Dehradun, November 5, 2026: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami released a book documenting the life and contribution of Ranjit Singh Verma, a leading figure in the Uttarakhand statehood movement, at the IRDT auditorium near Survey Chowk in Dehradun on Thursday.
Paying tribute to the late leader, Dhami said the publication preserves not just an individual’s life story but an important account of the struggle that led to Uttarakhand’s creation.
The book, titled “Ranjit Singh Verma: Uttarakhand Rajya Andolan Ki Nirnayak Ladai Ke Ek Jananayak,” recounts Verma’s involvement in the movement. Dhami praised the efforts of senior writer Gambhir Singh Palni and Ajay Verma in bringing his life, struggles and public contribution to readers.
Bringing Different Groups Together
Recalling Verma’s organisational role, the Chief Minister said he brought different organisations and activists onto a common platform as the Dehradun district president of the Uttarakhand Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti.
Dhami said Verma helped sustain the movement in Dehradun during 1995–96 and beyond, leading shutdowns, road blockades, jail-bharo protests and rail-roko demonstrations to press the demand for a separate state.
He also recalled how Verma made his in-laws’ home at Premnagar Bazaar in Doiwala an important centre of movement activity and helped arrange accommodation for activists arriving from the hill regions.
Public Service Beyond Electoral Politics
Dhami said Verma served twice as an MLA from the Mussoorie constituency in undivided Uttar Pradesh but placed the cause of statehood above electoral ambitions.
After Uttarakhand was formed, Verma did not contest elections and remained involved in social work, the Chief Minister said. He described this commitment as an example of principled leadership and selfless public service.
Preserving the History of the Struggle
Referring to the incidents at Khatima, Mussoorie and Muzaffarnagar, Dhami said the statehood movement passed through deeply painful phases. Despite hardship and repression, activists continued their campaign.
He said Uttarakhand’s formation on November 9, 2000, as India’s 27th state was the outcome of decades of struggle and the sacrifices of countless people.
The Chief Minister said publications documenting these experiences can help younger generations understand the movement, its leaders and the aspirations behind the demand for a separate state.
Development Must Reflect Activists’ Aspirations
Dhami said remembering statehood leaders must go hand in hand with working towards the Uttarakhand they envisioned.
He identified better employment opportunities for young people, women’s economic independence, good governance and the preservation of cultural heritage as priorities. A prosperous state in which development reaches every citizen, he said, would be a fitting tribute to Verma and others who fought for statehood.
Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal, Hans Foundation founder Mata Mangla, Gambhir Singh Palni, Ajay Verma, statehood activists and public representatives attended the programme.
