On evening of 1st February 2026, I was at iconic Minto Hall in Bhopal, for an India-post postage stamp release function. I already knew the building, commissioned in 1909 by Nawab Sultan Jahan Begum of Bhopal, in honor of the then Viceroy of British India, Lord Minto. While, Lord Minto left shores of India in 1910 and could never witness the building, as it got completed only in 1936. Its begetter as well as its celebrant were no longer alive at this time. This testament of gratitude from and markedly pro-British Princely Bhopal, was today going to witness a unique commemoration. We all were here to remember and honor a physician and a social activist, who constantly fought with the princely state for justice and freedom – Shri Uddhavdas Mehta, fondly called as “Bhaiji”.
With only a little online presence, most of the information in this blog comes from a booklet issued by a trust named after him. Uddhavdasji’s father father passed away when he was just seven. This was 1918, and his initiation to medical practice started at this young age from home. He helped his mother Gendabai, who continued the family’s vocation as a healer. Four years later in 1922, he was sent off to Benaras(Varanasi), for his studies in Sanskrit and Ayurveda. For next nine years, he was a student at Benaras, yet maintained his connection with Bhopal. He would come home during holidays and visits, and actively participate in movements for social awakening. In one of these visits in 1926, he got married at 15.
Bhopal, British India, and Social awakening
In the same year as his marriage (which is 1926), Bhopal had a new ruler, Nawab Hamidullah Khan, youngest son of Sultan Jehan Begum. He took over the task of completing the yet unfinished Minto hall, beyond passing away of his mother in 1930. Hamidullah Khan, was young, close to the British high-ups, set-up various educational institutes, and quite a prominent person amongst the 565 rulers of big and small princely states in India.
By 1928, Mahatma Gandhi had re-emerged from his self-imposed political exile, to ignite India’s freedom struggle. This was the time of the Swadeshi and Swaraj movements, led by the Indian National Congress. About a decade ago in 1916, Mohd Ali Jinnah had left Congress to join and lead Muslim League. Indian politics was changing its colors along ideologies of religion. Nawab of Bhopal was also particularly close to Mohd Ali Jinnah and also an active member of the Muslim League. Bhopal was a witness to agitations to ensure religious freedom, that had gained prominence during this time.
Meanwhile, citizens in princely states were going through a dual struggle. Controlled by the British, Nawabs and Kings often employed additional oppressive means for subjugation. Despite his very young age, Uddhavdas could successfully petition Mahatma Gandhi in 1928, who could then influence Nawab Hamidullah Khan to revert locally applicable Blasphemy laws. This, and previous activism by young Uddhavdas, had not gone unnoticed by the Nawab. He had already subjected Uddhavdas to frequent detentions, questioning, and surveillance.
Formation of RSS in Bhopal
Shri Uddhavdas Mehta was well aware of freedom movement, as well as was influenced by likes of Pandit Madanmohan Malviya. In 1915, Pandit Madanmohan Malviya had founded Hindu Mahasabha, and in 1930 Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was its president. In 1931, Uddhavdasji had turned 20, and was back in Bhopal after completing his studies at Benares. The same year he founded Hindu Seva Sangh, and also launched a news-paper “Praja Pukar”. Along with his practice as an Ayurveda Physician, he continued his movement for social and religious freedom.
Back in 1925, Dr KB Hedgewar had founded Rashtriya Swamsevak Sangh (RSS). Dr Hedgewar was a medical doctor, and an alumnus of Calcutta Medical College. The parent organization was slowly expanding its reach, setting up branches across the country.
In 1938-40, the Bhopal Branch of RSS was established under leadership of Uddhavdas Mehta. His continued activism, and quest for freedom of expression, and participation in freedom struggle again led to multiple more arrests by the Nawab. Beginning this time, he fondly became “Bhaiji” to all.
Bhopal becomes free
India before its independence was fragmented into British India (governed directly by the British), and subjugated 565 Princely states. After second world war, while it was clear that India was on its path to become independent, rulers of a few princely states including Bhopal felt that they could probably stick out and not merge with India. Nawab Hamidullah Khan was also trying to make a vain attempt to remain autonomous.
While India became independent on 15th August 1947, Nawab of Bhopal refused to merge. Leaders from all affiliations including Shri Uddhavdas Mehta, Shri Shankardayal Sharma , Thakur Lal Singh, and Shakir Ali started a struggle for merger. This combined effort is known as “Vilineekaran andolan” or merger movement. While the leaders of the movement were promptly arrested in January and February of 1948, the movement continued. Uddhavdas Bhaiji was only given a short parole to attend marriage if his own daughter, handcuffed. During this newly independent India, many parts of the country were witness to sectarian riots, and Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on 30th January 1948. The efforts for merger of Bhopal into India took much long. The struggle continued till 1st June 1949, when Bhopal finally joined Indian Union, and all political prisoners were released.
Later Shri Shankardayal Sharma, a lawyer who had just returned from his teaching assignment in Cambridge became face of the movement. He was also from a family of healers. His father Pandit Khushilal Sharma was also a prominent Ayurvedic physician in Bhopal
He later became first Chief Minister of the state, and moved on to Delhi. After being in central ministry for years, in 1992 he became President of India.
Post Independence Legacy
In independent India, former princely states and British territory merged to become Madhya Pradesh in 1952, and Minto hall became its legislative assembly. Nawab Hamidullah faded away from public life and died in 1960 in Bhopal. Meanwhile Bhai Uddhavdas, remained active with Hindu Mahasabha, and later Jansangh, but did not occupy any Public office. He was an active and constructive social reformer. He continued to heal people through Ayurveda. In his final years, he developed oral cancer, and passed away in 1986.
Today Bhopal has two prominent government ayurveda hospitals. One in old Bhopal is Pt. Uddhav Das Mehta Memorial Government Ayurvedic and Unani Hospital. It was initially established as a Unani hospital in 1904 and later grew as a center for an integrated Indian System of Medicine. Another is Pt. Khushilal Sharma Government Ayurvedic College, in new Bhopal. Pt. Bulchand, father of Bhai Uddhavdas and Pt. Khushilal were contemporary physicians in Bhopal in early 1900s.
Commemoration in a postage stamp is a high degree of recognition. As legends pass into pages of history, monuments remain and witness a change. Minto Hall (now known as Kushabhau Thakare convention center) has seen the changing times from its completion in 1936. Pages of history, healing and social change became alive as India remembered Bhai Uddhavdas in this very hall on 1st February 2026.
