Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) and the Kakori Train Action

Centenary Celebration of the Kakori Train Action

• Event: The Government of Uttar Pradesh has launched year-long celebrations starting August 9 to mark the centenary of the Kakori Train Action of 1925.
• Special Feature: The ‘Kakori Shaurya Gatha Express’ will travel across various cities in Uttar Pradesh to educate youth and school children about the Kakori Train Action and its historical significance.

About Hindustan Republican Association (HRA)

• Formation: Established in 1924 as a radical revolutionary organization.
• Objective: Aimed to create a Federated Republic of the United States of India through organized and armed revolution.
• Founders: Key figures included Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, Sachindra Nath Bakshi, Sachindranath Sanyal, and Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee.

Ideologies of HRA

• Socialism: Advocated for universal suffrage and the abolition of exploitative systems. The association sought to establish a republic where social justice was a core principle.
• In 1928, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Shiv Verma, Chandra Shekhar Azad, and Vijay Kumar Sinha restructured HRA to include socialism as a primary goal, leading to its renaming as the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA).
• Armed Overthrow: Believed that the imperialist government’s rule was unjust and sought to overthrow it through armed struggle, reflecting their commitment to revolutionary violence as a means to achieve national liberation.

Key Publications

• The Revolutionary: Written by Ram Prasad Bismil under the pen name Vijay Kumar, with assistance from Sachindra Nath Sanyal. It outlined the revolutionary ideals and strategies of the HRA.
• Philosophy of the Bomb: Authored by Bhagwati Charan Vohra, this publication argued that the use of force by revolutionaries was a necessary response to colonial oppression, contrasting with the views of the Indian National Congress and Mahatma Gandhi.

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Key Revolutionary Activities

• Kakori Train Action (1925): A major event where HRA members, led by Ram Prasad Bismil and others, attacked a train carrying British government funds. The action aimed to fund their revolutionary activities and strike a blow against British rule.
• The event is celebrated for its audacity and its role in highlighting the revolutionary struggle against British colonialism.
• Avenging Lala Lajpat Rai’s Death (1928): Following the death of Lala Lajpat Rai due to police brutality, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Chandra Shekhar Azad assassinated J.P. Saunders, the police officer responsible.
• Assembly Bomb Explosion (1929): Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt threw bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly to protest against colonial rule. They were sentenced to life imprisonment but were later tried in the Lahore Conspiracy Case for their involvement in Saunders' killing.

Lahore Conspiracy Case and Its Impact

• Courtroom Strategy: Revolutionaries used the courtroom to challenge the British narrative and expose the harsh treatment of political prisoners.
• Hunger Strikes: Jatin Das and others went on hunger strikes to demand better conditions for political prisoners. Jatin Das’s death after 63 days of fasting galvanized public sentiment against British repression.
• Execution of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru: On March 23, 1931, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru were executed, leading to widespread outrage and sympathy for the revolutionary cause.

Significance of the HRA

• Legacy: The HRA, and its successor HSRA, played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement by advocating armed struggle against colonial rule and inspiring future generations of freedom fighters.
• Historical Context: Their actions and sacrifices are remembered as pivotal moments in the fight for India's independence, and the centenary of the Kakori Train Action serves as a reminder of their bravery and commitment to the cause of freedom.