GRACKSUN: The Unsung Hero:Samuel Evans Stokes

GRACKSUN: The Unsung Hero:Samuel Evans Stokes: The picturesque small hamlet of Thanedhar is getting ready to mark the occasion of 100 years of planting the first apple sapling here b...

The Unsung Hero:Samuel Evans Stokes

The picturesque small hamlet of Thanedhar is getting ready to mark the occasion of 100 years of planting the first apple sapling here by Samuel Evans Stokes. It was in the winter of 1916 one hundred years ago, Samuel Evans Stokes, an American planted this new strain of apples variety known as Red Delicious at his Barubagh orchard in Thanedhar. In the year 1915, during his visit to USA, he found out that a new strain of apples has been developed by the Stark Brothers in Louisiana. While coming back the next year, he managed to smuggle few apple saplings, hidden in pillows, to India from Louisiana, USA.  That’s how the apple farming sprouted in this place that transformed the economy and destiny of the people of Thanedhar. 

  Who was this Samuel Evans Stokes?

Samuel Evans Stokes was born at Philadelphia, USA in the year 1882. Stokes family was into the business of elevators running in the name of “Stokes & Parrish Machine Co” (Later merged with Otis).He spent his early years of life at Philadelphia. In 1904 he meet a doctor couple Mr. and Mrs. Carleton at Philadelphia, while they were collecting funds for building of churches in Northern India. The couple use to run home for leper patients in Northern India. Influenced by their work he decided to join them in their work in India.  He was 21 years old when he first landed on the shores of Bombay on 26 February in 1904 from Philadelphia. The Stokes family was against his decision of going to India as he was the heir to the Quaker family’s prosperous business. He came to India with a determination of working at a home for leper patients. His work with the Leprosy Mission started in Sabatoo (what was then Punjab). As this was his first summer in India, the extreme hot condition of Indian summer forced Mr. Carleton to send him to take rest at Kotgarh church. While recovering in Kotgarh, he explored the surrounding hills and soon found himself in love with the eternal beauty and climate of this place. His father would send him $500 annually for 5 years with hopes of him returning to USA to take over the family business. However, he had already decided to spend the rest of his life at Thanedhar, a small town in Himachal Pradesh, fondly labelled as the "Mistress of the Northern Hills" by Rudyard Kipling.

Journey from Samuel Evans Stokes to Satyanand Stokes:-

 It is believed that Samuel Evans Stokes was moved by the plight of the local people. Back then, majority of the people around Thanedhar were shepherds and only a few people cultivated wheat and potatoes. He married a Rajput-Christian woman called Agnes on September 12, 1912. Stoke Sahab as he was lovingly addressed by the local people used to reside at Harmony Hall. In the year 1924, he started a school to educate the children of local farmers, emphasizing the education of girls. His interaction with the Sadhus, who were on their ways to Kailash Mansrovar, induced him to read Bhagvad Gita and Upnishads in English. Later on, he also learned to read Sanskrit language as well.  Moved by the learning of these texts, he embraced Hindu religion in 1932 and changed his name from Samuel Evans Stokes to Satyanand Stokes. His life was influenced by the principles of Arya Samajh.

Harmony hall and Paramjyoti Mandir:-

Harmony hall was built on the ridge above Thanedhar in 1912. A two story building is an architectural marvel of sloping slate roof, wooden beams and dresses stone and certainly with western influences such as chimneys and big windows.

Satyanand Stokes also built a Pent roofed style temple next to Harmony Hall in 1937 which is known as Paramjyoti Mandir or the Temple of Eternal light. The temple has a Havan Kund and carved inscription from Bhagvad Gita and Upnishads that aptly sums up his philosophy of life.

Contribution to the struggle for India’s Independence:-              

                Satyanand Stokes held the unique distinction of being the only American member of the All India Congress Committee and the only American to be imprisoned by the British in Indian struggle for Independence. He was charged with “sedition” and was imprisoned in Lahore (now in Pakistan) jail. He also found mention in the Mahatma Gandhi’s Young India—a weekly paper. He was against the social evil of Begar (forced labour) system of the British and local Rajas which was nothing but a means to exploit the poor people.

Satyanand Stokes breathed his last on May 14, 1946 but not before he had entered in the folklore of this place and dedicated his entire life to the place.

Well, the result of experiment that started a century ago  is not bad.

The apple experiment that started by planting a “Red Delicious” sapling at Barubagh a century ago is now  the main cash crop of the region. The apple fruit, having an economy of around Rs. 3,500 crore, is grown mainly in the districts of Shimla, Kinnaur, Kullu, Mandi, Chamba and some parts of Sirmaur and Lahaul-Spiti. The average production of apple is around 5 lakh tonnes every year but the maximum production was recorded in the year 2010-11, when it crossed 9 lakh tonnes. The apple crop provided the platform to the people of this region to transform economy. It is due to the Apple crop that the area boasts of considerable high standards of living and is renowned for its high per capita income.

Today in Himachal Pradesh, Apple is the most important fruit crop, which constitutes 49% of the total area under fruit crops and about 85 % of total fruit production. Area under Apple cultivation has increased from 400 hectares in 1950-51 to 1,09,553 hectares in 2014-15. The apple production for the last three years is given below:                                                                                                     

(Figures in ‘000 tonnes)

Apple Production in Himachal Pradesh for last three years
2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16(upto 31.12.2015.
412.39	738.72	625.20	754.95

Source: Economic Survey-2015 Govt. of H.P

 What, we all should ponder?

The experiment that Satyanand Stokes selfless started a century ago went on to become a revolution. And it’s this revolution that changed the life and fortune of entire region. Asha Sharma his biographer granddaughter beautifully sums up his philosophy of life: the struggle for right and fair play in the relations of men is a worth fighting. Exactly after a century we all should honestly ask few questions from ourselves. Have we done enough to acknowledge his contribution that changed our life for good? These questions do require some serious introspection and soul searching, both on the part of the State Government as well as local resident of Thanedhar—for that matter each one of us who are the beneficiary of the sapling he planted 100 years back.