Surya Sen: The hero of Chittagong uprising

January 12 was the 69th anniversary of Surya Sen's executions by the British. The history of Indian subcontinent's struggle for freedom will remain incomplete if it leaves unexamined an episode like the Chittagong uprising of 1930. Hence the searching question: what was behind this unique phenomenon? Mere existence of common objective factors of colonial oppression was not enough, had it been so, we would have witnessed similar resistances and similar instances of martyrdom all over India.

The Chittagong uprising did leave an enduring mark of our freedom struggle. The report of the Civil Disobedience Enquiry Committee set up by the British Government noted: "The news of this coup, unprecedented in the annals of terrorism, gave fillip to the younger section of the revolutionaries who were already fired with enthusiasm to drive the British from India by force of arms... Recruits poured into the various terrorist groups in a steady stream and these included women and young girls."

Let us, therefore, try to find out the roots of this unique phenomenon in Bengal. Thanks to the emergence of mighty thought currents generated by the fiery literature of the day in terms of patriotism, human dignity and sensitivity, massive cloud formations filled the spiritual and intellectual firmament of Bengal awaiting a precipitating agent to transform them into a phenomenal downpour of patriotic outbursts to secure freedom. Immortal Surya Sen and the likes of him played a considerable role in that precipitating process.

Coming back to the subject of the Chittagong uprising of 1930, what were the circumstances surrounding this part of the world that time? This historical event in the Subcontinent's eastern port city of Chittagong overtook the whole country by surprise, Bewildered public heard how a band of determined youth had launched an armed rebellion against the colonial overlords. Their lightning attack had immobilised all the centres of administration of Chittagong, all the armoires were in their hands... all telegraph and telephone connections were severed, railway lines were uprooted... the whole city was in the hands of the insurgents. The news hit the headlines of newspapers', Is this a short reenactment of the famous Irish Easter Rebellion on Indian soil? The news generated imaginary news. The number of insurgents were imagined by some as '500' or even '100'; the real number of participants was about 65 only, of whom 70 per cent were teenagers.

Surya Sen told in one of his interviews the following words: "Ours is not an easy life. Our primary emphasis is quality. The role of maximum sacrifice and dedication must not be underrated. You need not rush into any decision as to whether you want to join or not. If after serious self-searching there is least hesitation, then it is far better to part company. There will be no ill feeling on our side. It is not our aim to swell our numbers by indiscriminate recruiting. The party must be strong enough to match the challenge facing us: The fight for freedom is going to be a long and exacting struggle. There is only one way. A dedicated band of youths must show the path of all-out organised struggle in place of individual terrorism. Most of us, perhaps will have to die in the process but our sacrifice for such a noble cause will not go in vain. Whoever dreams of a push button revolution on one fine morning on a national scale in a vast country like ours, with varied cultures and languages, is a worthless dreamer."

Owing to the determination and organisational skill of Surya Sen and his lieutenants, Chittagong witnessed the emergence of what could be truly described as an iron brigade of dedicated patriots whose motto was "one for all and all for one". It was indeed, a unique organisation which almost emerged as a parallel local authority. There have been instances when the notorious goondas and thugs were not only punished with utmost severity but the leading goondas were even put to trial in their "Swadeshi Adalat"! On the one hand the patriotic army of Surya Sen earned the gratitude of the victimised public at large and on the other hand struck terror in the underworld gangs of goondas.

Surya Sen was born in 1894. His political life started around 1916 when he was a student of Baharampur College preparing for his graduation course. One day the police raided the college hostel and few of his fellow resident students were searched. These suspect students attracted his keen attention and gradually he was drawn into radical politics, the aim of which was to liberate motherland by all possible means. By then all his heart searchings were over and he was determined to dedicate his life for the cause of freedom.

To start with, he joined the Chittagong branch of the Indian National Congress and soon became the leading organiser of the local youth movement. His all out participation in the first non-cooperation movement left its mark on the people of Chittagong. He effectively led the movement for the boycott of the official schools and colleges and courts and took a leading part in organising Swadesh schools known as "national schools" of which he was the most popular "master" hence the endearing name "Master-da". His involvement in the non-cooperation movement was extended to the field of mass movements. He and his lieutenants successfully led the seamen's strike against the Bullock Brothers Co. at the port of Chittagong. He also left mark in organising successfully the Assam Bengal Railway Strike in support of the national movement. These instances would show how misleading it was to brand patriots like Surya Sen and his colleagues as "terrorists" as if their political focus excluded the broader arena of mass action wherever situations were ripe for the same.

In due course, the inevitable difference cropped up between him and the leadership of the official Congress party to whom the constraints of non-violence were inviolable even after the events of Chouri Chora. Surya Sen and his radical colleagues insisted that any colonial movement for liberation to be successful must not be fettered by any inhibiting conditions. His next task was the formation of a radical wing inside the Congress with the help of the like minded patriots -- a highly disciplined and dedicated band of youths.

He was arrested and detained as a State prisoner (without trial) in 1926 and released in 1928. At last came the most memorable chapter of his life, namely, the Chittagong uprising of 1930. The first short-lived free provisional government was formed in Chittagong and he was declared its president. Then came the most exacting period of his revolutionary career when he led a series of guerilla resistance, of which the pride of place belongs to the famous Jalalabad battle against overwhelming odds, thereby revealing the calibre of his leadership and stamina. Months later, no less a person than Sarat Chandra Bose, elder brother of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, offered his help to arrange for his safe transit to somewhere out of the country for his safety. The proposal, however, was unacceptable to him. His answer was: "My place is right here in Chittagong -- here I will fight and die." He was ultimately arrested in 1933 and was brutally tortured and eventually tried by a Special Tribunal. The final stage of his hazardous life was reached on 12 January, 1934 when he was hanged with his lieutenant Tarakeswer Dastidar at Chittagong.

His last letter to his comrades, written on 11th January, will remain enshrined in history as the most eloquent testimony of the excellence of his manhood.

"Death is knocking at my door. My mind is flying away towards infinity... this is the moment to prepare myself to embrace death as the dearest of friends. In this happy, sacred and crucial moment what am I leaving for you all? Only one thing, my dream, a golden dream, the dream of a free India... dear comrades, march ahead; never retrace your step. Days of servitude are receding. Freedom's illuminating ray is visible over there. Arise and exert, never give way to despair, success is sure to come...."

Prem Rajan Dev is a politician and researcher.