Do you know?
It was an American named Samuel Stokes who introduced the Apple in the Hill State of Himachal.
When Samuel Stokes left home in Philadelphia & set sail for India in 1904 aged 22, his parents had hoped he would return home after a year or two.But this did not happen.
It was an American named Samuel Stokes who introduced the Apple in the Hill State of Himachal.
When Samuel Stokes left home in Philadelphia & set sail for India in 1904 aged 22, his parents had hoped he would return home after a year or two.But this did not happen.
Instead, Stokes made India his home.
Stokes took part in the Non-Cooperation Movement. He was imprisoned for six months for sedition in the Lahore jail & refused bail, the only American to be jailed in India's struggle for Independence.
Stokes took part in the Non-Cooperation Movement. He was imprisoned for six months for sedition in the Lahore jail & refused bail, the only American to be jailed in India's struggle for Independence.
He wore Khadi, married an Indian, learnt Sanskrit, became a Hindu, set up a school & introduced apples to Himachal Pradesh.
The hill state's most famous produce owes its origins to the apple cuttings Stokes had brought from America to persuade farmers to start apple cultivation.
The hill state's most famous produce owes its origins to the apple cuttings Stokes had brought from America to persuade farmers to start apple cultivation.
Samuel Stokes renamed himself Satyanand &never went back to the US after a trip he made with his young wife in 1914.His family still maintains roots with Kotgarh in Shimla Distt of Himachal where Stokes started it all.He died in 1946 &was cremated in the hills he loved so dearly.
For some reason his contribution has largely been ignored.
A few years ago, his granddaughter Asha Sharma, wrote a biography on Samuel Stokes, "An American in Khadi".
A few years ago, his granddaughter Asha Sharma, wrote a biography on Samuel Stokes, "An American in Khadi".
His daughter-in-law Vidya Stokes was a minister in the Himachal government for many years.
The next time you eat an apple from Himachal, remember this American-Indian Hindu man named Satyanand Stokes who made it possible.
The next time you eat an apple from Himachal, remember this American-Indian Hindu man named Satyanand Stokes who made it possible.
Some other facts about Satyanand Stokes:
-He was the sole American who participated in India's Freedom Struggle against the British.
-Stokes was also the only American to be ever imprisoned by the British.
-He was the sole American who participated in India's Freedom Struggle against the British.
-Stokes was also the only American to be ever imprisoned by the British.
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