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Home , Jatindra Nath Das, Prafulla Chaki, Sachindra Nath Sanyal, Shiv Verma, Surya Sen

JATINDRA NATH DAS -alias- JATIN DAS.

Birth : 27 th October 1904. Death : 13 th September 1929.

Father : Mr. Bankim Behari Das. Mother : Mrs. Suhashini Devi.

SHAHID JATINDAS

?By : Mr. Ranjit Roy (Bengali Teacher, Belgharia Jatin Das Vidyamandir for Boys) resides at Birati. The main article was published in ‘NABANKUR’ school magazine for the year 2004-2005 in Bengali.

A MARTIAL REVOLUTIONARY PATRIOT OF Translated By : Mr. Prasenjit Kumar Das, Jatin Das Nagar, Belgharia.

In 1757 at Pallashir the faith of and India, in larger context was held after the betray of Mirzafar, Umichand, Iyerlatif, Jagatseth but this land not only gave birth of betrayer Mirzafar but also gave birth of many patriots like Khudiram, , Baghajatin and Jatin Das. These great patriots taught us about nationalism, patriot ship, how to sacrifice for others. They http://www.indianactsinbengali.wordpress.com 1 have tried their best to uphold the head of a unified, independent and united nation. Let us discuss about one of them, Jatin Das and his great sacrifice towards the nation. on 27 th October 1904 Jatin Das (alias ) came to free the nation from the bondage of the British Rulers. He born at his Mother’s house at Sikdar Bagan. He was the first child of father Bankim Behari Das and mother Suhashini Devi. After birth the newborn did not cried for some time then the child cried loudly, it seems that the little one was busy in enchanting the speeches of motherland but when he saw that his motherland is crying for her bondage the little one cant stop crying. The God, at that moment fixed this child as a sacrifice for the land.

At the age of Nine Jatin lost his mother . When little Jatin and his younger brother Kiron asks about their mother their father, Bankim Behari told them that their mother had gone to the land of stars, up in the sky, he pointed out on the stars and always say that their mother is always watching them and giving her blessings. Jatin and Kiron both the brothers loved to hear the stories of Khudiram, , the Bomb makers of Maniktala, the Rajputas and the Marathas.

Jatindas inherited the strong personality from his father, a story might revealed this – one day Jatin gone to his grand fathers house. Jatin was playing with some local boys and suddenly they desided that they will sit on the Panshi, a small boat of the local magistrate sahib. But the guard of the Panshi said there are no orders to allow others to sit on the Panshi. Jatin as so angry and drawn the Panshi at night.

From the year 1908 to 1915, this period was the starting period of revolutionary activities for Indian independence. In one side the British govt. creating pressure, torture and in other side the young men and women of India could not stood still and started revolutionary activities. The young revolutionaries sacrifices themselves for the motherland. Not only in Bengal but in Punjab also. Punjab Gaddar revolution, Hanging of Kartar Singh, In Buribalam Orissa Bagha Jatin with only four fellow revolutionary fought with one thousand british soldiers. These great revolutionary incidents made a mark in Jatin’s heart when he was only eleven.

http://www.indianactsinbengali.wordpress.com 2 Jatin was a meritorious student. He also go to the wrestling, he play football – these was his daily routine. He was a foody too.

Jatin completed his matriculation from Mitra Institution at Bhabanipore in 1921. He ranked in the First division. In this period called for “Asahayog Andolan” or “Non Cooperative Movement”. The terrifying Jalianwallahbagh killing incident was already took place while protesting the Raolat Act. The british govt. incorporated the Raolat Act in the year 1919. In demand of the season Jatin joined this “Asahayoh Andolan” and was arrested several times. British Police areested him and detained him for six months for picketing. After release Jatin joined the Congress. His father told him to concentrate in his studies only bout the sixteen years old Jatin told his father that he will definitely concentrate on his studies but when the nation is calling he can not ignore that. His nation’s freedom movement was his first priority. After hearing this the angry father told Jatin to leave his house and do this from outside. Jatin leaved his fathers house and gone to the Congress office at south Calcutta. In this time the anti- British movements was in its high time. May be if everyone fight united then we can get our independence that time but a little incident which was is known as the chowri chowra killing incident. After this incident Gandhiji roll back the movement and the whole anti- British movement stooped and the earning of indolence was gone too. This decision of Gandhiji hurt the feelings of Jatindas and Jatin felt that Gandhiji was not a reliable leader of the people, so he returned at his home and concentrated in his studies only.

Loving the nation, its people and sacrifice for them – this was the aim of Jatin’s life. While studying in Bangabashi College in B.A. class he concentrated in social works, for epidemic effected poor people he distributed medicines, he took initiative for funeral for those bodies which other people will not even touch, he established night school in order to educate poor illiterate people, these works are un-comparable. In every social works he always present in the first row.

While residing in a house at Bhabanipore Girish Mukherjee Road Jatin visited Deben Bose’s house at near Seth Bagan Road. In this house he this houise he met who was an assistant of Revelutionary Rashbehari Bose (Bose, who is the founder member of the or I.N.A.). Sachin Sanyal identified this young revolutionary who has steel strong mentality and a big heart and can

http://www.indianactsinbengali.wordpress.com 3 sacrifice for others. Sanyal engaged twenty years old Jatin as an assistant for the Hindustan Republican Association or H.R.A. Jatindas was deployed in chapter of H.R.A. movement. This association gather young boys and through strong arms insavation they tried to established Federal Republic of the United States of India, an united and unified state. They also thought of Provincial Autonomous Government, therefore, Jatin Das was the first who thought about a new idea of united democracy.

Jatin was a scientist leader in the H.R.A. He can make bombs and he taught his fellow members of H.R.A. how to make bombs, parcel bobms. He worked for independence through revolution in many nick names, such as, he gathered arms ans ammunitions in the name “Rahamath”; he distribute pamphlets in the name “Roben”; he also did some dacoities from the treasuries in the name “Nitaj”. He never harm any Indian with intention to looth and dacoity for personal use. Some people called him “Jatindra Nath Das” some called “Jatin Das”. Bhagat Singh called him “Jatin Da”. Wife of Sachindra Nath Sanyal wrote that Roben was an extraordinary brave boy, he was always ready to enter into any dangerous work.

In 1924 he was elected as an Assistant Secretary of Congress Committee. In this time a devastating fold took place in North Bengal. Subhash Chandra Bose took an initiative to send relief for the flood victims in North Bengal. Jatin Das was the fellow member of this team.

Jatin Das love to eat and his tragic end was took place for hunger strike. May be this is called the tragedy of the faith. Jatin Das attempted huger strije for two times. The first one was in connection with “Kankori Conspiracy Case”. In 24 th October 1924 the British govt. issued an ordinance called the Bengal Ordinance, in order to arrest any people in suspection without any warrant. In order to collect finance for the revolutionary associations there were many dacoity incidents took place, the dacoity in a trin at Kankori railway station was the leading amongst these. The revolutionaries looted five thousand amount of then British money from that tratn. Jatindra Nath Das supplied arms for this mission in the name of “Kalibabu”. But many of these revolutionaries were arrested by R. Hotton, a senior detective of British Police Department. A case was registered in the name “Kankori Conspiracy Case”. In this case the British judge announced death sentence to Ramprasad Bismil, Roshan Singh and

http://www.indianactsinbengali.wordpress.com 4 Life imprisonment to Sachin Sanyal, Jogesh Chatterjee. And they all sent to Kalapani at Andaman . Jatindara Nath Das was also arrested under the sections of this Bengal Ordinance and at first, he was confined in cell no. 44 at Midnapore Jail. In this cell there was no window and no light. Jatin was almost dead in this cell, then the jail authority sent Jatin to Alipore Jail on 28 th May 1926. He was sent to Dhakas Mayman Simgha jail on the same year. Jatin was encouraging prisoners in jail that was the reason , the British was scared and they were keep transferring Jatin from one jail to another. Jatin Das and Pannalal Mukherjee started hunger strike to protest the bad and rude behavior and below standard food in british jails. Both continued their hunger strike for 22 days after 23 rd day the D.I.G. of Detective Department Layman promised them to provide the basic things in jails, after this promise they broke their strike. Jatin Das was transferred to the Siyanwalli Jail at Punjab, then he has to spent some time in Chattogram Jail. In the year 1928 British Govt. released Jatin Da. After this release Jatin Da admitted to Bangobashi College for B.A. studies.

In the year 1928-1929, it was the high time for the independence movement in British India colonial. The whole country was ready for a revolutionary movement but the congress meeting at Calcutta put that movement in underwater. Subhash Chandra Bose said, “When the whole nation is ready, the leaders are not.” It was a misfortune for the people of the bondage country that Mahatma Gandhi did not saw any light in the revolutionary movement. But in this time revolutionaries’ like Bhagat Singh in Punjab, Satish Pakrashi; Jatin Das; ; Ambika Chakraborty in Bengal started revolutionary movements to earn the independence.

Protesting against was an important chapter in Indian freedom battle. Simon Commission was formed on 10 th November 1927,in order to provide changes in Administrative operations and reforms. On 8 th February 1928 when the members of this commission came to Calcutta (now ) the Calcutta was on strike according to the instructions of the Congress. On 30 th October when this commission came to , leads precession outside the rail station where the crowd announced ‘Simon go back’. The Punjab police head Scoot ordered his subordinate officer Sandors to charge sticks on the crowd. Lala Lajpat Rai was badly injured in this charge and he died on 17 th November. Young revolutionary Bhagat Singh, Chandrasekhar Azad and other fellow revolutionary of Punjab took an oath to take revenge on Lalaji’s death. On 17 th December Bhagat Singh & Raj Guru killed Sandoz near Dayananda

http://www.indianactsinbengali.wordpress.com 5 Vaidik Mahavidyalaya in Lahore main road. The head constable Chandan Singh came to help Sandoz, they also fired on Chandan Singh because he is helping Sandoz. After this incident they throw many pamphlets for publicity and escaped from Punjab. They came to Calcutta for underground shelter and meet Jatin Das and requested him to supply Bombs for revolutionary activities for independence. Jatin Das agreed with them and gave his confirmation.

Only for Bhagat Singh Jatin Das gone to to teach other revolutionaries how to make bombs, when Bengal needed him most. People came from many places from the country to Agra for training how to make bomb. In the jungle og they test their prototypes. Bhagat Singh, Batukeshwar Dutta, Vijay Kumar Simgha rent a house. Jatin Das permanently came here. After completing the trainings Sukhdev gone to Lahore and gone to Saharanp[ur, U.P. and each of them established a bomb making plants there.

8th April 1929 was an important day. Central managing committee conference was held in Delhi. Many political parties were present there. In congress side Matilal Neheru, Madan Mohan Malavya, Lord St. Simon was present there. They were discussing on the Trade Dispute Bill and Public Safety Bill. Suddenly a bomb was charged in front of the conference hall. Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutta cried loudly ‘Long live revolution’. They also said, “We do not came here to kill anyone. We believe in revolution. But today we came here to protest only. Protest against the incompency and partial government and incompetent laws.” Both the young revolutionaries surrender themselves.

Maybe Bhagat Singh want to spread the ideology of revolution amongst every one that’s why he and his mate surrendered, but it seems that it was a Himalayan Blunder. Because from this lead the British Detectives discovered many traces of many cases of revolution. They discovered the Sandoz killing connection. British Police took confidential statements from many prisoners and raided at Punjab, , and Bengal and had registered a multi state conspiracy case and arrested Bhagat Singh, Batukeshwar Dutta, Sukhdev, Raj Guru, Bhagabati Charan Bhora, Shiv Verma, Jiten Sanyal, Phani Ghosh, Jai Gopal, Lalit Mukherjee, Jatindra Nath Das and many revolutionary freedom fighters of the land. British police keep washing brains of unstable minds, like Phani Ghosh, Lalit

http://www.indianactsinbengali.wordpress.com 6 Mukherjee and Jai Gopal and made them witness for thebritish governments side (Rajsakshi).

On 14 th June 1929 the British Police arrested Jatindra Nath Das from Hazra Road. First he was taken to Lahore Jail then he was taken to Lahore Bostral Jail with other accused. On 10 th July 1929 British Police put up the case named “Lahore Conspiracy Case” where the main charge was killing police officer Sandoz.

In jail they have to share the prison cells with other hard core criminals. The food provided to them was not a food, no human can eat those. The jail authority do not gave them any hygienic items, extra cloths, medicines, soap, oil, towel etc. and the prisoners were treated as animals. No news paper was available in the jail, no one was allowed to meet the prisoners. In this situation many prisoners lost their control over their minds and attempted suicide and if they survive any how, they became mentally unsound. But the European prisoners were treated as lords, rape convicted European prisoners, killing convicted European prisoners were provided good foods and other facilities. Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutta protest against these discriminations. Both of them decided for hunger strike to protest this.

In other side after arresting Jatin Das the British Judiciary played a play in the name of justice. After the play Jatin Da and others were sent to Lahore Bostral Jail where they all met Bhagat Singh there and decided for hunger strike – but there was only one, Jatin Das who said that hunger strike is not a good way because the British will never listen to us, even we die, they will stand on their stand. Because Jatin Das already has an experience, so he said that that filthy British will never fulfill the demands. Jatin Das advised all not to go for hunger strike, but in that time all the prisoners aimed for hunger strike and do not gave any importance to das. At last, Jatin Das joined this strike too and determined he will not take any food. The British after hearing this removed water from the cells. But they can not stooped the prisoners, the jail authority tried to forcefully put milk through pipes, but they failed. The attention of the whole nation was on the Lahore Bostral Jail.

Days gone but Jatin’s aim was still. The whole nation was awaiting whether the British Govt. will say that they are ready to fulfill the demands

http://www.indianactsinbengali.wordpress.com 7 of the prisoners, but alas! The greedy filthy British authority did not gave any importance to this. Jatin Das continued his hunger strike for 63 days and then put his last breath in the foot of the motherland. On 13 th September 1929, at the age of 25 we lost Jatin Das. 01:05 p.m. the time stooped in Boston Jail. The fellow prisoners were crying for Das. The prisoners gave honour for the last time, they covered the dead body of Das with rose petals. They carried the martyr from jail to the gate. Everyone bow their heads and gave salute. On 04:00 p.m. people of the Lahore carried his body with a large procession, almost fifty thousand people were present in that procession.

Calcutta stopped after hearing this news. All the shop in Calcutta was closed. Subhash Chandra Bose had cancelled all his appointments and returned to Calcutta and being the chairman of B.P.C.C. announced 15 th September as a sad day.

When Lahore Express reached to Delhi station, the whole Delhi came to the station and announced “Long Live Revolution”, “We want our independence”. The name of the train had changed as ‘Jatindas Jindabad Express’. The Jatindas Jindabad Express reached at 02:30 a.m. where Jawahar Lal Neheru express his speech for Das and honored Das with flowers. 9Jawahar Lal Neheru said, “Another name has been added to the long and splendid roll of Indian Martyrs. Let us bow our heads and pray for strength to act to carry on the struggle, however long it may be and whatever consequences, till the victory is ours.” while commenting on death of Jatin Das. Durga Bhabhi led the funeral procession of Jatin Das from Lahore to Kolkata. After his death the then Viceroy informed London, “Mr. Das of the Conspiracy Case, who was on hunger strike, died this afternoon at 1p.m. last night, five of the hunger strike. So there are only Bhagat Singh and Dutta who are on strike.” Mohammad Alam and Gopi Chand Bhargava resigned from Punjab Legislative Council, Motilal Neheru proposed for an adjournment of the Central Assembly as a censure against the inhumanity on the Lahore Prisoners. 8 Next day the express came to Howrah Station. People bursted at Howrah station, there was not a single space for a pin to stand. Smt. Bashanti Devi, Neli Sengupta, Kamala Neheru, Subhash Chandra Bose, Dr. , Shyama Prasad Mukherjee were present there to honour martyer Das. At first his body was taken to Town Hall where the Chairman of Calcutta Municipal Corporation Baroda Prasanna Pyne honoured Das. 52 years old fther

http://www.indianactsinbengali.wordpress.com 8 Bankim Behari Das came with Kiron Chandra Das to see his elder son for the last time. The proud father said, “I am proud for my son. Today I am the most fortunate father”. Video footage shows that numerious people lead Das to Keoratala Burning Ghat, news papers of that time reported that only at the time when the dead body of Deshbandhu was taken for burning this much crowd were present and now for Jatin Das. Govt. reports said more than five lakh people were present there on that day.

Hon’ble dignities were present there. They changed flowers and covered Das with flower for the final time. Subhash Chandra Bose bow his head and took the foot print of Das. He promised that he will never loose this sacrifice in vain. The body was then placed on Haridra Sandal Wood and was ignited. Bankim Behari announced, “Om! Narayana! As our ancestors hand over our country in the hands of foreighners in a betrayed mood, I am sacrificing my beloved son ‘Khedu’ into your feet. O father, Let the whole country be awaken through this sacrifice.”

JATINDRANATH DAS, a glorious chapter of India’s revolutionary period and of course the struggle for independence in the British colonial context. Which light will enlighten the heart of the nation he gave sacrifice of his life in 25. He never thought that what will be left after him because Das born in British Raj time and also died in that time, but he has a dream that one day his countrymen will born in an independent nation. Today Das is not with us but he will remain alive in our hearts, he is alive through his vision – The Revolution.

Bande Mataram!!

9 In the year 1979 India Post published 30 lakh Postal Stamps in the name of Jatindra Nath Das 8 http://www.indianactsinbengali.wordpress.com 9

9On 2002 a film in Hindi was made on the Lahore Martyres, named “The Legend of Bhagat Singh”, where they showed the role of Jatin Das in the revolutionary activities for the independence from the british bondage. 8

999added by the translator. 888

Reference Books used by the writer and the translator :- 1. “Shahid Jatin Das o Bharoter Aandolan” by Santosh Kumar Pathak. 2. “Shahid Jatin Dasher Samkhipta Parichiti” by Smt. Kamala Das. 3. Heros of Anti Impertialist (British) Movement. 4. Dr. Prem Dutta Verma, Punjab University Weekly Bullitin, 19 th September 1964. 5. Indianpost.com Articles.

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