Home > Indian History > History of India > Tej Bahadur Sapru
Tej Bahadur Sapru
Tej Bahadur Sapru defended the arrested soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauj or the Indian National Army. He was a well known a social and political leader in India.

Share this Article:

Tej Bahadur Sapru, Indian National ArmyTej Bahadur Sapru, also known as Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru KCSI, was a well known lawyer and a political leader during the rule of the British Empire in India. He was knighted by the British administration in the year 1922. Tej Bahadur Sapru was one of the most significant lawyers who were appointed to defend the arrested soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauj or the Indian National Army (INA). The Indian National Army was an armed force established under the leadership of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in the year 1942 by Indian nationalists in Southeast Asia during the Second World War. The main objective of the army was to attain Indian independence from the dominion of the British Empire in India, with the support of the Japanese Forces. Tej Bahadur Sapru worked as a lawyer in the Allahabad High Court. The eminent freedom fighter Purushottam Das Tandon worked as Sapru`s subordinate in there. Tej Bahadur was perhaps the best Hindu lawyer in British dominated India.

Early Life of Tej Bahadur Sapru
Tej Bahadur Sapru was born on 8th December 1875 in Aligarh, which is currently a district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Tej Sapru was born to the parents Ambika Prasad Sapru and Gaura Hukku, in a Kashmiri Hindu family of the Sapru sub caste. He was the 8th cousin of Allama Iqbal. Sapru successfully completed his education at the Agra College.

Tej Bahadur Sapru in Indian Liberal Party
Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru was the leader of the Liberal Party of India and was a jurist. He preferred a dialogue with the British Government of India and sought for reformative actions related to self-government, however he did not aim to achieve independence from the British Empire. Along with other noted individuals such as M.R. Jayakar, Tej Sapru favored dialogue and discussions with the British administration. They also regularly participated in the provincial and central legislatures that were considered as rubber stamps of the Viceroy of India.

Political Career of Tej Bahadur Sapru
Tej Bahadur Sapru propagated the judicious policies of Gopal Krishna Gokhale after the massacre in Amritsar (also known as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre) in the Post-World War I period. He also criticized the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and the denounced the Salt Satyagraha and the Non-Cooperation Movement. Sapru frequently acted as a mediator which aided him to negotiate the Gandhi Irwin Pact. It brought an end to the Salt Satyagraha. He also mediated in the Poona Pact and made an agreement between the British government of India, B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi. Tej Sapru also supported Britain and the decision of including British India in the Second World War.

Legislative Career of Tej Bahadur Sapru
Tej Bahadur Sapru, Indian National ArmyTej Bahadur Sapru served in the United Provinces Legislative Council from the year 1913 to 1916). He also served in the Imperial Legislative Council from 1916 to 1920) and was also a law member of the Viceroy`s Council from 1920 to 1923. He actively participated in the Indian Round Table Conferences held during 1931 to 1933. Sapru served as an informal spokesman for liberal views in the first of these Conferences that was boycotted by the Indian National Congress. Tej Bahadur Sapru became a member of the Privy Council in the year 1934.

Tej Bahadur Sapru in Indian National Army Trial
Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, along with Jawaharlal Nehru, Bhulabhai Desai, Kailash Nath Katju, Asaf Ali and others also defended the freedom fighters and officers of the Indian National Army in the INA trials at Red Fort in Delhi. Raja Habib Ur Rahman Khan, Colonel Prem Kumar Sahgal and General Shah Nawaz Khan and Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon were put on trial for waging war against the British Emperor on November 5, 1945. Sapru defended them and demanded that the soldiers of the Provisional Government of Free India should be treated as prisoners of war.

Personal Life of Tej Bahadur Sapru
Tej Bahadur Sapru and his wife had 2 daughters and 3 sons, namely Jagdembashwari, Bhuvaneshwari, Anand Narain, Trijugi Narain and Prakash Narain. Tej Sapru was the grandfather of Jagdish Narain Sapru. He died on 20th January 1949 in Allahabad.

Tej Bahadur Sapru was comparatively less popular in India due to his support to the British administration and opposition to Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in History of India


History of Uttar Pradesh
The state was the heart of Mahabharata war and the history of Uttar Pradesh is very much the history of India. The place finds its mentions in Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
History Of Archaeology In India
History of archaeology in India contributes a lot to define the past history and the social life of India.
Mughal Architecture during Babur
Mughal Architecture during Babur is of adequate significance in Mughal history, as the emperor introduced Mughal architecture in India, during 16th century.
Princely State of Patdi
Princely State of Patdi or Patri was incorporated as a part of the Baroda Agency, which was a sub division of Western India States Agency.
Architecture during Sayyid and Lodi Dynasty
Architectures during the Sayyid and Lodi dynasty were mainly the tombs and monuments for the dead rulers. It were carefully designed and meticulously constructed.
Brahmanical Sources of Ancient History
Brahmanical Sources of ancient history are contained in the Vedas and they constitute one of the most important literary sources of information about ancient India.
Female Education In British India
The over brimming enthusiasm among zealous Hindu reformers welcomed female education in British India.
Revenue System of Mauryan Empire
Revenue system of Mauryan Empire can be divided into eight categories. The principal revenue of the state was the land revenue, taxes from traders, artisans and professional taxes were also collected.
Mughal Architecture During Jahangir
Mughal architecture during Jahangir`s period was relative dull in comparison to that of Akbar dynasty.
Princely State of Satlasna
Princely State of Satlasna was amongst the former native states of India that was appointed as one of the Indian princely states during the early 19th century.
Coins of Chola Empire
Coins of Chola Empire were issued in gold, silver and copper and carried the Chola emblem.
Social Life during the Pala Period
Religious toleration and simple living were the characteristics of social life during the Pala period.
Coins of the Chalukya Dynasty
Coins of the Chalukya Dynasty was reintroduced in the South India after a brief break of coinage less period of nearly three century. Chalukyas issued coins only in gold and they exhibit a brilliant artistic skill of the engraver.
Costumes of Indus Valley Civilisation
Costumes of Indus valley Civilization have been considered as the basis for Indian clothes. Sophisticated ornaments and make up were used during that age.
Development of Science under Gupta Empire
Development of Science under Gupta Empire was progressive and it had attained considerable perfection. Mathematics, astronomy, medicine, chemistry, physics and metallurgy were the most prominent of the sciences at that time.
Culture under Delhi Sultanate
Culture under Delhi Sultanate had enduring aspects to it. It included the society, the religious condition, literature and art and architecture of that period.
Princely State of Hapa
Princely State of Hapa was incorporated as a part of the Baroda Agency, which was under the administrative control of the Western India States Agency.
Economy Under Chola Dynasty
Economy under Chola dynasty was strong and well developed. The economic life of the people of the Chola Kingdom was well balanced with their social life.
Coins of Khilji Dynasty
Coins of Khilji Dynasty had an influential feature that was followed by the other dynasties.
Religion During Mauryan Dynasty
Religion during Mauryan dynasty became a considerable episode in Indian history with an esteemed lineage of rulers.