SAMAJ WEEKLY UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
Bina Das was a fearless revolutionary who became a powerful symbol of youth defiance against the British Raj. Born in 1911 in West Bengal, her journey from a brilliant student to an armed freedom fighter remains one of the most daring chapters in India’s struggle for independence.
Bina’s commitment to her country was deeply rooted in her upbringing. She grew up in a highly educated and patriotic household. Her father, Beni Madhab Das, was a respected teacher who mentored a young Subhas Chandra Bose, while her mother ran a social welfare home that secretly sheltered revolutionaries. Surrounded by these values, Bina and her sister quickly joined the nationalist movement, organizing student protests against British policy.
However, as the British government responded to peaceful protests with escalating brutality, Bina’s outlook transformed. The execution of Bhagat Singh and the deaths of other jailed revolutionaries convinced her that peaceful dialogue was no longer enough. She realized that only a bold, dramatic action could shatter the illusion of British absolute control and wake up the conscience of her peers.
This conviction led to her most famous act of defiance on February 6, 1932. As a graduating college student, she concealed a revolver under her graduation gown during the University of Calcutta’s convocation ceremony. When she approached the dais, she fired five shots at the British Governor of Bengal, Stanley Jackson. Though she missed her target and was immediately arrested, her willingness to sacrifice her own future sent shockwaves through the colonial administration.
Following the attempt, Bina served seven years in prison, only to be arrested again later for her participation in the Quit India Movement. After India finally achieved independence, she chose a life of service over political power, serving briefly in the state assembly before dedicating herself to social work. True to her selfless nature, she spent her final years living in quiet, total anonymity in Rishikesh until her death in 1986. Bina Das remains an unforgettable icon of ultimate bravery, driven entirely by an unshakeable love for her nation.
Reference
1.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bina_Das?hl=en
2.Shooting of Governor of Bengal:
http://subhaschandrabose.org
