In the 1920s, the national freedom struggle acquired fresh  impetus  with  Gandhiji  at  its  helm  and 'Satyagrah' 'Non-cooperation' and 'Civil Disobedience' became the new non-violent tools to fight British Imperialism. There was another form of protest, that of the revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Chandra Sekhar Azad , Sukhdev, Rajguru , and later this stream was led by Subhas Chandra Bose. Sheel Bhadra Yajee ( 1906- 1996) the fiery freedom fighter from Bihar was associated with both the streams.

Yajee's participation in the freedom movement began in 1928 when, as a student, he attended the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress. He joined the Congress Socialist Party  four years later and became involved in the Kisan movement. Later, he came in close touch with Subhas Chandra Bose, as well as Mahatma Gandhi. In 1939 he joined Subhas Chandra Bose to found the All India Forward Bloc.

He was actively associated with the INA movement, and in Netaji's absence, he carried on the onerous task to implement  instructions  to  assist INA in the  ongoing freedom movement in Nagai and Manipur. After India achieved independence , he worked tirelessly to perpetuate the memory of the INA martyrs who bad l aid down their lives during the national freedom struggle on the Kohima and lmphal fronts. He got constructed INA Martyrs Memorial at Moirang, Manipur where Netaji had established the Provisional Headquarters of the liberated areas of Nagaland and Manipur.

He worked at Barh for the relief of the people stricken by the earthquake of 1934. He was arrested many times during the freedom struggle and spent many years in Jail. He was elected General Secretary of the Patna District Congress Committee and also of the Kisan Sabha in 1934. In 1940, he became the General Secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha. In 1937, he was elected a Member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly- the youngest MLA in India during 1937-45. For a time he served as the Whip of the Congress Party in Bihar Assembly. He was elected a Member of the Rajya Sabha in 1957.

Yajee raised his voice against caste prejudices and other social evils. He was a firm believer in the active participation of the peasants, workers and the middle classes in the struggle for the transformation of society. He espoused radical changes in the administrative system and supported development of cottage industries.

He had an active interest in journalism and served as Chairman of editorial boards of the Azad Hind (a Hindi weekly), the Jhankar (a Hindi weekly), the Hansia Hathaura (a Hindi weekly) and the Labour Times (an English weekly) . He authored several books like 'A Glimpse of the Indian Labour Movement', 'Forward Bloc and Its Stand', 'Is Socialism a Necessity to India', and 'True Face of Monopolistic American Democracy'.

The Department of Posts is happy to release a postage stamp in memory of Sheel Bhadra Yajee.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India