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.