Batak Mian
Cook who saved [[Mahatma Gandhi]]
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Batak Mian Ansāri, was a cook who saved the life of Mahatma Gandhi from a murder attempt by food poisoning[2] in 1917. He was an employee of an indigo plant at Motihari, Bihar. Afterwards, he was ousted from his job, tortured, and compelled to leave the village.
Batak Mian | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1880 |
| Died | 1957 (aged 76–77) |
| Occupation | Cook or chef |
| Known for | Refusing to poison Mahatma Gandhi during Champaran Satyagraha |
| Honors | Publicly honored by President Rajendra Prasad in 1950[1] |
Incident
Gandhi was invited to dinner by a British officer in Champaran during the Champaran Satyagraha. Asked by the officer to serve Gandhi a glass of poisoned milk, Mian ensured that Gandhi did not drink the milk by revealing the plot to Rajendra Prasad.[3][4][5] As a consequence, Mian was tortured by the British officer, lost his house and property, and was driven out of his village.[6]
After Independence of India
Rajendra Prasad visited Motihari in 1950, as President of India.[2][citation needed] A crowd formed around him and he recognized Batak Mian from the crowd, and described the 1917 incident to the public.[citation needed][2] Prasad ordered a grant of 24 acres of land to Mian as an appreciation from the nation. Mian died in 1957.[citation needed][2]