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Home , Ananta Singh, Chittagong armoury raid, Chittagong Club, Eastern Frontier Rifles, Prafulla Chaki

History, Amnesia and Public Memory The Armoury Raid, 1930-34

 Sachidananda Mohanty

In this essay, I reconstruct the main It is impossible to think of the 1905.The chief architect of this phase outline of the Chittagong Armoury Chittagong movement without the was , then known as Raid and the uprising against the intellectual, political and martial Aurobindo Ghosh. His maternal British at Chittagong (former East leadership of Surjya Sen. During his grandfather, Rajnarayan Bose, had , now ) between college days, he came under the in 1876 formed a secret society called 1930 and 34. I also explore the reasons influence of the national movement Sanjibani Sabha of which several that might help explain the erasure of and vowed to dedicate his life to members of the Tagore family were this significant episode from public national liberation. According to other members. In a series of articles in memory in as well as accounts, Surjya Sen, Ambika Induprakash, a weekly from Bombay Bangladesh. I rely, in the main, on Chakraborty and others were initiated edited by KG Deshpande, Sri available historical evidence including into the movement by Hemendra Aurobindo severely criticised the Manini Chatterjee’s well documented Mukhoti, an absconder in the Barisal Congress policies for sticking to non- volume Do and Die: The Chittagong Conspiracy Case. violence. He sent a Bengali soldier of Uprising 1930 and 34 (Penguin The Chittagong group’s early the Baroda army, named Jatin Books, India, 1999). I supplement this inspiration came from the Bengal Banerjee to Bengal with the objective with information based on a recent visit revolutionaries who came into of establishing a secret group to to Bangladesh and my conversations prominence especially during the undertake revolutionary propaganda Partition of Bengal Movement in and recruitment. Jatin was later joined with the only surviving member of the raid, Binode Bihari Choudhury. The Chittagong story forms an intimate part of the larger history of revolutionary or militant nationalism in Bengal. On 18 , a group of armed revolutionaries raided the British Armoury and other military installations at Chittagong. They proclaimed an independent national government under the Indian Republican Army and waged a prolonged guerilla war in the ensuing three years in the countryside. Striking and graphic accounts at Dhalghat, the attack at Pahartali European Club and the underground resistance have been documented largely in Bengali by some of the survivors. Sadly, Preetilata, who led the group that raided the Pahartali mainstream historians in India and European Club. Bangladesh neglect this story.

32 MANUSHI by P Mitter and Barendra Ghosh, Sri Aurobindo’s younger brother. Another figure who was influential was a Maratha named Sukhram Ganesh Deuskar. Domiciled in Bengal, he wrote a book called Desher Katha that underlined the British commercial and industrial exploitation of India. He often addressed Jatindra’s group of Upper Circular Road on history and economics. On April 30,1908 at , two revolutionaries, and threw bombs at Kingsford. Sri Aurobindo was arrested on 2 May, 1908 and sent to Alipore jail. The report sent from Andrew Fraser, the then Lt Governor of Bengal, to Lord Minto in England, declared Binode Bihari Choudhary, the only survivor of the Chittagong Armoury that although Sri Aurobindo came to Raid in Bangladesh Calcutta in 1906 as a Professor at the National College, “he has ever since 1916. Eamon de Valera’s exhortation Hindu minority and the largely sullen been the principal advisor of the spurred Surjya Sen to effective action. Muslim peasantry, who were revolutionary party. It is of utmost In a speech delivered in New York in vulnerable to a communal mindset, importance to arrest his potential for 1920 entitled “India and Ireland”, was the greatest challenge the mischief, for he is the prime mover and Valera declared: Chittagong Group faced. As events can easily set tools, one to replace We, of Ireland, and you of India, proved, they turned the challenge another.” Sri Aurobindo ably must each of us endeavour, both into an opportunity. Revolutionary defended by C.R Das was acquitted as separate people and in terrorism at Chittagong was not a on 6 May 1909 while the other accused combination to rid ourselves of the one-time affair, the spectacular were sentenced to various terms of vampire that is fattening on our shooting down of a hated political or imprisonment. blood, and we must never allow administrative symbol of the British Terrorist Upsurge in Bengal ourselves to forget what weapon it Raj, say by a Khudiram or a Bhagat There were principally two was by which Washington rid his Singh. The earlier attempt by Bagha terrorist organisations in Bengal, country of the same vampire. Jatin to prepare an army under the Anushilan and . Under the The second aspect that shadow of World War I, with a influence of Barrister P Mitter, a strong distinguishes the Chittagong Group shipload of German weaponry had branch of Anushilan was formed in from its predecessors and earlier met with a premature and aborted end . models of revolutionary activities, in the fields of Kaptipada at Balasore Thus, while working under the including the Anushilan Group was in Orissa. banner of Gandhi’s Non- Cooperation its widening socio-religious base. No Rivalries and Betrayals movement, Surjya Sen and his group doubt, the Chittagong Group, like Due to various reasons including were deeply influenced by the earlier earlier revolutionaries like Khudiram, persistent internecine rivalry, betrayal revolutionaries of Bengal. They had Bagha Jatin and Barin Ghose, came and mutual suspicion among the undergone physical and armed from the Hindu middle class rebels, such a plan did not fructify training. In October 1926, Surjya Sen Bhadralok background. But Surjya until the time of Subash Chandra Bose was arrested and, two years later, he Sen did not have the advantage of a during World War II. We must also and other members were released. primarily Hindu ambience for remember that Sri Aurobindo’s The more immediate inspiration for revolutionary action. The entrenched argument in favor of the war-effort was the Chittagong group came from the socio-economic divide between the induced by solid strategic reasoning. famous Easter uprising in Dublin in educated (in cases landed zamnidars) Apart from the permanent need to

No.138 33 resist and defeat the fascist forces separately. Undeterred, they Throughout 1932-33, Masterda of Hitler, Mussolini and Tojo, India, proclaimed a provisional revolutionary and his men were on the run in the he reasoned, would have a standing government, unfurled the national flag countryside. Unfortunately, he was army of nationalistic minded soldiers and Surjya Sen made the following betrayed on 7th February 1933 and that could be relied upon to fight a declaration in English as part of a captured by a platoon of Gorkha war of national liberation, should the longer proclamation: “The great task Sepoys. Later, Tarakeshwar Dastidar occasion arise and should the British of revolution in India has fallen on the and Kalpana Dutta were arrested. decide to go back on their promise. Indian Republican Army. We in Sarat Bose, the brother of well- What Subhash did with the Chittagong have the honour to known Barrister Subash, came down favourable support of the Japanese, achieve the patriotic task of revolution to defend Surjya Sen. On 12 January by forming the for fulfilling the aspiration and urge of 1933, Surjya Sen and Tharakeshwar (INA) in Singapore and what the our nation.” Dastidar were hanged in Chauliaganj mutineers in the Royal Indian Navy Having made the proclamation, the Jail. Fearful of popular backlash, the did in the wake of a vastly weakened group retreated, surviving on biscuits bodies were carried in a British British military in the naval dockyard and water melons. Later, they fought a Cruiser, and thrown into the Bay of of Bombay in 1946, Surjya Sen pitched battle in the surrounding hills Bengal. The renowned Kalpana Datta accomplished despite being vastly of Jalalabad against a contingent of who was in the Rajasahi Jail was later outnumbered and outgunned by the the Eastern Frontier Rifles under the released, given her young age and British. He and his men carried out, command of Lt Col Dallas Smith. They gender. With this, the curtain came with the help of mostly looted lost several men and inflicted heavy down on the Chittagong Armoury weapons, a prolonged guerilla war casualties on the soldiers pursuing Raid. against a formidable army in the face them. Some of the rebels like Ananta It is worth recalling, in this context, of the full might of the British military Singh escaped to Calcutta. Others, the what Surjya Sen said in his last in undivided India. He did it by guts largest group, remained underground message before his hanging at mid- and idealism, no doubt joined and fought a guerilla war for nearly night: primarily with strategy and careful three years. Several encounters took “This is the task for preparation: planning and by overcoming the place, including one at Dhalghat in to embrace death as a friend and this class and communal divide in east June 1932. Later, Preetilata and her is the time to recall the light of other Bengal. Apart from this, he also group attacked the European Club at days as well. At such a solemn enlisted the active support and Pahartali. Wounded, she took moment, what shall I leave behind for combat participation of women like potassium cyanide and embraced you? Only one thing, that is my dream, Preetilata and Kalpana Datta, who martyrdom in 1932. a golden dream- the dream of a free would be remembered as the most outstanding examples of female participation in revolutionary action. Fallouts of the Raid After meticulous planning on 18 April 1930, the Chittagong Group raided the AFI armory, the police station and the telegraph office simultaneously. Telegraph and communication lines were totally severed. , Kalipada Chakraborty, Birabhadra, Dwija Dastidar, Surjya Sen, Ganesh Ghose, Ambika Chakraborty, Nirmal Sen, Binode Choudhury, Makhan Ghosal, Loknath Bal and others took part in the raids. Unfortunately they could not take possession of the Binode Bihari Choudhary with the author magazines, which were stored

34 MANUSHI India. How auspicious a moment it was when I first saw it! Throughout my life, most passionately and untiringly, I pursued it like a lunatic … onward my comrades! Never fall back! The day of bondage is disappearing and the dawn of freedom is ushering in!” A Forgotten Legacy The shook the foundations of the British Empire in India. Its echoes vibrated and reverberated across the length the breadth of the country, inspiring countless young men and women. Why was it subsequently erased from national memory and history? In this section, I shall rely on my recent trip to Chittagong , visits to various sites Momument to Preetilata infront of the European Club and monuments such as the Pahartali European Club and my conversation house memoirs, books of history and in many quarters, Surjya Sen is with Binode Bihari Choudhury, aged other memorabilia. High up on the described as a dacoit, a Hindu leader!” 93, the only surviving member of wall, there are portraits of Preeti -lata he regretted. “I met Mujeeb four to Surjya Sen’s group at Chittagong. and Surjya Sen and some of his own five times. In 1972 idols of goddess From Calcutta Netaji Subash photos of younger days. A framed Durga were destroyed in many places. Chandra Bose International Airport photograph shows him receiving an Accompanied by Fani Majumdar, a to the Shahi Amanat Antrajatik Biman award from Sheikh Mujeebur Rahman. minister in Mujeeb’s cabinet, I went Bandar of Chittagong, it takes less At 93, Binode Babu stoops a little. to Mujeeb and warned him that he than one hour. My host was Professor However, his voice exudes strength; would not remain in power if pro- Ghulam Sarwar Chowdhury who had he has a sharp memory and recalls Pakistani elements were not checked. promised to help me explore the facts quickly as he fixes his gaze upon There was an upsurge of such Surjya Sen trail in Chittagong you and recalls his younger days. elements that were not reconciled to A university colleague of the emergence of Bangladesh as a Sarwar’s, Nuri, met me at the “Did you take part in action?” I ask him. secular nation.” conference held at the auditorium of “Yes”. He shows his neck which a “Where is Bangladesh heading the Chittagong Chamber of bullet had pierced. He was sent to a today?” I ask Binode Babu as he Commerce. jail in faraway Rajputana and shifted shows signs of fatigue. “The BNP With Nuri and Sarwar, I went to to a camp in the desert. Kalpana Datta and the four party alliance are the J.M. Sen Center. There is a was kept in the Hizli detention camp. squeezing out Hindus from this concentration of Hindu population Later, she became a communist. This country. The majority of Hindus in here. We witness at this center the was the time when many arrested villages are a harassed lot especially permanent homage to the martyrs. revolutionaries came in contact with after Sheikh Haseena’s Awami League Helpful neighbours announced that communists in jail, he explained. In lost the recent election”, he replies. the legendary Binode Bihari April 1971, at the time of the liberation His parting request to Sarwar is: “I Choudhury aged 93 lived close by at of , Choudhury left for India have given away the award money of 120 Momin Road. through the Mizo hills and returned to one lakh received from Haseena to Binode Bihari’s home resembles Bangladesh on 3 January 1972. Chittagong university for an an average middle class household I ask him about the legacy of endowment lecture in the name of in . His bedroom serves as the Surjya Sen in Bangladesh. He shows Surjya Sen. Will you kindly follow this drawing room where he meets visitors. a moment’s hesitation in the presence up?” he pleads. Sarwar promises to The wooden shelves against the wall of Sarwar and Nuri. “Unfortunately do what he can and we depart.

No.138 35 The European Club opposite the present Pahartali Railway School is in a state of dilapidation. In front, there is an old marble plaque which enshrines Preetilata’s heroic act. The letters are faded and the area looks forsaken. It takes a while to locate the Dampara police lines, the old armoury looted by the revolutionaries. The policemen appear uncooperative until Sarwar tells them that his late father was a sub-inspector in the same area some years back! In the evening, my local host Professor Mohit Alam, currently a Professor at , takes me to a marriage dinner at the . Here I meet Robert The Pahartali European Club Kadir who was a communist and a student leader in Rangoon university. account I begin to understand the and November 1975 led to the In 1950, he had met comrade PC Joshi reasons for neglect of Surjya Sen’s primacy of the country’s armed who had married Kalpana Dutta in legacy in Bangladesh. forces. the forties the Chairman of the The Muslim League was Surjya Sen’s legacy of the freedom at Beijing. established in Dhaka in 1906 and struggle rested on a composite culture The next day, I was invited to the flourished under the leadership of and inter-religious harmony. English department of Chittagong Fazlul Huq, Hassan Shaheed Bangladesh today continues to university for a lecture. After the talk Suhrawardy, Mulla Jan Mohammed manifest an ethno- religious identity I enquired about Preetilata. “I shall and Maulana Bhashani. Mujeeb crisis, seriously questioning the show you Preetilata’s basha(home)” continued to support the Muslim earlier legacy of Surjya Sen. The says Kachi, a student whose father is League and till his denial of erasure of the Chittagong Armoury the premiership on 2 March 1971. a former communist. This time I am Raid from public consciousness in Between 1945 and 1947, he actively armed with a tape recorder. Binode Bangladesh has been a logical participated in Muslim League Choudhury, we are told, is at the corollary. Back in India, there is little agitations in Calcutta. nearby temple. He gives tuitions for appreciation of the movement. Such his livelihood. At the Sadharan - The imposition of Urdu began in 1956 and ended with the war of 1971. narratives lie trapped on the other Bramho Samaj temple, he pushes These led to his disillusionment with side of the political divide. Thus away the recorder, obviously fearful Pakistan as a failed state. public memory continues to be of the safety of his community. I Many factors were responsible inhospitable to the Chittagong understand the reasons for fear. At for the end of Bangladesh as a Armoury Raid. Kachi’s place, I see graphic accounts secular republic: Mrs Indira Gandhi Today, this memory lies neglected and photographs of atrocities was preoccupied with increasing and forsaken, waiting for better days. committed against minorities, men domestic turmoil at home. Between Its belief in a composite culture, killed, women violated and all because 1972 and 1975, food shortages, floods religious harmony, individual freedom of their support to the Awami League. and the cyclones increased and social equality are polar Mohit Alam, a secular Muslim, Mujeeb’s problems. By 1974 he had opposites to the various forms of suggested I buy JN Dixit’s excellent formed a one party State and a fundamentalism sweeping the memoir Liberation and Beyond presidential form of government. The subcontinent. brought out by University Press, assassination of Mujeeb and all the Sachidanand Mohanty is Professor, Dhaka after the Indian imprint top leaders of the Bangladesh Department of English, University of appeared. As I read the chilling liberation struggle between August Hyderabad.

36 MANUSHI