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Raila Singh

Village: Udhowal

City: Jalandhar

Raila Singh, son of Khem Singh. Village Udhowal, District Jullundur. He went to America about 1902 and has not returned so far. While at his home he had a good character. He was a member of the East Indian Ghadr propaganda committee in Panama in 1916. About the end of 1916 he contributed to the notorious Bhagwan Singh's fund for a revolution in India. He was one of the principal men of the East Indian Colony in Panama, who acted as go-betweens for Bhagwan Singh in Panama and the Yugantar Ashram in San Francisco. He also assisted in the collection of funds and all correspondence and business of the Ghadr Party was done in his name. He was one of the signatories of a letter, dated 12th November 1918 addressed by 58 Indians in Panama to His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the Armistice celebrations congratulating their Majesties on their victory in the Great War, and promising to abstain from any revolutionary activities. Raila Singh's name figured in a list of names and addresses of permanent subscribers in America and Canada of the "Desh Sewak" of Jullundur. His American address was P. O. Boxes H. 602 and 605, Ancon, Canal Zone, Central America. According to a letter published in the "Akali-te- Pardeshi" of 13th October 1926 he collected a sum of Rs. 2,695 from his compatriots in Panama and sent this to Santokh Singh (since dead) in aid of the Desh Bhagat Parwar Sahaik Fund (Fund for the relief of the families of political prisoners). In June 1926 Rattan Singh (R-36) recommended that the 'Kirti' be sent to him. In 1928 he was reported to be living at No. 121, Central Avenue, Panama, and to be working with Waryam Singh (W-5), a naturalized Panamian. About the middle of 1928 he wrote to the Manager of the 'Kirti', Amritsar, stating that he had made arrangements for the entry into Panama of Teja Singh of Kacha Pakka CT- 19). In 1929 the Ghadr Party were reported to be financing the 'Kirti' of Amritsar through Raila Singh. On 29th December 1929 he became a naturalized Panamian. Has a cloth shop in Panama and is looked upon as the Ghadr Party's representative there. Recently the Ghadr Party wrote to him asking whether he could supply the names of any men in that locality who would be prepared to go where the party wished to send them.