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Sachin Kar Gupta

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Sachin Kar Gupta
Born28 February 1905
Bakerganj district, Bengal, British India
Died11 May 1975
Habra, Bengal, Independent India
Known forA convicted prisoner in Andaman Cellular Jail
SpouseBina Devi
ChildrenDebasish Kar Gupta (son)
FatherRash Behari Kar Gupta

Sachindralal Kargupta (Bengali: শচীন্দ্রলাল কর গুপ্ত) (28 February 1905 – 11 May 1975) was an Indian freedom fighter, revolutionary, and social reformer. Born in East Bengal, he joined the Jugantar group during the freedom struggle and was arrested in connection with the Mechua bazar Bomb Case. He spent over 16 years in British prisons, including the Cellular Jail. After independence, inspired by Gandhian ideals, he dedicated himself to rural development, founding the Hatthuba Gram Seva Sangha in Habra. His efforts led to the establishment of schools, health centres, and welfare institutions. He was awarded the Tamrapatra in 1972 for his contributions to India's independence movement.[1][2][3]

Early life & education

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Sachindralal Kar Gupta was born on 28 February 1905 in the village of Nalchira, located in the Bakerganj district of the then East Bengal (now in Bangladesh). His father's name was Rashbehari Kar Gupta. During his early years, he studied at Nalchira High School under the guidance of its headmaster, Ananta Kumar Sengupta, who played a formative role in instilling patriotism and discipline among students. Influenced by Sengupta’s ideals, Sachindralal and his peers took part in physical training and social service initiatives.[4]

In 1922, while still a youth, Sachindralal founded Vivek Ashram in Nalchira to nurture idealism and civic responsibility. He was appointed President of the Ashram, reflecting his growing involvement in community affairs.[5]

Involvement with Revolutionary party

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Early Association with Jugantar and Local Activism

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Sachindralal became associated with several freedom fighters during his adolescence and joined the revolutionary group Jugantar party, inspired by Manoranjan Gupta. During the Non-Cooperation Movement, he became active in local nationalist campaigns. Under the leadership of Achinta Kumar Sengupta, several Jatiya Vidyalayas (national schools) were established in Nalchira, which served as centres of anti-colonial activism.[6]

As part of the protest movement, Sachindralal and his associates formed a musical group that performed during sit-in campaigns against shops selling foreign goods. While working for Vivek Ashram, he came into contact with the principal of Sankar Math and Mission, through which he became involved with the Barisal-based revolutionary group known as Sankarmath.[6] It was during this period that he played a pivotal role in establishing a local branch of the Jugantar party, a prominent revolutionary organisation engaged in anti-colonial activities.[7][8][9][10]

Calcutta Phase and Bomb-Making Activities

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In 1928, Sachindralal traveled to Kolkata to attend a session of the Indian National Congress, where he had the opportunity to meet Subhas Chandra Bose. Shortly thereafter, he was arrested.

Around this time, he joined Satish Pakrashi in preparing for an armed uprising. He became involved in the manufacture of bombs at a residence in Panchu Dhopani Lane in Kolkata and formed a secret revolutionary group in 1929. This group organized meetings across Bengal and hosted a formal fundraising session at Hardinge Hostel in Kolkata, aimed at acquiring arms and planning coordinated attacks on British arsenals.[11][12]

Mechua bazar Bomb Case and First Imprisonment

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In the same year, Sachindralal and his associates were arrested in connection with the Mechua Bazar bomb case. He was tried alongside Satish Pakrashi, Niranjan Sengupta, and others. Found guilty, he was sentenced to seven years of transportation and was deported to the Andaman Cellular Jail.[13][14][15]

Escape and deportation

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Following his initial imprisonment in the Andamans, Sachindralal was later transferred to Midnapore jail, where he met fellow revolutionaries Dinesh Chandra Majumder (involved in the Dalhousie Square bombing) and Sushil Dasgupta (accused in the Puthia Mail Van robbery case). With the covert assistance of sympathetic prison staff—including cooks, sweepers, and postmen—the three engineered an escape using improvised tools, such as a bent metal ladle turned into a grappling hook and knotted cloth ropes. They scaled the prison wall and fled, remaining underground for approximately seven months.[16][17][18]

The British colonial government announced a reward of ₹5,000 for information leading to the arrest of either Sachindralal or Dinesh Majumder. Eventually, Sachindralal was recaptured and again deported to the Andamans. He was later transferred to Mandalay Jail in Burma, and again to Cellular Jail.[19][13][14]

During his incarceration, he participated in the 1933 hunger strike in the Cellular Jail, which lasted 45 days and was aimed at protesting the harsh conditions and treatment of political prisoners. He was repatriated in 1937 and released the following year in 1938.[20][21] He was subsequently transferred to Alipore Jail, where he came into contact with members of the Communist Party of India. He was released from prison in 1945. In 1946, he formally renounced his association with the Communist Party through a public statement.[22][23][24][25]

From left to right: Andaman Cellular Jail.
Names of Prisoners of Cellular Jail, Sachin Kar Gupta's name can be found just after Saroj Kanti Guha.

Post-Independence Activities

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Between 1947 and 1949, Sachindralal became involved with the South Kolkata Congress organization and was a member of the All India Congress Committee. In 1949, he relocated to Haripur, Cooch Behar to assist in refugee rehabilitation efforts. Later that year, following police firing on a hunger march in Cooch Behar, he severed all political affiliations.[26][27][8][28]

In December 1949, on a plot of land donated by Haji Illahibaksh Saheb in Hatkhuba near Habra, Sachindralal founded the Gram Seva Sangha, a rural welfare and development organization. He committed himself fully to social service through this institution, working on Gandhian principles of self-reliance, rural upliftment, and community health.[29]

Social Contributions and Gram Seva Sangha

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Under the aegis of the Gram Seva Sangha, Sachindralal helped establish:

  • Pritilata Kalibala Kanya Vidyalaya (a girls' school founded by him)
  • Primary and pre-primary schools
  • ICDS schools and night schools
  • Primary health centers and maternity units
  • Community centers and self-help groups
  • Homeopathic dispensaries
  • Nivedita Bhavan, a boys' hostel
  • Family counseling and vocational training centers

He also remained active in the broader educational and welfare networks of Habra and its surrounding regions.[30][31][12]

Legacy

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In recognition of his contribution to India's Struggle for Independence, Sachindralal Kar Gupta was awarded the Tamrapatra by the Government of India on 15 August 1972. A statue in his honor stands at the Seva Kendra of the Gram Seva Sangha. Nearby, epitaphs mark the resting places of his wife Bina Kar Gupta and son Debasish Kar Gupta.[32][33][34][35]

A street adjacent to the Sangha has been named Sachin Kar Gupta Road in his memory.[36]

Death

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Gupta died on 11 May 1975. His life remains an example of revolutionary zeal followed by a deep commitment to rural reconstruction in post-independence India.[37][38]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Digital District Repository Detail | Digital District Repository | History Corner | Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ministry of Culture, Government of India".
  2. ^ "Digital District Repository Detail | Digital District Repository | History Corner | Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ministry of Culture, Government of India".
  3. ^ "শচীন্দ্রলাল করাগুপ্ত". www.ebanglalibrary.com.
  4. ^ "বিস্মৃতি সরিয়ে একনজরে দেখা অগ্নিযুগের বাঙালি শহিদদের". Literacy Paradise. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  5. ^ Ray, Motilal (12 June 1957). "Amar Dekha Biplob O Biplobi আমার দেখা বিপ্লব ও বিপ্লবী". Kolkata: Radharaman Chowdhury – via Internet Archive.
  6. ^ a b Dasgupta, Hemendranath (1948). Bharater Biplab Kahini Vol. 2, 3.
  7. ^ Sur, Shrish Chandra (June 14, 1938). "Jagaran জাগরণ". Chandannagar: Satyendrabnath Sur – via Internet Archive.
  8. ^ a b Rakshit, Bhupendrakishor (1960). Bharater Sashastra-biplab.
  9. ^ Ray, Dinendrakumar (June 14, 1923). "Arabinda-prasanga" – via Internet Archive.
  10. ^ Dasgupta, Sri Hemendranath (1946). Bharater Biplab Kahini Vol. 1.
  11. ^ Ray, Motilal (June 14, 1957). "Amar Dekha Biplob O Biplobi আমার দেখা বিপ্লব ও বিপ্লবী". Kolkata: Radharaman Chowdhury – via Internet Archive.
  12. ^ a b Bose, Subhas Chandra. Subhas-rachanavali Vol. 2.
  13. ^ a b "Calcutta Murder – Death of Mr. Ernest Day – Gopinath Saha Hanged". The World. Hobart, Tasmania. Reuters. 3 March 1924.
  14. ^ a b Ray, Motilal (June 14, 1929). "Aatmasamarpan Jog আত্মসমর্পন যোগ". Kolkata: Prabartak Publishing House – via Internet Archive.
  15. ^ https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19300408-1.2.105?qt=niranjan,%20sen&q=Niranjan%20Sen
  16. ^ Ray, Motilal (June 14, 1957). "Amar Dehka Biplob O Biplobi আমার দেখা বিপ্লব ও বিপ্লবী". Kolkata: Radharaman Chowdhury – via Internet Archive.
  17. ^ Ghosh, Kali Charan. The Roll of Honour.
  18. ^ Ghosh, Kali Charan (1960). The Roll of Honour. Calcutta: Vidya Bharati.
  19. ^ "Jug-Barta যুগবার্তা". Prabartak Publishing House, Chandannagar. June 14, 1920 – via Internet Archive.
  20. ^ Sinha, Bejoy Kumar (1939). In Andamans, the Indian bastille. Profulla C. Mittra, Calcutta.
  21. ^ Sinha Bejoy Kumar (1901). The Silently Symbolised Vast Motherland.
  22. ^ "List of Freedom Fighters Incarcerated in Cellular Jail | List of Freedom Fighters jailed for Kaala Pani". thelistacademy.com. April 14, 2023.
  23. ^ "Abismaraniya Vol. 1". 1964.
  24. ^ Ray, Bhupendrakishore Rakshit (1960). Bharate Shashastra Biplab.
  25. ^ Sinha Bejoy Kumar (1939). In Andamans The Indian Bastille. Profulla C. Mitra, The Mall, Cawnpore.
  26. ^ "Amar Dekha Biplob O Biplobi". 1957.
  27. ^ "Jagaran জাগরণ". Satyendrabnath Sur, Chandannagar. 1938.
  28. ^ "Amar Dekha Biplob O Biplobi". 1957.
  29. ^ "Bijaychandi Gitabhinay বিজয় চন্ডী গীতাভিনয়". 1880.
  30. ^ "Abishmaraniya Vol. 2". 1966.
  31. ^ "Amar Dekha Biplob O Biplobi আমার দেখা বিপ্লব ও বিপ্লবী". Radharaman Chowdhury, Kolkata. 1957.
  32. ^ "Biplabi Kanailal ed. 1st". 1946.
  33. ^ Majumdar, Satyendranarayan (1971). Aamar Biplab-jigyasa Parbo.1(1927-1985).
  34. ^ "Revolutionaries of Bengal". 1923.
  35. ^ The bomb in Bengal: The rise of revolutionary terrorism in India, 1900-1910. 1993. ISBN 978-0-19-563350-4.
  36. ^ "Arabinda Mandire অরবিন্দ মন্দিরে". Prabartak Publishing House, Chandannagar. 1922.
  37. ^ "Mukti-tirtha ed. 4th". 1951.
  38. ^ "Mahajibaner Punyaloke". 1959.


Bibliography

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  • Hemendranath Dasgupta, Bharater Biplab Kahini, II & III, Calcutta, 1948;
  • Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, History of the Freedom Movement in India, III, Calcutta 1963;
  • Ganganarayan Chandra, Abismaraniya, Calcutta, 1966
  • Shailesh Dey, Ami Subhas Bolchi.
  • Kalicharan Ghosh, Roll of Honour, Calcutta, 1960.

Further reading

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