100 years of Kakori Train Action: A daring heist that triggered revolution, communal amity

Time of India

08-08-2025

A century ago, a small group of bravehearts executed the Kakori Train Action, that gave a big push to the freedom struggle and etched their names in the history forever. TOI relives their saga and heroics
A hundred years ago, on Aug 9, 1925, a group of 10 young revolutionaries executed a daring plan that would echo through India's freedom struggle, and beyond.
The Kakori Train Action, a meticulously planned heist of a British railway treasury, was more than a robbery — it was a bold statement against colonial oppression and a testament to the unbreakable bond of HinduMuslim unity.
Led by Pt Ram Prasad Bismil and his trusted comrade Ashfaqullah Khan, the Kakori Action not only challenged the British Raj but also inspired a generation to unite for freedom. As we commemorate its centenary, the story of Kakori remains a powerful symbol of courage, camaraderie, and the revolutionary spirit that fuelled India's struggle for freedom.
The plan takes shape in Lucknow
In the first week of Aug 1925, 10 young men checked into Chhedilal Dharamshala in Aminabad, Lucknow, their minds buzzing with a revolutionary plot. The group, part of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), included Chandrashekhar Azad, Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Rajendranath Lahiri, Mukundilal, Murarilal, Kundanlal, Banwarilal, Bakshi, and Manmathnath Gupta.
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Their target: the 8 Down Saharanpur-Lucknow Passenger Train, which carried a treasury safe filled with railway collections — a symbol of British economic exploitation.
On Aug 8, they conducted a final reconnaissance at Charbagh railway station, only to face a setback. As they reached Kakori station on foot, the train sped past, leaving them stunned. 'A train in India could not be so regular,' one remarked in disbelief.
They had missed it by 10 minutes. The misstep exposed their inexperience with such high-stakes operations. Bismil recognized the need for better synchronization.
The team retreated to their base, recalibrated, and resolved to execute the plan the next day.
On Aug 9, the revolutionaries took no chances and boarded the train at a previous station, splitting into two groups. Ashfaqullah Khan, Rajendranath Lahiri, and Bakshi secured second-class tickets, while Bismil, Azad, and the others spread out in third-class compartments.
As the train approached Kakori, those in second class pulled the emergency chain, bringing the train to a halt. Chaos ensued, but the group was prepared. Wielding German Mauser pistols, they leapt into action.
One member rushed to the engine to secure the driver, while another subdued the guard, forcing him to lie face-down. The group's primary target was the heavy iron safe in the guard's van, containing cash collections from stations along the route.
Using a hammer and chisel, they began breaking it open, while others reassured passengers in Hindustani: 'We are after govt property, not your lives. Stay inside and do not look out.
' Sporadic gunfire punctuated the air, ensuring compliance.
The operation hit a snag when the safe resisted their tools. Ashfaqullah, a towering figure with unwavering resolve, handed his Mauser to young Manmathnath Gupta and took up the hammer himself, striking with full force.
The distant rumble of another train — possibly the Punjab Mail — sent a chill through the group. Fearing a military response or betrayal, they braced for the worst.
Bismil instructed them to conceal their weapons and lie low. The train passed without incident, and Ashfaq resumed his work, finally breaching the safe. The revolutionaries collected the cash in bags, bundled them in a bedsheet, and prepared to retreat. To mislead passengers, including British military officers on board, the group fled in a direction suggesting they were escaping away from Lucknow.
Instead, they doubled back, entering the city through the bustling Chowk market. The cash and bonds were hidden in a safehouse known only to Bismil, while the weapons were stashed in prearranged locations. The group dispersed, some retreating to hideouts, others blending into public spaces like parks.
By dawn, newspaper hawkers in Lucknow shouted headlines of the 'Sensational Train Hold-Up at Kakori,' confirming the audacity and success of their mission.
A symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity
At the heart of the Kakori Train Action was the profound bond between Ram Prasad Bismil, an ardent Arya Samaj follower, and Ashfaqullah Khan, a devout Muslim. Their friendship and shared commitment to India's freedom became a beacon of Hindu-Muslim unity, challenging colonial efforts to sow discord.
Renowned historian and former head of Modern and Medieval History Department in University of Lucknow, Professor Aroop Chakraborty notes, 'The Kakori Action sent ripples of unity across the nation.
It showed that Hindus and Muslims could work as one for a common cause, directly countering the British narrative. In fact, the action also paved the way for the spirit of revolution across the country against the British Raj.
'
In a poignant letter written days before his execution, Bismil urged Indians to embrace this unity. He cited Ashfaqullah as proof that Muslims were as committed to the nation's freedom as anyone else.
'If a staunch Muslim like Ashfaqullah can be my right hand, why can't Hindus and Muslims unite for India's freedom?' he wrote. Bismil's words were echoed by Shaheede-Azam Bhagat Singh, who, under the pseudonym 'Vidrohi', wrote in the journal 'Kirti' in Jan 1928: 'Bismil's last request was for HinduMuslim unity.
He and Ashfaqullah agreed that this was their greatest wish and the true memorial to their sacrifice.' The British, aware of the symbolic power of this alliance, tried to break it.
They offered Bismil exile with an allowance and told Ashfaqullah that the HRA was a Hindu organization with no place for Muslims. Both rejected these divisive tactics, remaining steadfast in their shared vision.
The revolutionary legacy
The Kakori Action had far-reaching consequences, reshaping India's freedom struggle. The HRA, initially focused on establishing a federated republic through armed revolution, used the loot — about Rs 4,600 in cash and bonds — to settle debts, procure weapons, and relocate members to safer regions.
This financial boost fortified the organization, enabling it to evolve into the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in 1928 under Chandrashekhar Azad's leadership.
HSRA shifted its focus to economic self-reliance and mass mobilization. Bhagat Singh emphasized aligning with workers and peasants. Historian Sumit Sarkar notes that this period saw a 'massive labour upsurge,' particularly in railways and textiles, which the HSRA sought to harness.
The organization's new objectives inspired socialist leaders within the Congress, influencing its trajectory into the post-independence era.
The Kakori Action also forced the Congress to rethink its strategy. Bismil, a former Congress member who had worked with leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, had long advocated for a broader, more inclusive movement. The heist's audacity prompted the Congress to define 'Swaraj' as 'Poorna Swaraj' (complete independence) at its 1929 Lahore Convention.
The martyrs' sacrifice
The British response to Kakori was swift and brutal. By 1927, Bismil, Ashfaqullah, Lahiri, and
Roshan Singh
were sentenced to death, while others faced imprisonment or transportation. Their trials exposed the colonial govt's fear of the revolutionary movement's growing influence. Yet, the martyrs' sacrifice galvanized the youth, who saw in their bravery a call to action. Bismil and Ashfaqullah's bond transcended religious divides, offering a model of solidarity that remains relevant today.
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