Bina Das

Bina Das (1911–1986) was a prominent Indian revolutionary, nationalist, and social worker who played a courageous role in India’s struggle for independence. Known for her fearless attempt to assassinate the British Governor of Bengal in 1932, she became a symbol of youthful rebellion and patriotic idealism in colonial India. Beyond her revolutionary activities, Bina Das also contributed to education, women’s empowerment, and public service in post-independence India.

Early Life and Education

Bina Das was born in 1911 in Krishnanagar, Nadia district of Bengal (now in West Bengal), into an educated and politically conscious family. Her father, Beni Madhab Das, was a noted educationist and headmaster of Ravenshaw Collegiate School in Cuttack, while her mother, Sarala Devi, was a social worker and an active participant in the nationalist movement. The family’s engagement with reform and freedom struggles profoundly influenced her early political outlook.
Bina was educated at St. John’s Diocesan Girls’ School in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and later at Bethune College, one of the first women’s colleges in India. Her exposure to the rising tide of nationalist movements and revolutionary organisations during her student years shaped her resolve to join the fight against British colonial rule.

Involvement in the Revolutionary Movement

During the late 1920s, Bengal had become a centre of revolutionary activity under the influence of groups such as the Jugantar and Anushilan Samiti. These organisations inspired young men and women to challenge British rule through direct action. Bina Das came into contact with members of these groups and was particularly influenced by the ideals of Chittaranjan Das, Subhas Chandra Bose, and Prafulla Chaki.
In 1930, when Mahatma Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement, Bina Das joined protests against British authority but soon gravitated toward more radical methods. Her political awakening coincided with the growing participation of women in revolutionary politics, especially in Bengal, where figures such as Kalpana Datta, Pritilata Waddedar, and Suniti Choudhury were making their mark.

The Assassination Attempt on the Governor of Bengal (1932)

Bina Das gained nationwide attention for her daring attempt to assassinate Sir Stanley Jackson, the British Governor of Bengal, on 6 February 1932. The incident took place at the convocation ceremony of the University of Calcutta, where the Governor was presiding as the chief guest. As Bina, a graduating student, approached the dais to receive her degree, she drew out a small revolver and fired five shots at the Governor from close range.
Though she missed her target, the act sent shockwaves throughout the colonial administration. She was immediately apprehended by the police. Her attempted assassination was a deliberate act of protest against British oppression and a symbolic gesture of defiance on behalf of India’s youth.
At her trial, Bina Das displayed remarkable composure and conviction. In her statement before the magistrate, she declared that her action was motivated by patriotism and a desire to awaken India’s conscience against subjugation. Her words reflected the idealism of a generation that viewed revolutionary violence as a legitimate response to foreign domination.

Imprisonment and Political Struggle

Following the assassination attempt, Bina Das was sentenced to nine years of rigorous imprisonment. During her incarceration, she endured harsh conditions but continued her intellectual and moral development through reading and reflection.
She was released in 1939, after serving almost seven years in prison. Upon her release, she re-engaged with the nationalist movement and came into contact with prominent leaders of the Indian National Congress and the Congress Socialist Party. Her experience in prison deepened her commitment to social and political reform, and she began advocating for women’s education, rural development, and social justice.

Later Political Life and Social Work

After India’s independence in 1947, Bina Das chose a life of service over political power. She joined the Indian National Congress and worked for the uplift of marginalised communities, particularly in rural Bengal. She was also a member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from 1946 to 1951, representing the Congress Party.
In later years, she became disillusioned with the growing corruption and factionalism in politics and gradually withdrew from public life. Despite facing personal and financial difficulties, she continued her social work in villages, focusing on education and welfare for women and children.

Personal Life

Bina Das married Jatish Chandra Bhattacharjee, a fellow freedom fighter, but the couple lived modestly, dedicating themselves to public service rather than personal gain. Their lives were marked by simplicity, idealism, and an unyielding belief in the values of freedom and equality.
Unfortunately, her later years were marked by poverty and neglect. She lived in relative obscurity in Rishra, near Kolkata, where she passed away in 1986 under tragic circumstances, reportedly alone and in penury. Her death highlighted the fading recognition of many women revolutionaries who had sacrificed everything for India’s freedom.

Ideology and Legacy

Bina Das’s life symbolised the fusion of nationalism, feminism, and revolutionary idealism. She represented a generation of educated women who refused to remain confined to domestic roles and instead took active part in the liberation of their country.
Her assassination attempt on the Governor of Bengal was not an act of personal vengeance but a political statement—a dramatic assertion of the moral right of an enslaved people to resist tyranny. In her courtroom testimony, she declared:

“My purpose was not to kill a man but to kill an institution, the institution which has enslaved India.”

This statement remains one of the most powerful expressions of revolutionary nationalism in Indian history.
Though overshadowed by more prominent male revolutionaries, Bina Das is remembered as one of the most courageous women of the Indian independence movement. Her fearless patriotism, combined with her later dedication to social service, makes her a symbol of idealism and sacrifice.

Recognition and Remembrance

Bina Das has been honoured posthumously for her contribution to India’s freedom struggle. Educational institutions, women’s organisations, and cultural groups in West Bengal periodically commemorate her courage and commitment. Her life continues to inspire feminist and nationalist discourse, particularly regarding women’s active role in resistance movements.