Forgotten Heroes of India's Freedom Struggle A Who's Who (British Secret Documents) (An Old & Rare book)

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Besides the accounts of the Freedom Fighters Abroad and a Who's Who o the patriots who took part in the famous 'Gadar Movement' in the United States of America which was published by us recently, the present volume contains the life sketches of those unknown freedom fighters who find mention in the Intelligence Report of the British Government. Many of these heroes of our freedom struggle are hardly known, though they played an important role in the struggle for the emancipation or our country. It is a tribute to their heroism that a secret monograph was prepared by the British Government on their activities which is being publsihed here for the first time.

Dr. Prabha Chopra is a well-known scholar having written several works including 'Who's Who of Delhi Freedom Fighters; 'Gazatteer of Delhi'; 'Panorama of Indian Culture'; 'Cultural Heritage of Tibet. She was assisted by Dr. P.N. Chopra, a well- known historian in this work.

We have great pleasure in presenting to the reading public life sketches of some of the forgotten heroes of our freedom struggle. During our recent visit to the India Office Library, London, we came across a Secret Document prepared by the British Intelligence containing the Biographical accounts of these freedom fighters which belong to almost all parts of the country. As it was not possible to get more details about these freedom fighters we have published the British version without making any material changes. It will throw light on. the lives of some of these patriots who made extreme sacrifices for the emancipation of our country and inspire the younger generations.

We are grateful to Agam Prakashan for undertaking its publication

The history of our freedom struggle is replete with acts of courage, sacrifice and dedication to the cause of freedom. The heroes of our freedom struggle came from every nook and corner of the country. They did not speak one language. They did not belong to one region and one caste. An intense love for their country and keen desire to see it free was their common goal. Alongwith the struggle in India which in the beginning was confined to constitutional means, certain spor adic incidents, which followed the outbreak of Bubonic plague in Poona and the forced segregation and inquisitional searches carried out by the Plague Committee in private houses and places of worship by the British soldiers, created a widespread discontent which culminated in violence and murder of Two British officers-W.C. Rand and Lt. Ayerst (June 22, 1897).

The Swadeshi Movement, the Partition of Bengal (1905) and emergence of leaders like Lokmanya Tilak, Bipan Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai and others led to the adoption of extremist methods. It was Tilak who carried the gospel of self help and political agitation to the masses.

The policy of repression adopted by the British Govern ment after the partition of Bengal led to the rise of a new party later on known as the Revolutionary Party. The aim of this party was the attainment of independence for which they would not hesitate to use arms. A number of secret societies grew up in Maharashtra, Bengal, the Punjab and some other Provinces. Arms were collected and bombs were manufactured. Anusilan Samiti was the most important organisation which played a prominent role in planning and executing the attacks on British officials with head-quarters in Bengal and branches in many parts of the country. P. Mitra was the President of the Samiti and undertook extensive tours to recruit young men. Birendra Ghosh, younger brother of Aurobindo Ghosh, played a leading role in spreading the cult of the bomb. They brought out several books and booklets such as Bhawani Mandir in 1905, Bartaman Rananiti published in 1907 by Abinash Chandra Bhattacharya and periodical, Yugantar in March 1906, with a circulation of about 7000 copies, which preached a open sedition and by organising of a band of workers to prepare for revolution in India. It is interesting to note that the first bomb prepared with a definite object of killing Sir Bamfylde Fuller, Lt. Gover nor of East Bengal, had the blessing of the moderate leader Surendra Nath Banerjea. When Prafulla Chaki failed in his attempt, he was sent to Muzaffarpur along with Khudi Ram Bose, who threw a bomb at a carriage resembling that of Kings Ford, Chief Presidency Magistrate of Muzaffarpur, but instead it killed the wife and daughter of one Kennedy who were travelling in that carriage on April 30, 1908. Prafulla shot himself dead while Khudi Ram Bose was tried and hanged. Kanhaiya Lal Datta was hanged for shooting dead his associate Narendra Gosami who had turned approver in the jail. His funeral procession might be the envy of even kings and emperors. While Birendra Ghosh and his comrades were active in Bengal, Hardayal, Ajit Singh, Amba Prasad were spreading the gospal of violence in the Punjab. Later on, they were joined by Amir Chand of Delhi and his disci ples Awadh Bihari and Mukund.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages