A Patriot Erased: Remembering Revolutionary Satya Ranjan Bakshi
“সংগ্রামই আমাদের জীবন, আত্মত্যাগই আমাদের ধর্ম।”
— নেতাজি সুভাষচন্দ্র বসু
("Struggle is our life; self-sacrifice is our creed." — Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose)
Bakshi belonged to that noble band of patriots for whom freedom was not a political goal, but a sacred duty. Rooted in conviction, driven by sacrifice, he walked the path of resistance at a time when it meant risking everything—liberty, family, even life.
In an era where slogans echo louder than values, and nationalism is reduced to pageantry, we must pause and ask: Do we still remember the idealists who gave their lives not for recognition, but for the soul of a free India? Among them was Satya Ranjan Bakshi, a name few textbooks mention, but one that history ought to honour.
This post seeks not only to chronicle his contributions but to reflect on the larger question: Why do we forget those who truly built this nation from the ground up? In remembering Satya Ranjan Bakshi, we honour not just a man, but an idea — that India was forged not in deals and decrees, but in struggle and sacrifice.
Satya Ranjan Bakshi
Satya Ranjan Bakshi | |
|---|---|
| সত্যরঞ্জন বক্সী | |
 Satya Ranjan Bakshi | |
| Born | 16 July 1897 |
| Died | 8 January 1983 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Other names | Satya Bakshi |
| Alma mater | Jagannath University, City College, Kolkata & University of Calcutta |
| Known for | founding member of Bengal Volunteers and later the Forward Bloc |
| Movement | Indian independence movement |
| Parents |
|
Satya Ranjan Bakshi was born on 16 July 1897 in Bakerganj, Barisal (then part of the Bengal Presidency under British India), to Basanta Kumar Bakshi and Mokshada Sundari Devi. He was the eldest of four siblings, with one younger brother, Sudhir Bakshi, and two sisters, Snehalata and Anandi Debi.[1]
He completed his matriculation in 1913 from Gabha, a village in the Barisal district where his maternal uncle Hemchandra Ghosh resided. In 1915, he passed the Intermediate in Arts (I.A.) examination from Jagannath University in Dhaka. Bakshi earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honours in English in 1917 from City College, Kolkata, and subsequently completed a Master of Arts in English from the University of Calcutta in 1919.[2][3]
Involvement with the freedom struggle
Satya Ranjan Bakshi became involved in revolutionary activities at an early age. In 1911, at the age of fourteen, he came into contact with the Bengal Volunteers, a secret revolutionary organisation led by his maternal uncle, Hemchandra Ghosh.[4]
Education and legal training
Following his postgraduate degree in English literature from the University of Calcutta in 1919, Bakshi completed a degree in law (B.L.) in 1920. His academic background later informed both his revolutionary writing and his legal understanding of sedition and political rights under colonial rule.[5][6][7]
Political and revolutionary involvement
Bakshi played a significant role in nationalist movements, particularly through his involvement with the Mukti Sangha and the Bengal Volunteers. A close associate of Chittaranjan Das, Bakshi was regarded as a committed follower of Deshbandhu’s political vision and later became a supporter of Subhas Chandra Bose. His work focused on building organizational strength for nationalist causes and disseminating revolutionary ideology.[8][9][10][11]
Journalism and editorial work
Bakshi was deeply engaged in nationalist journalism and used the press as a tool for political mobilization. He worked with several nationalist publications and served as editor or contributor to journals such as Forward, Liberty, The Uniformed, Banglar Katha, Atmashakti, and The Nation. His essay titled Asiatic Federation reportedly earned him the admiration of Chittaranjan Das.[12][13]
Following Das's death in 1925, Bakshi continued his editorial work and took over as editor of Forward from 1924 to 1929, helping shape nationalist discourse during a critical phase of India's freedom struggle.[14][15][16][17]
Ideological influence
Bakshi was influenced by the message of liberation as articulated by Swami Vivekananda and carried forward by revolutionary ascetics like Hemchandra Ghosh. He was among a group of nationalist thinkers who saw India’s freedom not only as a political goal but also as a spiritual and cultural mission.[18][19][20][21]
Detention under colonial laws
Prior to his association with the Mukti Sangha and Bengal Volunteers, Bakshi was an active member of the Dhaka Sri sangha, a secret revolutionary society led by Leela Roy.[22][23]
Despite the absence of conclusive evidence, he was detained under the provisions of the Bengal Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1930, which allowed preventive detention without trial. He was successively held as a detenu at multiple locations: Presidency Jail (from 20 August 1932), Buxar Camp (from 11 October 1932), Deoli Jail (from 4 November 1933), returned to Presidency Jail (from 2 May 1935), transferred again Deoli Jail (from 27 June 1935), and finally to Berhampur Camp (from 7 December 1937).
Following his imprisonment, he was placed under village internment in Dinajpur District from 4 February 1938. He was unconditionally released on 22 March 1938.
Continued activism and editorial work
Following his earlier periods of detention, Satya Ranjan Bakshi resumed his involvement in nationalist journalism. In 1930, after a brief release, he joined the editorial team of the newspaper Liberty. Upon its closure, he went on to serve as editor of Advance, and later of The Nation, which was associated with Sarat Chandra Bose. Between 1932 and 1938, Bakshi was detained without trial under preventive detention laws and imprisoned in various facilities, including Buxar and Deoli jails.[24][25][26][27][28]
From April to November 1940, he was held as a security prisoner in the Presidency Jail. After the disappearance of Subhas Chandra Bose in 1941, Bakshi was again arrested. From May 1942 to 1946, he was imprisoned without trial and reportedly subjected to harsh treatment, including solitary confinement and physical torture. He was initially held in the underground cells of the Red Fort, and subsequently transferred to Naini Central Jail and Presidency Jail.[29][30]
Bakshi endured severe torture at the hands of the British authorities at the Red Fort. He was even placed before a mock firing squad, due to his involvement in aiding Subhas Chandra Bose's Great Escape and his knowledge of Bose’s subsequent whereabouts.[31]
Political writings and ideological contributions
During 1938–1939, Bakshi resumed his editorial role at Advance, and in 1948, he became the secretary of the United Socialist Organisation while editing The Nation. Through these platforms, he continued to advocate for Bose’s political vision and revolutionary nationalism. On 23 January 1949, coinciding with Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary, The Nation published a series of essays authored by Bakshi under the title “Subhasism”, which explored Bose’s ideological principles and their practical applications.[32]
He also wrote commemorative articles about the Bengal Volunteers’ martyrs, including Benoy, Badal, and Dinesh. In one such tribute, he reflected on the spiritual and emotional motivations of the revolutionary generation, expressing a vision of national awakening and selfless service.[33][34][35][36] Personal Life Satya Ranjan Bakshi was married to Santoshbala Debi. The couple had six children: Sudhangshu, Subir, Leela, Shefali, Leena, and Geeta. Despite facing financial hardship, Bakshi remained committed to his ideals, choosing not to accept any government assistance even during periods of personal and family crisis.
Personal Life Satya Ranjan Bakshi was married to Santoshbala Debi. The couple had six children: Sudhangshu, Subir, Leela, Shefali, Leena, and Geeta. Despite facing financial hardship, Bakshi remained committed to his ideals, choosing not to accept any government assistance even during periods of personal and family crisis.
Personal Life
Satya Ranjan Bakshi was married to Santoshbala Debi. The couple had six children: Sudhanshu, Subir, Leela, Shefali, Leena, and Geeta. Despite facing financial hardship, Bakshi remained committed to his ideals, choosing not to accept any government assistance even during periods of personal and family crisis.[37]
Post-independence stance and legacy
After India’s independence in 1947, Bakshi remained active in public life but declined formal political office. He is reported to have been offered the post of Vice President of India by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, which he declined. Instead, he chose to continue a life of ideological commitment, emphasizing moral integrity and revolutionary idealism over institutional power.[38][39][40]
Bakshi’s contributions as a political thinker, journalist, and organizer remained influential among nationalist circles, particularly those aligned with Subhas Chandra Bose’s vision of socialism and self-reliance.[41][42]
Death
Satya Ranjan Bakshi passed away on 8 January 1983. His funeral took place at the Keoratola crematorium in Kolkata. Until the end of his life, Bakshi remained committed to the ideals of the Indian independence movement and declined state honours or material support. His austere lifestyle and unwavering dedication to his principles made him a distinctive figure among India's revolutionary nationalists.[43][44]
Legacy
Support for Revolutionary Activities
Satyaranjan Bakshi is remembered for his behind-the-scenes involvement in several significant revolutionary incidents during the Indian independence movement. He is believed to have played roles as an advisor, planner, or shelter-provider in operations such as the Chittagong armoury raid, the attacks on police officers Lowman and Hudson in Dhaka, the assassinations of District Magistrates Burge, Peddie, and Douglas in Midnapore, the Comilla magistrate shooting by Shanti Ghosh and Suniti Chowdhury, the attempted assassination of John Anderson, and the Writers' Building incident involving Benoy, Badal, and Dinesh.[45]
Although documentation is scarce due to the covert nature of such work, Bakshi was regarded by contemporaries as a trusted figure who facilitated and supported revolutionary operations.
Role in the Forward Bloc and Association with Subhas Chandra Bose
In 1939, Bakshi became a founding member of the All India Forward Bloc, established by Subhas Chandra Bose. He was appointed the first secretary of the Bengal Committee and was entrusted with significant organisational responsibilities. Bakshi was also reportedly a key architect of Bose’s secret escape from India in January 1941, a mission that came to be known as the “Great Escape.” Bose is believed to have confided in him, saying:
“We shall live together, die together.”
Following Bose’s departure, Bakshi maintained underground contact with him and carried out his instructions within Bengal. His work An Adventure in Life details his reflections on Bose’s ideology, which he considered to be above rigid political boundaries.[46][47][48][49]
Refusal of Political Positions
After independence, Bakshi reportedly declined offers from Jawaharlal Nehru, including the position of Vice-President of India. He chose instead to lead a life of simplicity and political detachment, remaining committed to his revolutionary ideals. Despite experiencing personal tragedies, including the deaths of his children due to poverty and lack of medical care, Bakshi consistently refused state support. Symbolic of his anti-colonial stance, he avoided British-made goods, including Britannia biscuits.[50][51][52]
Recognition and Legacy in Historical Memory
Bakshi’s contributions were acknowledged by individuals such as Satyen Chowdhury, editor of the literary magazine Rakhal Benu, who dedicated issues to Bakshi’s work and legacy. Chowdhury advocated for Bakshi’s life and ideals to be included in school and university curricula, lamenting the lack of awareness about his role among educators and students.[53][54] His insistence on this order was driven by a desire to preserve collective memory and revolutionary integrity.[55][56][57][58]
Although not widely commemorated in mainstream narratives, Bakshi remains a respected figure in certain historical and nationalist circles for his unwavering dedication to the cause of Indian independence and his close association with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.[59][60][61][62][63]
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Bibliography
- Hemendranath Dasgupta, Bharater Biplab Kahini, II & III, Calcutta, 1948;
- Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, History of the Freedom Movement in India, III, Calcutta 1963;
- Ganganarayan Chandra, Abismaraniya, Calcutta, 1966.
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