Page 47 - NIS English 16-31 July 2022
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Amrit Mahotsav Nation
KALPANA DUTTA: A REVOLUTIONARY WOMAN IN THE
GUISE OF A BOY WHO FOUGHT AGAINST THE BRITISH
Born: July 27, 1913, Died: February 8, 1995
The contribution of Kalpana Dutta, who fought
side by side with the revolutionaries of Bengal to
liberate the country from the British, can never
be forgotten. She used to supply ammunition
to the revolutionaries in disguise. She was also
trained to use guns and knew how to make
cartridges. Not only that, she used to go from
one place to another in the guise of a boy to meet
revolutionaries. Kalpana Dutta was born on 27
July 1913 in the village of Sreepur in Chittagong,
East Bengal (now Bangladesh). WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE
She was fond of listening to adventurous IMPRISONMENT IN THE CHITTAGONG
stories since childhood. While studying in
high school, she had read many biographies ARMORY ROBBERY CASE.
and stories of revolutionaries. These stories
had a tremendous effect on her psyche. While movement. On 16 February 1933, the police
studying in college in Kolkata, Kalpana met raided a place where she was hiding with
revolutionary women like Bina Das and Pritilata Surya Sen. Surya Sen was caught in this raid
Waddedar. Meanwhile, she also met Surya Sen, but it is said that Kalpana managed to escape
popularly known as 'Master Da', and she joined from there by firing on the British. Following
his organization, the Indian Republican Army. this, the police pursued Kalpana Dutta and
In this way, she became part of the campaign she was finally arrested on 19 May 1933. The
against the British. Her party led by Surya Sen trial of the Chittagong Armory robbery case
looted the Chittagong Armory in 1930 after was resumed once again. Meanwhile, Surya
which Kalpana Dutta also came to the notice Sen was sentenced to death and Kalpana
of the British. Under these circumstances, Dutta was sentenced to life imprisonment.
she has to give up her studies but she However, after the efforts of Mahatma Gandhi
remained in touch with Surya Sen. Meanwhile, and Rabindranath Tagore, Kalpana Dutta was
on 19 September 1931, Surya Sen, along released from jail in 1939. After her release
with Pritilata Waddedar, assigned her from prison, she completed her studies and
the task of attacking a European club in graduated from Calcutta University in 1940. In
Chittagong. Kalpana Dutta was captured by 1979, she was given the title of Veer Mahila. She
the British while monitoring the area before wrote her autobiography in Bengali, translated
the attack. However, she was released into English as "Chittagong Armory Raiders:
on bail after the charges were not proved. Reminiscence". Kalpana Dutt, who fought the
After this, she went underground for two British with fearlessness and courage, passed
years together with Surya Sen and continued her away on February 8, 1995.
New India Samachar July 16-31, 2022 45
