Unsung Heroes | History Corner | Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ministry of Culture, Government of India

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Paying tribute to India’s freedom fighters

Ambika Chakraborty

Chattagram, Undivided Bengal

August 13, 2022 to August 13, 2023

Ambika Chakraborty (1892-1962) was the son of Nandakumar Chakraborty of the village Barma in the Chattagram district of undivided Bengal. His early life including his education and political association is shrouded in obscurity.

He was arrested for the first time in 1916 for reasons not known. Released in 1918, he came in contact with Surya Sen and formed the secret group. It started with the dacoity on the AB Railway cash van without firing a single shot; he carried the cash to Calcutta collaborators. Later in the Nagrakata hill encounter, he along with Surya Sen consumed potassium cyanide, being fatigued from the long chase by the police. But, both were miraculously saved, and were subsequently arrested; but released by the court for want of convincing evidence against them.

On another occasion, he was shot by the police in the course of a raid on their shelter at Bahaddar Hat and fell into a ditch; but was saved by the doctor in custody. In the trial, when the jury asked him what he was doing there? He replied that while passing by the road he came under crossfire and fell unconscious, the court released him. But the police rearrested and imprisoned him under the criminal activities act till 1928.

On the day of the Chattagram uprising (18 April 1930), he led the attack on the Telephone and Telegraph Office. In the Jalalabad war (22 April 1930), he was severely wounded when his fellows left him; but in the dead of night, he regained his consciousness and took shelter in a safe house, but was arrested a few days later. In the trial, he was sentenced to transportation for life and suffered rigorous imprisonment in the Cellular Jail. Released in 1946, he joined the communist movement.

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