Remembering Principal Chhabil Das and Sita Devi by daughter Manorma Dewan-through Two Books

On my offer to contribute funds, Punjabi University Patiala has recently announced to innstitute an annual prize of ten thousand rupees with a medal in honour of Principal Chhabil Das of National College Lahore, teacher and friend of Bhagat Singh for writing original paper/thesis/book on Bhagat Singh or any other revolutionary freedom fighter or movement of Punjab prior to 1947 in Gurmukhi or Shahmukhi script(used in west Punjab in Pakistan). Principal Chhabil Das daughter Manomra Diwan memoirs are published in Hindi by NBT, New Delhi, these are being shared to know more about the legendry freedom fighter couple.

Remembering Principal Chhabil Das and Sita Devi by daughter Manorma Dewan- through Two Books

 

 

1.  Inqlabi Yatra(Revolutionary Journey)-Hindi, Manorma Diwan, National Book Trust, New Delhi, 2006, pages 144, price 55/Rupees

               

Two books on Jatin Das-born 27th October 1904

25. Shaheed Jatin Das: jivani and shahidi(Punjabi-ed.), ed MJS Waraich, Lokgeet prakashan Chandigarh 2007 ed., pages 96, price 100 rupees/

  This books edited by renowned historian of Ghadar party MJS Waraich has used Jatin Chakarvarti’s introduction, year not mentioned, which tells that Jatin das came from Anushilan samiti, which was formed on 24^th March 1902. He was from South Calcutta and was comrade of Trailokya Chakrvarti, Pratul Das, Dhiresh Ganguli like revolutionaries. Anushilan samiti’s Dhaka branch was formed by Pulin Behari Das in 1905. Both were declared illegal in 1909. There were more than 500 branches of Samiti in East Bengal itself. It was going on path to Marxism later. It was revived as Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) in 1923 with the efforts of Jogesh Chatterjee and Sachindernath Sanyal in UP. Jatin Das, Bhagat Singh and Rajender Lahiri were in touch with it. Banwari Lal’s confessional statement in Kakori case could not trap Jatin Das and Bhagat Singh in the case as their real names were not known even to Banwari Lal. Police could not find ‘Balwant’ or ‘kamini’ kaka. HRA or later HSRA renamed itself as Revolutionary Socialist Party of India in its revival in Bihar in 1941 and Jogesh Chatterjee became its Geberal Secretary in 1946 in Delhi. This introduction is important to know about RSP of today, now getting diminished day by day. The writer of first essay in collection out of total five is not mentioned, but seems like Aditya Prasann Rai, who wrote Jatin das biography as early as in 1929 itself, immediately after martyrdom of the revolutionary.

    Other memoirs are by Jatin brother Kiran Chander Das, who was allowed to be with Jatin Das during last days of his life in Lahore jail. Jatindernath Sanyal, BK Dutt and Shiv Verma’s memoirs are also included in this slim volumeKiran Chander Das’s memoirs narrate interviews of Jatin Das inside jail of Dr. Gopi Chand Bhargav and PD Tandon, who had tried to impress upon Jatin to accept food. Mention is made of A C Bali, later Tribune journalist, Dewan Chaman Lal, Subhas Bose, Motilal Nehru. Train journey with Jatin body is also narrated, Pt. Nehru being at Kanpur station at 2.30 am. Promila, sister of BK Dutt and Durga Bhabhi were accompanying body on route to Calcutta. Hasrat Mohani had hheld meeting in the day, where Nehru spoke emotionally.  Crowd was unprecedented in Kanpur history. Father of Jatin announced that he is proud of his son, but would not see his body and body was shown fire by Kiran.

  Jatindernath Sanyal the first biographer of Bhagat Singh in 1931, brother of Sachindernath Sanyal in his memoir has mentioned Jatin birth date as 27^th October 2004. B K Dutt has mentioned Rajendra Prasad leading procession in Patna and Jinnah’s speech in assembly on Jatin.

   Translator’s names are not given, could be MJS Waraich himself as well, but it is very useful book in Punjabi on Bhagat Singh’s comrade and close friend Jatin Das.

 

 

26. Mrityuvijayi Yatindernath Das, Aditya Prasann Rai, ed. M M Juneja(Hindi), ed 2013, first 1929, Modern Publishers Zirakpur, pages 122, price 200/rupees

   The book was first published in 1929,but no information about from where and in Hindi or Bengali. In his brief editorial note editor Juneja has mentioned about train journey of Jatindas body from Lahore to Calcutta, beginning 6.40 am on 14^th September and reaching Calcutta on 15^th September 8 pm, just 37 hours journey. Train crossed Agra, where Gandhi was there, but did not come to station, addressed meeting in the day. The funeral procession on 16^th September began at 7 am and concluding at 2 pm. Editor met one Madan Gopal in 1976, who was part of the procession. Information is from book itself.

      Editor claimed to have added family tree-but it contains only grandfather Mahendernath Das and parents-Bankimbehari Das/Suhashini Das plus brother name Kiranchander Das. The progeny of even Kiran Das is not added! Life events are taken from book, but useful in this form. Book has six chapters of original author and Shiv Verma sketch of Jatindas. There are three appendices on Terence Macswiny, John Howard and Jatin message. Author Rai has acknowledged to have benefitted from likely Bengali language biography of Jatin Das written by Surender Nath Chakravrati.

  First chapter of book is devoted to birth and family. Ancestral village of Jatin family was Ichhapur. Khendu was childhood pet name of Jatin. He passed Matriculation from Bhavanipur in 1920 @16 years of age. He had college education from South Sunburban college. C R Das was Congress leader, at Das call, he left college and by 1922, he was volunteer and went to jail. 1924 he completed FA degree and joined BA. In 1925 was arrested again and observed 30 days hunger strike, making British officer to apologise. He remained in Mianwali and Chattgaon jails, later he studied  hard and read history/political science books. Met Bhagat Singh in December 1928, came over to Punjab by March 1929 to give bomb making training at Agra, arrested on 14^th June 1929 and died on 13^th September at 1.05 pm. Cremated on 16^th September in presence of lakhs of people.

  Second chapter focuses upon hunger strike. He began hunger strike on 10^th or 13^th July but in ten days his condition deteriorated due to forced feeding. Kiran Chander Das remained in Lahore from July beginning itself. Third chapter is on cremation of Jatin.At Lahore Lala duni Chand, Dr. Gopichand Bhargav, Dr. Alam, Pratima Devi gave support to body to put in train. Mohan Lal Gautam, Dr. Benarsi Das, A C Bali went up to Calcutta in train. 50 policement in other compartment accompanied. Train stopped at Delhi, Mathura, Agra, Kanpur Mughal Sarai, Gaya, Dhanbad, Vardhman , every where thousands of people came on station. Fourth chapter is on tributes to Jatin processions in hundreds of towns on 14^th September. Fifth chapter is on Lahore conspiracy case. Ramchander was joint editor of Bande Matram Lahore, he was sentenced to two years imprisonmentNaujwan Bharat sabha activists were also sentenced. On 11^th April 1929, Legislative speaker Vithal Bhai Patel moved resolution to condmen BS/Dutt. JL Nehru/Dewan Chaman Lal like socialists also condemned. Sukhdev arrested on 15^th April from Lahore. There are details of proceedings of Lahore case and in sixth chapter Jail committee details are given made after hunger strikes.

 Appendix on Macswiny tells he was elected MP from Ireland, he died after 74 days hunger strike on 24^th October 1920. He was mayor of Cork city , was born on 28^th March 1879. Second appendix is sketch of John Howard born in 1724 or 26 and he was instrumental in Jail reforms in England, died in 1790.

   It is good narration of 1929 revolutionary activities, though biographical sketch of Jatin is quite brief.

Bhagat Singh’s Letters from Punjab Archives, Lahore

 

 

Indian Cultural Forum

Culture Matters

Bhagat Singh’s Letters from Punjab Archives, Lahore

September 28, 2020 EDITED BY CHAMAN LAL

Image courtesy: Newsclick

 

In March 2018, Punjab Archives in Lahore, for the first time, displayed some documents from more than a hundred files relating to Bhagat Singh trial in an exhibition — "Bhagat Singh’s Life and Death (1907-31)". Apart from many other documents, it contained a few more letters of Bhagat Singh's which were not in the public domain earlier. Lahore journalist Ammara Ahmad, who is working on a book Footsteps of Bhagat Singh in Lahore, has shared her photographs of this exhibition.

1. Note in Urdu by Jail official with date-31/5/1929

The Superintendent (Special duty),
C.I.D. (Political Branch)
Lahore

Dear Sir,

I will feel much obliged if you will kindly allow me to have an interview with my father as I have got very important instructions to give him for my defence counsel in connection with the Delhi case.

I hope you will not disallow it on the ground that I already have had an interview as the matter is very urgent.

Hoping to be favoured,

Yours etc.
Sd./ Bhagat Singh

2. Special Tribunal of three High Court judges was notified by Chief Justice of Punjab High Court Chief Justice Shadi Lal, on 1st May 1930 for the trial of Lahore Conspiracy case. This tribunal consisted of Justice Coldstream as President of the tribunal and Justice Agha Haider and justice Hilton as members. While on 5th May five comrades of Bhagat Singh wrote to the tribunal their decision to boycott the tribunal, 10 other comrades including Bhagat Singh wrote on 8th May 1930, their response to avail legal help for the case.

In the court of the Special Tribunal
Lahore Conspiracy case, Lahore
Crown vs. Sukhdev & Others
Charged under secs 302, 120-B+121-A, IPC
This humble petition of the accused persons
Bhagat Singh & others most respectfully:

1.     That the petitioners are charged with most serious offences including sec. 302 with 120B and 109 IPC

2.     That the majority of the petitioners have been lodged for the last eight or nine months in jail.

3.     That with one exception, all the petitioners as stated below belong to distant provinces and as such have no relative here to look after their defence.

 

1.     Ajay kumar ghosh–Allahabad, U.P

2.     Bejoy Kumar Sinha—-Cawnpore,U.P

3.     Prem Dutt —Srinagar, Kashmir

4.     Kamal Nath Tewary—Betiah, Bihar

5.     Shiv Verma —-Hardopi, U.P

6.     Jai Dev Kapoor—HardoiU.P

7.     S.N. Pande—–Cawnpore, U.P.

8.     Kishori Lal—Quetta, Baluchistan

9.     Des Raj—Sialkot, guardian outside India

4.     That five of the petitioners are unrepresented accused defending their case themselves.

5.     That for the reasons stated above in paras 3+4, the petitioners can make arrangement for their defence only through their friends, attorneys and members of defence committee.

6.     That it is therefore prayed that in the interest of justice, the learned court be pleased to grant the petitioners following facilities-
I. Interviews with friends, attorneys, legal advisors and members of defence committee members and relatives in court during lunch hours or after the rising of the court during the one hour stay after accused for their mutual consultation
II. Instructions should be sent to the Supdts. of Borstal and Central jails for allowing interviews with the same.
III. Subject to accommodation the legal advisors of the unrepresented accused be given seats in the body of the court room.
IV. Recognition of the defence committee and permission to two members of committee to sit in the body of the court subject to accommodation.

7.     That it is prayed that in view of the large number of prosecution exhibits of this case, one of the day of the week preferably Saturday be set for the examination of the exhibits by the accused and their counsels.

Hand written and signed by-

1.     Bhagat Singh

2.      Bejoy Kumar Sinha

3.     Ajay Kumar Ghosh

4.     SuPande

5.     Jai Deva Kapor

6.     Kishori Lal Ratan

7.     Prem Datt Varma

8.     Shiv Varma

9.     Kamalnath Tewari

10.                        Des Raj

8th May 1930

(Official Stamp Lahore)

These letters have been published in The Bhagat Singh Reader edited by Chaman Lal, published by HarperCollins India in 2019 (Page 22-23, 586-87).

Chaman Lal is professor (retired) and former chairperson of the Centre of Indian Languages at Jawaharlal Nehru University. He is honorary advisor, Bhagat Singh Archives & Resource Centre, Delhi Archives, and fellow of Panjab University, Chandigarh.