Saroj Kumar Bose

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Saroj Kumar Basu (1915 – 27 May 2005) was an Indian revolutionary who participated in Hili Mail Raid Case as a part of much larger Indian Independence Movement. Saroj Kumar Bose spent almost a decade in the Cellular Jail a colonial prison in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

EARLY LIFE

Saroj Kumar Basu, also known as Kalketu among his peers and other compatriots who were his contemporaries, was born on January 1915 at Baluribari (Dinajpur Town) under district Dinajpur (now in Bangladesh). His father, Ananada Mohan Basu, was a renowned lawyer and his mother, Kadambini Basu, was a housewife. Ananda Mohan Basu migrated from Chandshi at Barishal.

Both of his parents passed away within an interval of three months when he was five years old. His other two brothers and younger sister were minor at the time of death of their parents. His maternal uncle Kulada Kanta Ghosh and his brothers were migrated from Faridpur to Raiganj (now in Uttar Dinajpur). He was brought up in his maternal uncles house at Raiganj.

EDUCATION

His primary education was at Gopal Bandhab Pathshala and thereafter he was admitted to Raiganj Coronation High School. In 1931,he passed Matriculation Examination in First division with letters (scored more than 80%) in Five subjects. Later he took admission in I.Sc. at Berhampore K.N. College, Murshidabad.

ACTIVITIES

When he was student of class six, he came into close contact of the "Anushilan Samity" through the recruiters Barada Bhushan Chakraborty And Bibhuti Guha of Dinajpur. And in a very short period of time he was eventually selected as town in charge of Raiganj and thus became a very important member of the Anushilan Samity and integral part of Samity's regular activities.

In order to raise fund for purchase of arms and to defend Inter-Provincial Conspiracy Case, the Anushilan Samity decided to rob the Postal Mail (During those times, revenue was collected from north Bengal and sent to Kolkata by the Darjeeling Mail train by the British Government of India) at Hili (now in Bangladesh).

Saroj Kumar Basu took active part in this Hili Mail Raid Case on 28^th October 1933 under the leadership of Prankrishna Chakraborty. But the mission failed and they were captured near the river Ateryee. In special tribunal of three judges headed by the Dist & Session Judge, Rajsahi Mr. E.S Simpson (younger brother of Col. N.S Simpson, who was killed by Benoy, Badal and Dinesh).

Saroj Kumar Bose along with Prankrishna Chakraborty, Hrishikesh Bhattacharjee and Satyabrata Chakraborty were awarded Death Penalty. In appeal to special bench in Calcutta High Court consisting three judges, headed by Chief Justice Sir Mannatha Mukherjee, his death sentence was modified in to transportation for 10 year. The British rulers being aggrieved by the judgment of Calcutta High Court filed SLP (Special Leave Petition) in Privy Council and after hearing the SLP was rejected. He was transported to Cellular jail in 1935 and his convict number was 271.

IN JAIL

In Cellular jail he came into close contact with Satish Pakrashi, Provat Chakraborty, Harekrishna Koner and others and became the follower of Marxism. He took part in the Hunger strike for 37 days in Cellular Jail. Before 2^nd World War all the political prisoners were repatriated into main land of India form Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He also participated for 36 days hunger strike in the year 1939  at Alipore Central Jail. In 1942 he was released but again rearrested in jail gate and finally released from Jail in September, 1946.

He was in Dinajpur jail, Bagura Jail, Berhampur Central Jail, Presidency Jail, Alipore Central Jail, Dumdum Central Jail, and Andaman Cellular Jail.

AFTER RELEASE

After release he involved himself in Railway workers movement, He was a member of Communist party of India and after division of  The Communist party in 1962 he left active part in politics, but till his demise he was follower of C.P.I(M). He was first & foremost a passionate lover of the distressed people and lived for them in his entire life.

PERSONAL LIFE

After independence, Saroj Kumar Bose worked as a primary school teacher and married to Smt. Gita Basu. He had two sons and a daughter. He was permanently residing at Ukilpara, Raiganj, Uttar Dinajpur, West Bengal.

On 27^th May 2005, he breathed his last breath, leaving behind his wife, two sons, one daughter, one son-in-law, two daughter-in-laws, one grand son and two grand daughters.

Other Principal Revolutionaries of Hili Mail Road Case:

Prankrishna Chakraborty – LEADER. Born: Rudrakar, Palong. Faridpur (Now in Bangladesh). S/o. Late Janaki Nath Chakraborty. When he was a third year student of Mitford Medical School, Dacca, gave up studies and engaged in the revolutionary activity in " The Anushilan Samity". Arrested in December 1932. at Jalpaiguri with Arms. Sentenced to a Prison term of Seven years. While being transferred from Jalpaiguri Jail to a Calcutta Jail, escaped from the custody of armed police escort from a running train with convicts uniform on and with steel hand-cuffs locked on the wrists. Went underground. A reward was declared by the then British Govt for his arrest. Later arrested on 29-10-33 on the bank of a river in the afternoon following the night raid on Hilli Rly. Stn. The Trial Court sentenced him to death. Commuted by the Hon'ble High Court to a prison term of 25 years on appeal. Deported to the Andamans. Took Part in the Cellular Jail in the hunger strike for 37 days, fell a victim to the brutal punishment of flogging in the Cellular Jail. Repatriated in January 1938. Took Part in another hunger strike-July 1939 for 36 days. Released on 31st August, 1946. Total Jail period fourteen years. After release from Jail he actively took part in politics. Previously he belonged to R.S.P. There after he join in communist party of India. After division of the communist party of India he became a party member of C.P.I(M) till his last breath. He devoted his life for the Refugee Movement and was a front line leader. He was secretary and there after president of U.C.R.C. Due to his age and ill health he resigned from the post of president of U.C.R.C. He was the honorary adviser of U.C.R.C till death. He died on 21st day of October, 2002 leaving behind his wife and three daughters as legal heirs.

Hrishikesh Bhattacharjee – Deputy LEADER. Born: 1915. Barabandar, Dinajpur Town (Now in Bangladesh). S/o. Late Ramesh Chandra Bhattacharya—Zamindar, belonged to "The Anushilan Samity". Intermediate science student. Gave up studies and went underground by the middle of 1932. Arrested on 29-10-33 on the bank of a river in the afternoon following the night raid on Hilli Rly Stn. The Trial Court sentenced him to death. On appeal the Hon'ble High Court commuted the sentence to a prison Term of 25 years. Deported to the Andamans. Took part in the hunger strike of July 1937 in the Cellular Jail for  37 days. Repatriated in January, 1938. Released on 31st August 1946. Suffered confinement in Dinajpur Jail in connection with the on going Peasant movement i.e. Tebhaga in 1946. Total Jail period about 14 years. After release from Jail he joined the Communist Party of India. He was the President of the Communist Party of India in West Dinajpur District and died in the year 1969 in a Road Accident. He was bachelor.

Satyabrata Chakravarti Born: 12 3 1916 at Dinajpur Town (Now in Bangladesh). Son of Late Kali Kumar Chakrabarti-service-holder. Was a student of I. A in Rajsahi College. At the age of 12 came in contact with the Anushilan Party. He was wanted in the Luke Shooting Case (1932) but evaded arrest for about a year Mr. Luke Superintendent, Rajsahi. Jail was shot in Nov. 1932: Luke was seriously injured and had to resign and go back to England. Arrested on 29. 10. 33 in connection with the Hilli action. Awarded death sentence. Commuted to 10 years Prison term by the High Court on appeal. Participated in the 2nd Hunger strike in the Cellular Jail July 1937 for 37 days. Repatriated in 1938 January. Another hunger strike in July 1939 for 36 days. After release in 1942 he was rearrested and kept in detention. Took active part in the Peasant movements in 1946 and 1947. Total Jail period 12 years. He was a member of the C.P.I.(M) and worked among the distressed people. He was a bachelor and died  in the year 1991.

Prafullya Narayan Sanyal Born: 1911. Bilaskhan, Pallong, Faridpur (Now in Bangladesh) S/o Late Karuna Kanta Sanyal. Belonged to the Aushilan Samity. Gave up studies to devote himself in revolutionary activities. Arrested on 29-10-33 on the Bank of a river some forty miles away from Hilli Rly Station. Sentenced to prison term for life. On appeal commuted by the Hon'ble High Court to Ten years prison term. Deported to the Andamans. One of the hunger strikers of July 1937 for 37 days in the Cellular Jail. Repatriated in January 1938. Took Part in another hunger strike in July 1939 in Dum Dum Central Jail for 36 days. On completion of the prison term he was detained under D.I.R. Finally released in the fall of 1945. Total Jail period twelve years. After release he was a member of the Communist party of India and after division of the communist party he left active politics but till his demise he was a follower of Marxism. He died leaving behind his wife as his only legal heir.

Abdul Kader Chowdhury Bom: 10th November 1901 Samshiba Kantabac Bequia (Now in Bangladesh) 5/0 Late Abdul Latif Chiwdhury and Rahaman Khan Chowdhury Qualified as Allopathic Physician from Dacca Medical school; suffered a prison term in the Non co-operation Movement of 1921. Also suffered prison term in the C. D. Movement of 1930-31. His Allopathic Medicine dispensary was confiscated by the British Government for realisation of Rs.300/- fined by the Govt. & payment of which was denied by Sri Chowdhury during the C.D. Movement.  He joined the "Anusilan Samity . Arrested in connection with the Hilli Station Raid Action in the first week of November. Sentenced to transportation for life. Abdul Kader Chowdhury on appeal was commuted by the Hon’ble High Court to Seven years prison term. Deported to the Andamans. Took Part in the hunger strike of July 1937 for 37 days in the Cellular Jail. Repatriated in January 1938. Released in the fall of 1939. Total jail period more than Seven years in connection with the Hilli Mail Raid Case.  In cellural Jail he took active part for teaching Marxsim to the inmates. After release he became the founder member of the communist party in Bagura district as per instruction of Mujaffar Ahammed. He was in the front line of Tebhaga Movement, Bhasha Andalon, Bangladesh libaration movement, Anti- Ershad Movement. He was known as Dactar-da among the public-in-general. In his entire life he spent 18 years behind the bar and 14 years in under ground. He was a bachelor and died on 2nd November, 1997.

Kiran Chandra De Born on 1908. S/o Late Nabadwip Chandra De. Hails from Dacca; settled down in Birampur, Fulbari Dinajpur, (Now in Bangladesh). Arrested in connection with the Hilli Station Raid Action. Sentenced to a prison term for life. On appeal the Hon'ble High Court commuted the prison term for five years. Deported to the Andamans.  Took part in the hunger strike of July 1937 for 37 days. Repatriated in January 1938. Released by the end of 1939. Total Jail period was more than five years. After release he worked among the agricultural labourers and was a party member of the C.P.I.(M). He died in the year 1993.

Ramkrishna Sarkar Born: 24-6-1908. Joypurhat, Bogura (Now in Bangladesh) S/o Late Ramdyal Sarkar. Arrested in the first week of November in connection with the Hilli Station Raid case. Sentenced to a ten years prison term. Appeal was commuted to seven years prison term by the Hon’ble High Court. Deported to the Andamans. Took Part in the hunger strike of July, 1937 for 37 days in the Cellular Jail. Repatriated in 1938. After release had to remain under Police surveillance for long & became the follower of Congress and died on 22.09.1999 at Balurghat District Hospital.

Haripada Bose Born: 29-5-1913. Deobhog. Pallong. Faridpur (Now in Bangladesh) S/o Late Gangaprosad Basu Belonged to 'Anushilan Samity' went underground for revolutionary activities. Arrested on 29-10-33 on the bank of a river some forty miles away from the Hilli Rly Station. Sentenced to a ten years prison term. On appeal was commuted by the Hon’ble High Court to Seven years imprisonment. Deported to the Andamans. Took Part in the hunger strike in the Cellular Jail 1939 for 37 days. Repatriated in January 1938 . Previously took part in two Mail Actions i.e. Gouripur and Chandpur in Commilla. After release was interned for more than two years. Total Jail Period about Nine years.

Bijoy Banerjee nee Chakraborty Born on 1916 S/o Late Mathuranath Banerjee Lohaganj Dacca (Bangladesh). Belonged to the Anushilan Samity and performed revolutionary activities in Naogaon (Bangladesh). Arrested by June 1934 in connection with the Hilli Station Raid Action. In a supplementary trial he was sentenced to a prison term of ten years. Deported to the Andamans. Took Part in the Cellular Jail hunger  strike of July 1937 for 37 days. Repatriated in January, 1938. Released by early forties on medical grounds. Previously suffered a prison term during the C D. movement in 1930.

Kalipada Sarkar Born on 1916. S/o  of Late Nabin Gopal Sarkar, of Vill – Chakchaka, Dinajpur. He joined the Anushilan Samity in his early age and took active part in the Hilli Mail Raid Case. He was arrested in connection with the said case and after trial he was convicted for 10 years rigorous imprisonment(R.I) by the special tribunal. In appeal the High Court released him on the ground of benefit of doubt. But he was under police surveillance. He was a member of the communist party and took vital role in Tebhaga Movement and devoted himself for the welfare of distress people. He died bachelor. Subodh Datta Chowdhury He was an active member of the Anushilan Samity. He was wanted by the police. He left Calcutta and took shelter at Dinajpur and was staying there in pseudonym Anil. He actively participated in the Hilli Mail Raid Case. The police failed to trace out his whereabouts. Subsequently he was convicted in another case.

References

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