Bina Das: The Brave Freedom Fighter Who Died In Anonymity!
A decomposed body was found at a roadside in Rishikesh on the 26th of December in 1986. It took a whole month to identify the body - which was later identified as the freedom fighter Bina Das.
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A decomposed body was found at a roadside in Rishikesh on the 26th of December in 1986. It took a whole month to identify the body - which was later identified as the freedom fighter Bina Das.
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Prof Satyavrata Ghosh wrote in his article,
“She ended her life by the roadside. The dead body was in a partially decomposed state. It was found by the passing crowd. It was in independent India for which the once-acclaimed Agni Kanya had staked her everything.
“She ended her life by the roadside. The dead body was in a partially decomposed state. It was found by the passing crowd. It was in independent India for which the once-acclaimed Agni Kanya had staked her everything.
Now lay her dead body there unknown, unwept and unsung.
The nation should remember this somewhat poignant story, even though late and salute her, the great lady.”
The nation should remember this somewhat poignant story, even though late and salute her, the great lady.”
Bina’s father, Beni Madhab Das, was a well-known Brahmo teacher. Brahmo was a movement which aimed to reform Hindu practices.
Bina’s mother, Sarala Devi, established a hostel dedicated to the freedom struggle. Bina’s older sister, Kalyani Das, was also a freedom fighter
Bina’s mother, Sarala Devi, established a hostel dedicated to the freedom struggle. Bina’s older sister, Kalyani Das, was also a freedom fighter
Das completed her schooling from St John’s Diocesan Girls’ Higher Secondary School and joined the Chhatri Sangha (Women Students Association) established in 1928.
She was only 21 when Bina created history by becoming one of d first women to hold up arms against the British Raj.
She was only 21 when Bina created history by becoming one of d first women to hold up arms against the British Raj.
She was not a trained shooter, but the 21-year-old aimed five shots at the then Bengal Governor Stanley Jackson known as ‘Jackers’,
On February 6, 1932, Bina Das walked into the Calcutta University where the then Governor, Stanley Jackson was delivering the convocation speech.
On February 6, 1932, Bina Das walked into the Calcutta University where the then Governor, Stanley Jackson was delivering the convocation speech.
Little did anyone know, the timid-looking girl had a revolver concealed under her gown.
Just as the Governor was addressing the crowd, Bina got up from her seat, fished out the revolver and opened fire at him.
He dodged the first two shots.
Just as the Governor was addressing the crowd, Bina got up from her seat, fished out the revolver and opened fire at him.
He dodged the first two shots.
The Vice-Chancellor, Hassan Suhrawardy, quickly leapt into action to shield the governor.
Even as Suhrawardy was trying to overpower a young Bina, she did not stop firing. She fired three more shots until she exhausted her ammunition. One bullet whipped past the Governor’s ear,
Even as Suhrawardy was trying to overpower a young Bina, she did not stop firing. She fired three more shots until she exhausted her ammunition. One bullet whipped past the Governor’s ear,
but he escaped unscathed. In the process though, a senior professor, Dr Dineshchandra Sen was injured.
Bina was all over the newspapers, making headlines as the ‘Calcutta graduate student who attempted to kill the Governor’.
Bina was all over the newspapers, making headlines as the ‘Calcutta graduate student who attempted to kill the Governor’.
She was arrested and sentenced to nine years of rigorous imprisonment. But even as she was pressured to confess the names of her accomplices during interrogation, she refused to spill the beans.
In a statement before the tribunal of the Calcutta High Court, she said,
In a statement before the tribunal of the Calcutta High Court, she said,
The brave woman who put her neck on the line to assert rebellion against the (British) Raj with the daring move became an inspiration to several young women to join the freedom movement.
Unfortunately, she remained one among the many lionhearted women freedom fighters lost in the pages of history, who were never really paid their dues.
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