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Time of India
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Play staged to mark centenary of Kakori train Action
The dedication and patriotism of revolutionary freedom fighters were depicted in play 'Kakori Action' organised by Bhartendu Natya Academy on the centenary celebration of Kakori Train Action at UP Sangeet Natak Akademi on Tuesday. The play was written by Sushil Kumar Singh, adapted and directed by Sumit Srivastava. Music was provided by Anjana Puri and costumes were designed by Sneha Kumar. The plot began with a theatre group from Shahjahanpur going to perform in Lucknow on the centenary of Kakori Train Action, but the bus in which they were travelling broke down near Kakori Station at the exact spot where this historical event had taken place. The artists, upon learning that this was the only place where the train was looted, became very excited and started rehearsing their performance included the friendship of Ashfaqullah Khan and Ramprasad Bismil, martyrs providing relief to the people while suffering from the atrocities of the British govt, planning and execution of the loot, and finally the hanging of the martyrs, which left the audience teary-eyed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Indonesia (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo The main characters were played by Anil K Chaudhary (Chandra Shekhar Azad), Ritesh Asthana (Sachindra Nath Bakshi), Arghya Samanta (Ashfaqullah Khan), Ashutosh Jaiswal (Ramprasad Bismil), Rajarshi Roy Chowdhury (Rajendra Nath Lahiri) and Vikas Dubey (Roshan Singh). Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
10-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kakori Action recalled
Lucknow: The year 1922 in Indian struggle for Independence was marked by significant events that shaped the course of the freedom movement, one of the most notable being the Kakori Train Robbery, which, although occurred in 1925, was deeply rooted in revolutionary fervour reignited after suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922. This was stated by renowned academicians during a national seminar at C B Gupta BSS College, Chandrawal, Lucknow, under joint auspices of Bharat Seva Sansthan and Motilal Memorial Society, to commemorate 100th anniversary of Kakori Action (1925-2025), on Saturday. Former head of Lucknow University's political science department Prof Ramesh Dixit said "1922 was a year of despair when Gandhi suspended Non-Cooperation Movement, prompting revolutionaries to loot the Kakori train and oppose British imperialism. " He said Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqullah Khan worked gave shape to this plan. Kakori case, fought at the GPO (then a court), was remembered for sacrifices of Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Rajendra Nath Lahiri and Thakur Roshan Singh, urging new generation to dedicate themselves to the nation with courage. TNN Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
News18
09-08-2025
- General
- News18
Kakori Train Action: When revolutionaries almost failed to open cash box
Agency: Last Updated: Lucknow, Aug 9 (PTI) It was the evening of August 9, 1925. To fund the freedom struggle against British rule, a group of committed young revolutionaries planned a daring heist of a cast-iron cash box belonging to the then British government from a train in Kakori near Lucknow. And, they successfully executed it. However, there are a few things that are not widely known about the Kakori Train Action. As the country marks the 100th year of the incident, which was a significant event in India's struggle for independence, kin of those revolutionaries told PTI a few interesting and amusing details about the Kakori Train Action Freedom fighter Ashfaqullah Khan's great-grandson, Ashfaq Ullah Khan, shared one amusing story. He said just when the revolutionaries thought that the train robbery had been perfectly executed, they ran into an unexpected problem. The iron chest that contained Rs 4,600 was much sturdier than they imagined, putting the plans and the lives of those involved, including Ashfaqullah Khan, at risk. Ashfaq said all the freedom fighters who were part of the robbery were trying to break the lock of the cash box, but their efforts weren't yielding any results. And, with each passing moment, the danger and the risk were mounting, he added. 'So my great-grandfather (Ashfaqullah Khan) picked up a hammer and with two hard blows broke open the chest," Ashfaq said. After breaking the lock, in a lighter vein, he remarked to his vegetarian revolutionaries that 'yeh taalaa todnaa poori sabji khaane waalo kaa kaam nahi hai (the task of breaking the lock open was not possible for those who eat poori sabji),' Ashfaq said with a smile. Ashfaqullah Khan, along with revolutionaries Ramprasad Bismil and others, had prominently featured in the Kakori Train Action. 'I, too, saw those iron boxes for the first time when I was merely 15 years old," said Ashfaq, who is 59 now. The amount, Rs 4,600, may not be of much value today, but at that time, the figure was huge. Adjusting for inflation, it could be nearly 11 lakh, said Ashish Kumar Tripathi, vice-president of Tax Lawyers Association. Incidentally, the looting wasn't planned for August 9. Rohit Khatri, who is a descendant of Ramkrishna Khatri, who also took part in the Kakori Train Action, said that initially, the heist was planned for August 8, but was later pushed to the next day. A senior Railways officer told PTI that the Railways retained the practice of ferrying daily revenue in iron chests for over nine decades since the Kakori incident and discontinued it only a few years ago. 'The tradition of carrying cash in red-coloured iron boxes dating back to the Kakori Train Action era was discontinued in September 2018. In that system, the cash earned by every station was filled into a leather bag. The leather bag was then put in an iron chest. It was numbered. 'The iron chest would come to the cash office of the division, where it was counted. After this, the Railways used its own personnel to transfer the cash, with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) providing security," Kuldeep Tiwari, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Northern Railway (Lucknow Division), said. The system has since changed, as the cash is collected by the representatives nominated by the State Bank of India from stations. Back then, the cash box was made of wrought iron and measured approximately 2.5 feet in length and height and more than 1 foot in width, the senior DCM said. Following the daring act of the revolutionaries of August 9, 1925, to fund the struggle against the British Raj, the freedom fighters, Ram Prasad 'Bismil', Ashfaqullah Khan and Thakur Roshan Singh were hanged to death in 1927 by the British government for their involvement in the incident. In 2021, the Uttar Pradesh government renamed the revolutionary event as Kakori Train Action. The new name was used in official communications to refer to the event, which was usually described as the 'Kakori train robbery' or the 'Kakori train conspiracy'. PTI NAV MAN AMJ AMJ (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 09, 2025, 18:45 IST News agency-feeds Kakori Train Action: When revolutionaries almost failed to open cash box Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
09-08-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
100 years on, Kakori Train Action stands out as Lucknow's pride, symbol of unity and inspiration
An unforgettable and heroic chapter in the history of India's struggle for independence, the Kakori Train Action stands out as a symbol of unity, which gave Lucknow a distinct place on the map of the freedom movement and continues to inspire the youth 100 years down the line even in the age of hashtags. Freedom fighters Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Rajendra Lahiri and Thakur Roshan Singh challengeed the might of the British Empire. (HT Photo) Carried out on August 9, 1925, by a group of young revolutionaries from the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), it was not just a protest against British colonial rule, but also a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to the motherland wherein brave young men like Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Rajendra Lahiri and Thakur Roshan Singh risked their lives to challenge the might of the British Empire. 'The Kakori incident also gave the city of Lucknow a distinct and honourable place in the annals of the Indian freedom struggle. Kakori placed Lucknow firmly on the map of revolutionary India. From the First War of Independence in 1857 to the final push for freedom in 1947, Kakori remains a major turning point in the freedom movement. It played a consistent role in nurturing revolutionaries and the nationalist sentiment,' said Professor Ramesh Dixit, former head of the department of political science at Lucknow University. 'Youths who were once silent were now taking to the streets. Kakori made it clear: the fight was real, and it was now,' he said. The Congress, which had been cautious post-1922, recognised the shift. By 1930, the Civil Disobedience Movement had begun. The Salt Satyagraha followed. But the flame was lit in Kakori—by four young men who chose the gallows over submission. WHEN YOUTH BECAME REVOLUTIONARIES Post Jalianwala Bagh in 1919, India was simmering with discontent. After the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922, many were restless, eager to act but disillusioned by the slow pace of constitutional politics and non-violent protests. Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Chandrashekhar Azad, and a group of fiery patriots mostly in their twenties entered the scene with the mission to strike at the heart of the British economy by seizing money collected through oppressive taxation. That loot was for purchasing printing presses, creating awareness, awakening the populace, telling the benefits of Independence, distributing literature, and funding revolution. A DIRECT CHALLENGE TO BRITISH AUTHORITY Professor Roop Rekha Varma said, 'The Kakori train action was a powerful response by the youth to the atrocities committed by British rulers. In terms of identity, it stood as a direct challenge to British authority at a time when most people were not willing to think beyond the path of non-violence. There was a clash of ideologies—on one side, non-violence, and on the other, revolutionary action. Many young people were drawn to the revolutionary path and began resisting British rule in their own ways, creating obstacles for the colonial administration. Even as a supporter of non-violence, we cannot overlook or deny the significant contribution of the revolutionary movement to India's struggle for independence.' BISMIL COMPLETED AUTOBIOGRAPHY 3 DAYS BEFORE HE WAS HANGED: BHAGAT SINGH'S KIN Professor Jagmohan Singh, a nephew of Sardar Bhagat Singh, said, 'Ram Prasad Bismil completed his autobiography just three days before he was to be hanged. In it, he wrote that whenever people remember them, they should think of the Kakori Action as a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity. At that time, there was a growing understanding that the root of most problems faced by Indians was British oppression. The British never wanted Indians to live with dignity. Their policies had created deep social inequality and widespread poverty. People were so deprived that even publishing revolutionary literature was a challenge. Bismil wrote that when he translated a book from Bengali to Hindi, he had to borrow ₹200 from his mother to get it published. After the Kakori train robbery, once they had access to money, he made sure to return the amount he had borrowed. The main purpose of the train action was to fund a printing press and raise awareness among the masses.' His autobiography was later translated into Punjabi by Bhagat Singh. UNBREAKABLE BOND Perhaps, the most profound legacy of Kakori lies in the unbreakable bond between Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqullah Khan—a Hindu and a Muslim, bound not by religion but by shared patriotism. Their friendship shattered British propaganda that aimed to divide Indians along communal lines. The British tried to manipulate both—offering Bismil exile and telling Ashfaqullah he had no place in a 'Hindu' organization. Both refused. Their loyalty was to India—not to colonial constructs of identity. Historian Aroop Chakraborty said, 'The Kakori Action sent ripples of unity across the nation. It proved that the freedom struggle was above religion—it was about the soul of India.' 'Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamare dil mein hai…' (The desire for sacrifice now lives in our hearts…') – these lyrics penned by Bismil—were a promise that still echoes through the soul of India.
Time of India
08-08-2025
- Time of India
Bijnor jail ‘Smritika' preserves memories of Kakori unsung hero
Lucknow: Revolutionaries like Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqullah Khan, who played a crucial role in Kakori Train Action, are well known, not many know that Sachindranath Bakshi, was also instrumental in the execution of the plan. He was lodged at Bijnor Jail after being awarded life imprisonment. Jail superintendent, Bijnor, Aditi Srivastava, found the records at the jail and got a memorial built after Bakshi in 2023. "When I took charge as the superintendent of 173-year-old Bijnor Jail on July 2, 2022, there was no memorial honouring the freedom fighters once imprisoned there. On examining British-era records (1913-1947), I identified 419 such revolutionaries, including Kakori hero Sachindranath Bakshi, jailed here in 1928. Inspired by my freedom fighter grandfather, I built a 'Smritika' — a memorial with Bakshi's statue and engraved names of all 419 patriots. It was inaugurated on Aug 11, 2023," said Srivastava. Born on Dec 25, 1904, in Varanasi, Bakshi purchased three second-class tickets from Kakori station — a rare event that drew the attention of the station staff. Travelling with Ashfaqullah Khan and Rajendra Lahiri, Bakshi pulled the train's emergency chain after departure, initiating the heist. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Family Adopts A New Dog. But When The Vet Sees It, He Calls The Officer Undo by Taboola by Taboola As the train came to a halt, the revolutionaries jumped out, opened aerial fire to prevent passengers from interfering, and overpowered the guard. According to an account from Bakshi himself, when the train guard Jagannath Prasad approached, Bakshi pointed a pistol at him and declared, "We are revolutionaries, not dacoits. We are here to loot the govt treasury for the cause of revolution, not to harm anyone." He even asked the guard to promise not to identify them in future — a promise the sympathetic guard kept, refusing to identify Bakshi during the police line-up. Bakshi fled after the incident but was later arrested in Bhagalpur (Bihar) after the main trial had sentenced Bismil, Lahiri, and Roshan Singh to death. A supplementary trial was held in Lucknow under Judge Bennett, where on July 13, 1927, Ashfaqullah Khan was sentenced to death, and Bakshi was awarded life imprisonment (Kala Pani). In his memoir 'Kranti Ke Path Par', Bakshi recalled his trial with Ashfaqullah Khan. They had agreed not to acknowledge knowing each other in court, to avoid incriminating evidence. However, in jail, they were held together. Bakshi wrote with emotion how he felt dwarfed when Ashfaqullah was sentenced to death while he received life imprisonment, saying in Bengali, "Ek yatra mein prithak phal nahin hona chahiye, mujhe bhi wahi saza milni chahiye thi (There should not be different fates in a shared journey, I too deserved the same sentence)." The two were separated at Lucknow station — Ashfaqullah was sent to Faizabad Jail for execution, while Bakshi was taken to Agra Central Jail. He never saw Ashfaqullah again. Bakshi fought for the rights of political prisoners and led several protest movements. On Dec 14, 1928, he was shifted to Bijnor Jail, then to Lucknow on Dec 26, and back to Bijnor by Dec 31. Later, on May 8, 1929, he was moved to Bareilly Central Jail where he undertook a 53-day hunger strike demanding recognition of freedom fighters as political prisoners — alongside Manmath Nath Gupta and Rajkumar Sinha. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
