their flaming nationalism, their courage, their capacity for sacrifice, then we would have done something significant today. It is important to realize that these revolutionary freedom fighters have not been given the honour and respect due to them, in keeping with their sacrifices. It is the government’s moral responsibility to see that their issues and outstanding tasks are taken up”.

But, “Aandolan:Ek Pustak Se” is making a one-and-half hour documentary film

on the “disgraceful life” of as many as 30 descendants families of forgotten heroes and martyrs (those who were hanged) of Indian freedom struggle (1857-1947) to highlight the apathy of Government (both Centre and States) and people of India towards the descendants of revolutionary freedom fighters and martyrs.

The film will hit the before Indian celebrates its 65th Independence Day on August 15, 2011.

The descendants include Rani Laxminbai, Tatya Tope, Thakur Durga Singh, Azimullah Khan, Jaipal Singh (who fought with Babu Kunwar Singh in Bihar), Mangal Pandey, Jabardast Khan, Surendra Sai, Udham Singh, Ashfaqukkah Khan, Khudiram Bose, Satyendranath Bose, Ras Behari Bose, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Ram Prasad Bismal, Madan Lal Dhingra, Rajguru, Batukeshwar Dutt, Baikunth Shukla, Bal Mukund, Avadh Behari, Amir Chand, Basant Biswal, Kushal Knowar, Bhaga Jatin, Chapekar brothers, Mahadev Ranade, Bazi Rout and others who laid their lives during the wars of independence (1857-1957).

“Aandolan : Ek Pustak Se” was launched by a Delhi-based journalist couple Shivnath Jha and Neena Jha to protect the musicians and artists and rehabilitate the descendants of forgotten heroes and martyrs.

The duo has recently launched a first-ever pictorial coffee-table book “Forgotten Indian Heroes & Martyrs: Their Neglected Descendants -1857-1947” in the national capital and rehabilitated Jeet Singh, 57, a daily wage worker in Sunam (Punjab) and grandson of Shaheed-e-Azam Udham Singh.

Vijay J Darda, owner of Lokmat Group of newspapers and one of the patrons of Andolan Ek Pustak Se had handed over a bunch of cheques and drafts worth Rs. 11.5 lakh to Jeet Singh to lead a dignified, of not luxurious, life.

'The only purpose of this film is to tell the world 'the first person accounts' of the descendants of forgotten heroes and martyrs living in anonymity and penury in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharastra, Punjab, North-East states, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, West Bengal,' said Shivnath and Neena.

The film is being “monitored and supervised” by an octogenarian and reputed directors of yesteryears of Bollywood, who had witnessed India’s freedom struggle, said Jha, who has recently met some reputed directors in Mumbai.

“On their (Directors) suggestions, we are requesting and sending individual letters to hundreds of well known to little known cine stars, actresses, directors, financers and other like minded people in the Bollywood to rehabilitate at least one family on whom ancestors (heroes and martyrs) they have made films or planning to make it in future,' said Shivnath and adds, 'it will be a great tribute to the forgotten heroes and martyrs from the Bollywood.

According to Jha, “the film also stresses the need for immediate implementation of former (late) President K R Narayanan’s observation - these forgotten heroes and martyrs families should be declare as National Families.”

“Tragically, his selfless sacrifice for the cause of the country's freedom went unsung and as India got freedom, he sadly got confined to the dusty pages of history. It was indeed a grim irony that the grandson of a great hero of our freedom movement was living in anonymity and penury, working as a labourer on daily wage,” said Shivnath Jha and Neena.

“Aandolan:Ek Pustak Se” has received appreciations from the people and media across the world, especially BBC and Special Broadcasting Service (SBS Radia) Sydney (Australia). They also aired five and eighteen minutes special bulletins. Kumud Merani, a broadcaster with CBS Radio said “I have never seen and heard such type of movement on Indian soil in the post independence era. It is virtually a re-discovery of India.”

The series began with a 'Monograph on Ustad Bismillah Khan,' that was aimed at drawing attention to the plight of the ailing shahnai maestro. Other books in the series include one on former Union Railway minister Lalu Prasad, - 'Lalu Prasad:India's Miracle,' (rehabilitated Vinayak Rao Tope, the fourth generation descendant of frontline leader of 1857 mutiny Tatya Tope. Vinayak Rao Tope was virtually begging on the street of Bithor in Kanpur); and 'Prime Ministers of India: Bharat Bhagya Vidhata-1947-2009 (rehabilitated Sultana Begum, grate granddaughter-in-law of India’s last emperor and commander-in-chief of the 1857 mutiny Bahadur Shah Zafar. Begam was living in a slum in Howrah)

Bindu Mehra of Virginia Commonwealth University said: “The duo has done what many concerned citizens and the government should have done years back. We as a nation often rarely take the onus of responsibility but spend virtuous time in criticizing the government and the system. His nationwide movement - Aandolan Ek Pustak Se has not only been able to provide financial support but also acknowledge and thank artists and freedom fighters for their selfless contribution to the country.” (Ends)