Surya Sen and Chittagong Armoury Raid

Surya Sen, popularly known as “Masterda,” was a revolutionary leader who planned and executed the Chittagong Armoury Raid on April 18, 1930. A teacher by profession and a senior leader of the Chittagong Branch of the Indian National Congress, Sen built a disciplined underground army under the banner of the Indian Republican Army (Chittagong Branch). The raid disrupted British communication systems, seized colonial arms, and established a short-lived provisional revolutionary government in Chittagong. This event marked a major shift in the Indian freedom struggle, demonstrating organized armed resistance against British rule in the 1930s.

Early Life and Entry into Freedom Movement

Background and Influences

Surya Sen was born on March 22, 1894, in Noapara village of Chittagong district, Bengal Presidency (present-day Bangladesh). He completed his early education in Chittagong and graduated from Behrampore College in 1918. During his college years, he came under the influence of his teacher, Shashank Mohan Sen, who introduced him to secret revolutionary groups. He joined the Anushilan Samiti and later established contacts with the Jugantar party in Bengal.

Teacher and Congress Leader

Upon returning to Chittagong in 1918, he joined the National School at Umatara as a mathematics teacher, earning the affectionate title “Masterda” from students and local residents. He joined the Indian National Congress and served as the Secretary of the Chittagong District Congress Committee. He used his position as an educator and public leader to recruit youth into secret revolutionary units while participating in the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1921.

Formation of Indian Republican Army

Reorganization of Secret Cells

Following the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement, colonial police arrested Surya Sen in 1926. He spent two years in various jails before his release in 1928. Recognizing the limits of individual assassinations, Sen decided to organize a mass military insurrection. He brought together young revolutionaries, including Ananta Singh, Ganesh Ghosh, Lokenath Bal, Pritilata Wadedar, and Kalpana Datta.

Influence of Irish Republican Army

Inspired by the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland, Sen established the Indian Republican Army (IRA) – Chittagong Branch. The organization trained young men and women in martial arts, shooting, map reading, and code communication. Sen emphasized strict military discipline and included women as active operational combatants, setting a precedence in Indian revolutionary history.

The Chittagong Armoury Raid (18 April 1930)

Planning and Execution

Surya Sen fixed Good Friday, April 18, 1930, as the date for a simultaneous strike on major colonial installations in Chittagong. The primary operational goals were to capture British weapons, destroy communication networks, cut off Chittagong from the rest of Bengal, and declare independence.

Target Execution

• Police Armoury: A group led by Ananta Singh and Ganesh Ghosh captured the main Police Armoury at Dampara, securing rifles and ammunition.
• Auxiliary Force Armoury: A squad led by Lokenath Bal captured the Auxiliary Force India (AFI) Armoury, though they found Lewis guns without corresponding ammunition.
• Communication Networks: Revolutionaries led by Ambika Chakrabarti severed telephone and telegraph lines across the district.
• Rail Connectivity: A group destroyed railway tracks at Nangalkot and Dhoom, cutting off train communication between Chittagong and Dhaka/Calcutta.

Declaration of Provisional Government

Following the successful capture of the armouries, Surya Sen took a military salute in full uniform outside the Police Armoury. He hoisted the Indian National Flag and proclaimed the establishment of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of India, naming himself its President.

Battle of Jalalabad Hill and Guerrilla Warfare

The Jalalabad Battle (22 April 1930)

To avoid immediate encirclement by arriving British troops, Surya Sen led 57 revolutionaries into the dense forests of Jalalabad Hills near Chittagong. On April 22, 1930, a heavily armed British army force under Colonel Simpson surrounded the hill. The revolutionaries fought back using captured rifles, killing over 80 British soldiers. Twelve revolutionaries, including Harigopal Bal (Tegra), Tripura Sen, and Prabhas Baidya, died during the battle.

Guerrilla Warfare in Villages

Following the Battle of Jalalabad, Sen ordered his forces to split into small units and disperse into nearby villages. Between 1930 and 1933, the revolutionaries waged guerrilla warfare against colonial forces, sheltered by local villagers. During this phase, revolutionaries executed targeted attacks:

• Paharali European Club Attack (1932): Pritilata Wadedar led an armed attack on the European Club at Pahartali, which displayed a sign reading “Dog and Indian not allowed.” Pritilata consumed potassium cyanide to avoid capture after sustaining gunshot injuries.
• Dhalghat Encounter (1932): Revolutionary Nirmal Sen died while fighting British troops to protect Surya Sen’s escape from a safehouse in Dhalghat village.

Betrayal, Arrest, and Martyrdom

Capture at Gairala

In February 1933, Surya Sen took shelter at the house of Netra Sen in Gairala village. Netra Sen betrayed his location to British police in exchange for a monetary reward. On February 16, 1933, a military force surrounded the house and arrested Surya Sen alongside Kalpana Datta. Netra Sen was later executed by revolutionary core member Tarakeswar Dastidar for his betrayal.

Trial and Brutal Execution

Surya Sen and Tarakeswar Dastidar faced trial at the Special Tribunal in Chittagong. On August 14, 1933, the court sentenced both leaders to death. Before his execution inside Chittagong Jail on January 12, 1934, British prison guards broke his teeth, limbs, and joints with hammers to prevent him from shouting political slogans. His unconscious body was hanged, sealed in a metallic cage, and thrown into the Bay of Bengal to prevent public funeral gatherings.

Major Revolutionaries of the Chittagong Raid

Key Exam Facts

• Surya Sen established the Indian Republican Army (IRA) – Chittagong Branch, modeled after the Irish Republican Army.
• The Chittagong Armoury Raid took place on Good Friday, April 18, 1930.
• Surya Sen declared the Provisional Revolutionary Government of India on April 18, 1930, assuming the role of its President.
• The Battle of Jalalabad Hill occurred on April 22, 1930, resulting in the death of 12 revolutionaries and over 80 colonial soldiers.
• Pritilata Wadedar became the first female martyr of the Chittagong movement after leading the attack on the Pahartali European Club on September 24, 1932.
• Kalpana Datta was a key associate of Surya Sen who specialized in preparing explosives and transporting arms disguised as a village woman.
• Netra Sen betrayed Surya Sen’s hideout at Gairala village to British forces in February 1933.
• Surya Sen was executed on January 12, 1934, alongside Tarakeswar Dastidar inside Chittagong Jail.
• The last written message of Surya Sen to his comrades was: “Never forget the 18th of April, 1930, the day of the eastern Rebellion… Write in red letters in the core of your hearts the names of those patriots who have sacrificed their lives on the altar of India’s freedom.”