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The Print
09-08-2025
- Politics
- The Print
100 years of Kakori Train Action: Ashfaq-Bismil – A revolutionary tale of camaraderie & brotherhood
All four were hanged by the British government on December 19, 1927, for their involvement in the train 'conspiracy'. On August 9, 1945, revolutionaries of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), including Bismil, Ashfaqullah, Thakur Roshan Singh and Rajendranath Lahiri, stopped the No. 8 down train near the Kakori railway station in Lucknow district and looted money from the guard's cabin belonging to the British Treasury. Lucknow, Aug 9 (PTI) From eating from the same plate to offering 'namaz' and performing 'havan' together, Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqullah Khan, both architects of the Kakori Train Action that took place on this day 100 years ago, were brothers in arms who who always stood by each other. 'Back in those days, while Bismil Sahibi would perform havan at the Arya Samaj Mandir in Shahjahanpur, Ashfaqullah Sahib would offer namaz at the same place,' recalled Afaqullah Khan (55), the grandson of Ashfaqullah Khan's elder brother Riyasatullah Khan, while talking to PTI. Not only would they often eat from the same plate, they would also stand by each other at all times, he recalled. 'A few months before the Kakori Train Action, there was a communal disturbance in Shahjahanpur after a mob raided the Arya Samaj Mandir. 'Ashfaqullah Sahib was the first to face the mob. He firmly told them to stay away or else he wouldn't hesitate to open fire,' Afaqullah said. He also recalled that initially, Ashfaqullah was not willing to execute the Kakori Train Action, as he felt it might send a wrong message to the people. 'However, Bismil Sahib convinced him that the action was for the larger good of the freedom struggle,' Afaqullah said. According to the 'Indian Culture' portal, an initiative of the Ministry of Culture, 'Ashfaqullah met Bismil in 1920, and their friendship continued till their death in 1927'. Ashfaqullah and Bismil worked together for the non-cooperation movement, campaigned for the Swaraj Party, and carried out missions for the HSRA (Hindustan Socialist Republican Association), founded in 1924 by Sachindranath Sanyal, Jogeshchandra Chatterjee, and Bismil. According to the portal, 'Before he was taken to the gallows, Ashfaqullah Khan penned, 'Tang aakar hum unke zulm bedaad se, chal diye suye-adam Faizabad se.'' Ashfaqullah was hanged at the Faizabad district jail on December 19, 1927, leaving behind a rather unusual will. 'Asfaquallah Sahib shared his will with his elder brother Riyasatullah Khan, which said one child in the family should be named Ashfaqullah. 'A few years after his execution, my father was born but he couldn't be named Ashfaqullah, as it was felt that the naming so close to Ashfaqullah Sahib's execution would revive sad memories. So my father was named Ishtiaqullah Khan,' Afaqullah recalled. 'After my father tied the knot, in keeping with Ashfaq Sahib's will, the first child born out of the marriage was named Ashfaqullah Khan, my elder brother,' Afaqullah said. The revolutionary act of Bismil, Ashfaqullah and others was earlier referred to as the 'Kakori train conspiracy' or the 'Kakori train robbery'. In 2021, the Uttar Pradesh government renamed it as 'Kakori Train Action', which is now used in all official communication referring to the event. PTI NAV MAN ARI This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
09-08-2025
- General
- Time of India
100 years of Kakori Train Action: Ashfaq-Bismil - A revolutionary tale of camaraderie & brotherhood
From eating from the same plate to offering 'namaz' and performing 'havan' together, Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqullah Khan , both architects of the Kakori Train Action that took place on this day 100 years ago, were brothers in arms who who always stood by each other. On August 9, 1945, revolutionaries of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), including Bismil, Ashfaqullah, Thakur Roshan Singh and Rajendranath Lahiri, stopped the No. 8 down train near the Kakori railway station in Lucknow district and looted money from the guard's cabin belonging to the British Treasury. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program All four were hanged by the British government on December 19, 1927, for their involvement in the train "conspiracy". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This new air conditioner cools down a room in just seconds News of the Discovery Undo "Back in those days, while Bismil Sahibi would perform havan at the Arya Samaj Mandir in Shahjahanpur, Ashfaqullah Sahib would offer namaz at the same place," recalled Afaqullah Khan (55), the grandson of Ashfaqullah Khan's elder brother Riyasatullah Khan, while talking to PTI. Not only would they often eat from the same plate, they would also stand by each other at all times, he recalled. Live Events "A few months before the Kakori Train Action, there was a communal disturbance in Shahjahanpur after a mob raided the Arya Samaj Mandir. "Ashfaqullah Sahib was the first to face the mob. He firmly told them to stay away or else he wouldn't hesitate to open fire," Afaqullah said. He also recalled that initially, Ashfaqullah was not willing to execute the Kakori Train Action, as he felt it might send a wrong message to the people. "However, Bismil Sahib convinced him that the action was for the larger good of the freedom struggle," Afaqullah said. According to the 'Indian Culture' portal, an initiative of the Ministry of Culture, "Ashfaqullah met Bismil in 1920, and their friendship continued till their death in 1927". Ashfaqullah and Bismil worked together for the non-cooperation movement, campaigned for the Swaraj Party, and carried out missions for the HSRA (Hindustan Socialist Republican Association), founded in 1924 by Sachindranath Sanyal, Jogeshchandra Chatterjee, and Bismil. According to the portal, "Before he was taken to the gallows, Ashfaqullah Khan penned, 'Tang aakar hum unke zulm bedaad se, chal diye suye-adam Faizabad se.'" Ashfaqullah was hanged at the Faizabad district jail on December 19, 1927, leaving behind a rather unusual will. "Asfaquallah Sahib shared his will with his elder brother Riyasatullah Khan, which said one child in the family should be named Ashfaqullah. "A few years after his execution, my father was born but he couldn't be named Ashfaqullah, as it was felt that the naming so close to Ashfaqullah Sahib's execution would revive sad memories. So my father was named Ishtiaqullah Khan," Afaqullah recalled. "After my father tied the knot, in keeping with Ashfaq Sahib's will, the first child born out of the marriage was named Ashfaqullah Khan, my elder brother," Afaqullah said. The revolutionary act of Bismil, Ashfaqullah and others was earlier referred to as the "Kakori train conspiracy" or the " Kakori train robbery ". In 2021, the Uttar Pradesh government renamed it as "Kakori Train Action", which is now used in all official communication referring to the event.
Time of India
08-08-2025
- General
- Time of India
Kakori heroes: Youth who dared the empire for India's freedom
The Kakori revolutionaries were young, brave Indians who risked everything for freedom from British rule. From poets to scholars, these men—like Azad, Bismil, and Ashfaqullah—used both words and weapons in their fight for independence. Chandrashekhar Azad Born | July 23, 1906 Native | Unnao, UP Chandrashekhar Azad left home at the age of 15 left home and worked as a labourer in Bombay before heading to Varanasi where he joined a Sanskrit school and participated in the freedom struggle. It was during this movement that he was arrested and sentenced to 15 lashes. With each strike, he shouted 'Mahatma Gandhi ki Jai! When his name was asked in court, he said 'Azad', meaning 'free', declaring that his father's name was 'Swatantrata' (freedom) and his residence was 'jail'. The name stuck, and Chandrashekhar was known as 'Azad' forever. He played a key role in the Kakori Train Action. Bhagat Singh once joked, 'Panditji, if caught, you'll surely be hanged.' Azad replied, 'Let that be your fate. As long as my 'Bamtul Bukhara' (his pistol's nickname) is in my hand, no one can catch me alive'. True to his word, on Feb 27, 1931, cornered by the police at Alfred Park in Allahabad, he fought valiantly and shot himself instead of surrender. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Health and comfort: the comfiest slip-on shoes of the year Ultra-Comfortable Shoes Undo Ashfaqullah Khan Born | Oct 22, 1900 Native | Shahjahanpur, UP He was the only Muslim hero in the Kakori Train Action who sacrificed his life for the country. Born on Oct 22, 1900, in UP's Shahjahanpur, he was lovingly called 'Achchu'. A passionate Urdu poet who wrote under the pen name 'Hasrat'. He was a close friend of Ram Prasad Bismil, who was initially hesitant to include him in the revolutionary group. Before the incident, he had warned his comrades: 'This will be a direct confrontation with the British, and they will leave no stone unturned to destroy us. ' After his arrest, he was taken from Delhi to Lucknow. British officers tried to use religious pressure through Muslim clerics and relatives, but Ashfaq replied 'Let me die with honour.' At Faizabad jail, he walked to the gallows carrying the Quran, saying 'Labbaik' (Here I am, O Lord!). Before his hanging, he said: 'My hands are not stained with human blood. God will give me justice.)' Ram Prasad Bismil Born | June 11, 1897 Native | Shahjahanpur, UP He was not just a freedom fighter but a poet, writer, and translator whose pen and pistol worked in harmony for the nation. From a young age, Bismil was drawn to the idea of Arya Samaj. This exposure led him to join the revolutionary path during his adolescence. His poetic spirit flourished alongside his activism. He wrote powerful patriotic poems under the pen name 'Bismil', meaning 'deeply wounded'. His greatest literary legacy remains his autobiography, secretly written in Gorakhpur Jail days before his hanging. Bismil was a founding member of HRA. After a long trial, Bismil and his closest associates were sentenced to death. Offered bribes and clemency in exchange for testimony, Bismil stood unshaken. On Dec 19, 1927, at the age of 30, Bismil was hanged in Gorakhpur Jail. Sachindra Nath Sanyal Born | April 3, 1890 Native | Varanasi, UP Born in 1893 in a Bengali family in Banaras, Sanyal represented the new generation of revolutionaries. He was a key member of the Gadar Party and the Anushilan Samiti, which he helped establish in Banaras. During WW I, he was a close associate of Ras Bihari Bose. Sanyal was arrested in the Banaras Conspiracy Case and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Andaman Islands, where he wrote the book 'Bandi Jeevan'. Released in 1920, he returned to revolutionary activities. In 1923, he founded the Hindustan Republican Association. He was a key strategist of the Kakori Train Action and arranged for 50 advanced Mauser pistols to be smuggled into India for the operation. In Kakori Action, Sanyal was again awarded life term. He was released in 1937 but rearrested in 1940. He died ofTB in 1943. His famous pamphlet, 'The Revolutionary', articulated revolutionaries' goal of establishing a democratic and socialistic society. Rajendra Nath Lahiri Born | June 29, 1901 Native | Pabna district, Bengal He was born in Bengal and, like his patriotic father, was deeply committed to India's freedom. Sent to Banaras for education, he became active in literary circles and edited a revolutionary-leaning monthly magazine 'Agnidoot'. He was a key figure in the Hindustan Republican Association, serving as its district organizer in Banaras. Lahiri played an active role in Kakori Train Action, where he was one of the revolutionaries who pulled the train's chain to stop it. He was later arrested while learning to make bombs in Calcutta and sentenced to 10 years jail. When his involvement in the Kakori case was discovered, he was brought to Lucknow where he was sentenced to death. On Dec 17, 1927, he was executed in Gonda Jail, two days earlier than planned, reportedly to foil a rescue attempt. Before his execution, he performed his daily exercises, telling a magistrate he wanted to be strong in his next life to continue fighting for India's independence. Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee Born | 1895 Native | Dhaka, Bangladesh He was a leading revolutionary from Dhaka and a key figure in Kakori Action. He was initially sentenced to 10 years, which was later increased to life imprisonment. Chatterjee played a crucial role in organizing the Hindustan Republican Association in Uttar Pradesh. During World War I, he was arrested and later released under a general amnesty. He immediately rejoined the revolutionary movement, helping to build a strong network in Kanpur. After Kakori Action, he led hunger strikes in jail to protest the inhumane treatment of political prisoners, which forced the govt to concede to their demands. Released in 1937, he was rearrested for defying a ban on entering Delhi and was imprisoned again during World War II. He participated in a famous hunger strike at the Deoli detention camp, which severely affected his health and led to his release. After India's independence, he served as a Rajya Sabha member. Thakur Roshan Singh Born | Jan 22, 1892 Native | Shahjahanpur, UP Born in 1892, Thakur Roshan Singh was a skilled fighter proficient in lathi, sword, and rifle. Inspired by Arya Samaj ideals, he actively participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement, even serving a two-year prison sentence. After the Chauri Chaura incident, he became disillusioned with non-violence and joined Bismil's revolutionary circle. In 1924, during a robbery for funds, Roshan Singh shot and killed a villager, which later became the sole reason for his death sentence. Although not directly involved in Kakori train action, he was arrested as an accomplice. He was hanged on Dec 19, 1927. 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 s ilver prices in your area.
Time of India
08-08-2025
- Time of India
30kg shackles, death warrants: Glimpses of India's golden chapter at jail museum
A century after the thunder of gunfire near Kakori railway station jolted the British empire, the Uttar Pradesh prison department has opened the gates to a rare chapter of India's freedom struggle — not in textbooks, but within the stone walls of its own headquarters on Jail Road in Lucknow. Marking 100 years of the historic Kakori Train Action of Aug 9, 1925, a first-of-its-kind museum has been inaugurated inside the state prison headquarters. It is here that a priceless collection gives a glimpse of the courage of Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Thakur Roshan Singh, Rajendra Nath Lahiri, and Sachindranath Sanyal — men who defied the British crown and paid with their lives. On display are original 30-kg shackles used to bind these revolutionaries, along with a rare hand mill from 1888, utensils used inside colonial jails, and even personal items belonging to Bismil — his kurta, a comb, slippers, and the tin box that once carried desi ghee from his mother, smuggled in with the help of a sympathetic jailer. Perhaps most haunting are the 1927 death warrants of the Kakori martyrs, handwritten in Urdu and Persian. They list the IPC sections under which Bismil was convicted. These included Section 121A – (Conspiracy to overthrow the state authority by force), 120B (Criminal conspiracy), 396 (Dacoity with murder), and 207 (fraudulent claim to property). In one of the last writings, Rajendra Nath Lahiri, then lodged in Gonda jail on Dec 14, 1927, writes: 'What is death? Nothing but the other face of life. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [Pictures] The only WD-40 trick everyone should know Undo by Taboola by Taboola And what is life? Merely the other face of death. Then what is there to fear? It is a natural event—just as natural as the sunrise in the morning. If it is true, as we believe, that history turns its pages, then I believe our sacrifice will not go in vain. My salutations, a final salute to all. ' Highlighting the unique collection on display, director general, prisons, PC Meena says, 'The museum houses several rare and invaluable documents related to the Kakori Train Action, including court records, archival newspaper clippings, and official correspondence. These materials offer a vivid glimpse into the bravery and sacrifice of the revolutionaries who laid down their lives for India's independence. ' Calling it a national heritage, Meena says, 'The Kakori Train Action is a golden chapter in India's freedom movement. The artefacts and documents linked to this event are part of our cultural and historical legacy and preserving them is a collective responsibility.' 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 s ilver prices in your area.
Scroll.in
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
Salil Misra
Stories written by 'A Glimpse of My Life' by Ram Prasad Bismil: A moving autobiography of a young revolutionary Bismil started writing about his life on scraps of paper when he was in jail. They were surreptitiously smuggled out and printed after Bismil was hanged. Salil Misra · 20 minutes ago An anthology shows us how the Jallianwala Bagh massacre is reimagined by the creative imagination Rakhshanda Jalil has brought together stories and poems that dwell on the possibilities and not just the hard facts. Salil Misra · Nov 22, 2020 · 08:30 am
