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In
a historic meeting held on April 23, 1913 in Astoria, Oregon,
a small group of Indian delegates from California, Oregon,
Washington and Canada assembled to lay the foundation of
the Hindi Association of the Pacific Coast of America, which
eventually became the Gadar Party. Their main objective
was to free India from oppressive British rule.
Dr.
Thind became a leader in the party while attending college
and working in the lumber mills of Astoria and Wauna, Oregon.
In 1916 and 1917, Dr. Thind delivered speeches all over
Oregon advocating India's independence and was elevated
to General Secretary for the Gadar party in the state of
Oregon. From 1916 through 1925 he was under surveillance
by the British Intelligence Agency. His involvement with
the Gadar Party and the reports from the British Intelligence
Agency had profound effects on his struggle to gain his
US citizenship.
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