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Modern Indian History-Events and Personalities

Remembering Batukeshwar Dutt (1910–1965)

Why in the News?

This newscard is an excerpt from the original article published in The Hindu.

Remembering Batukeshwar Dutt (1910–1965)

About Batukeshwar Dutt (1910 to 1965):

  • Early Life: Born 18 November 1910 in Burdwan, Bengal Presidency; educated at Theosophical High School and Prithvinath College, Kanpur.
  • Political Affiliations: Joined Hindustan Socialist Republican Association and Naujawan Bharat Sabha; became a close associate of Bhagat Singh during his Kanpur days.
  • Jail Endurance: Known for remarkable resilience in Multan, Jhelum, Trichinopoly, Salem, and Andaman Cellular Jail.
  • Later Imprisonment: Released in 1938; joined Quit India Movement in 1942 and jailed again for four years.
  • Life Post-Independence: Settled in Patna, married Anjali; daughter Bharti became a professor.
  • Death: Died on 20 July 1965 at AIIMS Delhi from bone cancer.
  • Last Wish: Cremated at Hussainiwala, beside Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev.

Important Revolutionary Activities:

  • Assembly Bombing (8 April 1929): Co-executed the Central Legislative Assembly bombing with Bhagat Singh to protest colonial repression; bombs were non-lethal.
  • Political Message: Threw pamphlets, shouted “Inquilab Zindabad,” and refused to escape, converting the trial into a political platform.
  • Sentencing: Received life imprisonment on 12 June 1929 in the Delhi Assembly Bomb Case.
  • Cellular Jail: Deported to Andamans; repeatedly led hunger strikes demanding recognition of political prisoners.
  • Long Fasts: Undertook multiple prolonged fasts, including two over a month long.
  • Prison Transfers: Shifted through Multan, Jhelum, Hazaribagh, Delhi and Patna jails.
  • Post-Illness Activism: Continued revolutionary involvement even after severe health decline; joined Quit India after release.
  • Cultural Protest: Criticised misrepresentation of revolutionaries in films; approved only Manoj Kumar’s 1965 film Shaheed.

Association with Bhagat Singh:

  • Early Bond: Met Bhagat Singh in Kanpur and was shaped by his discipline and ideological clarity.
  • Joint Action: Collaborated closely in HSRA; jointly executed the Assembly bombing as symbolic resistance.
  • Hunger Strike: Participated with Singh in the historic 114 day hunger strike for humane jail conditions.
  • After the Martyrdom: News of Singh’s execution (23 March 1931) reached him in Salem jail; he was haunted by visions of Singh.
  • Family Ties: Maintained lifelong connection with Bhagat Singh’s family; Mata Vidyawati stayed with him during his last illness.
  • Comradeship: Supported through final days by HSRA comrades like Shiv Verma, Sadashivrao Malkapurkar, and Kiran Das.
[UPSC 2022] Consider the following freedom fighters:

1. Barindra Kumar Ghosh 2. Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee 3. Rash Behari Bose

Who of the above was/were actively associated with the Ghadar Party?

Options: (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 (d) 3 only*

 

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