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Picture Courtesy: The Hindu

Context:

Batukeshwar Dutt was an Indian revolutionary known for his act of throwing two bombs along with Bhagat Singh in the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi on April 8, 1929, was remembered on his birth anniversary.

Who is Batukeshwar Dutt?

Batukeshwar Dutt (1910–1965) was an Indian revolutionary freedom fighter best known for participating with Bhagat Singh in the Central Legislative Assembly bombing on April 8, 1929.

His Early life:

Batukeshwar Dutt was born on November 18, 1910, in Khandaghosh village in the Burdwan (Bardhaman) district of Bengal (present-day West Bengal).

Influence of Revolutionary Circles:
While in Kanpur, he became acquainted with members of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) — the revolutionary group later associated with Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, and others.
It was here that he first met Bhagat Singh, with whom he developed a strong ideological and emotional bond.

Early Revolutionary Activities:
Before the famous Assembly bombing, Dutt actively helped HSRA members by:

• carrying secret messages,
• arranging safe houses,
• and participating in organisational tasks.

His commitment and reliability earned him the trust of senior revolutionaries.

What are the contributions of Batukeshwar Dutt in Freedom struggle?

Member of HSRA (Hindustan Socialist Republican Association)

• Dutt joined the HSRA, the revolutionary organisation led by Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Sukhdev, and others.
• He played a key role in organising meetings, transporting arms, and carrying messages for the group.

Central Legislative Assembly bombing (1929)

This is his most significant contribution.

• On April 8, 1929, Dutt and Bhagat Singh threw harmless, smoke-emitting bombs inside the Central Legislative Assembly (today’s Parliament House).
• Aim: To protest against draconian British laws and “Make the Deaf Hear.”
• They made sure no one was injured.
• After shouting slogans like Inquilab Zindabad, they courteously surrendered to draw attention to India’s struggle. 

Role in political prisoners’ rights

• After being sentenced to life imprisonment, Dutt was sent to various jails across India.
• He participated in multiple hunger strikes, including two fasts lasting over a month, demanding:
  • better treatment of political prisoners,
  • abolished discrimination between common and political prisoners,
  • improved food and sanitary conditions.

Participation in the Quit India movement (1942)

• After being released in 1938, Dutt again became active in the freedom struggle.
• During the Quit India Movement in 1942, he was re-arrested and spent another four years in jail.

Conclusion:

Batukeshwar Dutt was a committed revolutionary whose courage, sacrifices, and unwavering dedication to India’s freedom often went unrecognised. From the Assembly bombing to long years of imprisonment, he fought relentlessly for justice and national liberation. His life reminds us that many heroes of the freedom struggle remain forgotten despite their immense contributions.

Source: The Hindu