fgh

 Rabindra Chandra Neogy (Bengali: রবি নিয়োগী) (1909–2002) was an Indian revolutionary and workers' rights activist. Born in Sherpur to a zamindar family in Undivided Bengal, he defied his privileged roots to join the revolutionary movement early. He later became involved with Jugantar and faced multiple arrests for anti-British actions, including the Sealdah Action Case 1931. Deported to the Cellular Jail, he led hunger strikes demanding prisoner rights and co-founded the Communist party’s jail branch. After joining the Communist Party in 1942, he led peasant struggles like the Tanka movement. He refused to leave East Pakistan post-Partition and spent over three decades prison across multiple regimes like British, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi regimes—spending 34 of his 92 years imprisoned.[1][2]  

Rabi Neogy
Rabindra Chandra Neogy
Born29 April 1909
Sherpur, Bengal, British Raj
DiedMay 10, 2002
Sherpur, Bangladesh
Known forparticipation in Indian independence movement and ex prisoner of Andaman Cellular Jail
SpouseSurabala Neogy
ChildrenRanjit Neogy (son)

Manjushree Neogy (daughter) Sajal Neogy (son)

Kajol Neogy (son)
Parents
  • Ramesh Neogy (father)
  • Surabala Neogy (mother)

Early life and family background

Rabi Neogy, was born on 16 Baisakh 1316 in the Bengali calendar (corresponding to 29 April 1909, though the exact Gregorian date is disputed), in Sherpur, Mymensingh in present-day Bangladesh. He belonged to a prominent zamindar family. The Neogy residence, known locally as Neogy Lodge, was well known in the region.[3][4]

Parents and siblings

His father, Ramesh Neogy, was a respected figure in Sherpur who managed family estates and actively supported local cultural institutions, including running a public library. His mother, Surabala Neogy, raised eleven children, including Rabi and his younger brother, Manindra Neogy (nicknamed Mani), who was also politically active.[5][6][7]

Education and political awakening

Schooling and early activism

Neogy began his education at Sherpur Victoria Academy and later attended Gobindapur Peace Memorial School, where he passed his matriculation in 1926. His political awareness began early; at the age of 11, he participated in the Khilafat Movement during his school years.[8][9][10]

College years and revolutionary turn

In 1926, he enrolled at Ananda Mohan College in Mymensingh. There he became associated with the Jugantar revolutionary group and underwent physical training at Dhiren Sen’s gymnasium, a meeting point for members of both Jugantar and Anushilan Samiti. After a confrontation with police, Neogy was expelled and fled to Kolkata, where he joined Vidyasagar College and connected with revolutionaries such as Surendranath Ghosh and Jibanlal Chatterjee.[11][12][13][14][15]

Revolutionary activities under British rule

Civil disobedience and arrests

Returning to Sherpur in 1929, Neogy helped mobilize the local civil disobedience movement. In 1930, he served as a member of the All Bengal Congress Working Committee and was arrested during picketing actions.[16]

Armed activities and imprisonment

In 1931, he was arrested in the Sealdah Action Case and sentenced to seven years in prison, serving terms in Mymensingh, Rajshahi, and later in the Andaman Islands. In 1933, Neogy participated in a hunger strike in the Cellular Jail demanding improved prison conditions. The death of three strikers during force-feeding prompted national protest and eventually led to concessions after 46 days.[17][18]

Marxist organization in prison

In the Andamans—referred to by revolutionaries as a “Marxist University”—Neogy helped establish the first Communist party cell inside the jail in 1933. He was released in 1938, re-arrested, and then freed again in 1941, though he was detained shortly afterward under the Security Act.[19][20]

Political work in Colonial and postcolonial eras

Transition to Communist politics

In 1942, Neogy joined the Communist Party of India and was elected to its Mymensingh District Committee. He led the 1943 peasant conference in Nalitabari opposing the Tanka system in Netrokona, helping lay the groundwork for the All-India Peasant Conference held in 1945.[21]

Post-partition struggles and persecution

After the Partition, Neogy refused to leave his homeland despite communal violence that forced his family into exile. During the 1950 riots, both he and his wife Jyotsna Neogy were jailed. Under Pakistan's rule, he was imprisoned for 20 of 24 years, enduring multiple arrests for his continued activism.[22][23]

Role during the liberation war and afterward

1971 and nation-building

During the Bangladesh Liberation War, Neogy supported freedom fighters and worked in refugee camps, despite the destruction of his Sherpur home by Pakistani forces. After independence, he remained engaged in socialist organizing, youth education, and cultural initiatives.[24][25][26][27]

Rabi Neogy

Later arrests and continued advocacy

Even at the age of 80, Neogy was imprisoned under Ershad ministry's regime in 1988. Reflecting on his political trajectory, he remarked[28]:

“From British times to today, every government except Bangabandhu’s has jailed me. Am I that dangerous? I only speak of people’s liberation.”

Personal life

Marriage and family

In 1941, Neogy married Jyotsna Rani Neogy, daughter of Yogesh Majumdar of Bikrampur. A revolutionary in her own right, Jyotsna participated in the women's liberation and labor movements, enduring over 12 years in jail or underground. The couple had three sons and a daughter.

  • Ranjit Neogy: poet and artist
  • Manjushree Neogy: singer and cultural activist
  • Sajal Neogy: educator
  • Kajol Neogy: engineer

Journalism and public engagement

Neogy also worked as a journalist, reporting from the 1971 war fronts for Kalantar, a Kolkata newspaper. He founded the Sherpur Journalists’ Association in 1973 and served as president of the Sherpur Press Club, being named its lifetime president in 1996.[29][30][31][32]

Awards and recognition

Neogy received several honors in recognition of his revolutionary work, including:

  • Dalu Genocide Day Honor (1989)
  • Veer Savarkar Trust Award, Mumbai (1991)
  • Tilak Trust Award, Pune (1991)
  • Jiten Ghosh Trust Award (1994)
  • Masterda Surya Sen Parishad Honor (1995)
  • Tebhaga Memorial Award (1996)
  • Shahid Dhirendranath Datta Commemoration (1996)
  • CPB Golden Jubilee Recognition (1999)

Legacy

Having spent 34 of his 92 years in jail, Neogy became a symbol of principled resistance across changing political landscapes. His legacy remains embedded in the revolutionary and socialist history of the Indian subcontinent.[33][34][35]

Rabi Neogy died on May 10, 2002, in Sherpur.[36][37]

References

  1. ↑

    RAY, MOTILAL (June 17, 1957). "AMAR DEKHA BIPLOB O BIPLOBI আমার দেখা বিপ্লব ও বিপ্লবী". RADHARAMAN CHOWDHURY, KOLKATA – via Internet Archive.

  2. ↑

    "বিপ্লবী রবি নিয়োগীকে নিয়ে আলোচনা সভা করবে উদীচী". বিপ্লবী রবি নিয়োগীকে নিয়ে আলোচনা সভা করবে উদীচী.

  3. ↑

    "রবি নিয়োগী". www.ajkerpatrika.com. April 1, 2024.

  4. ↑

    "নিয়োগী, রবি - বাংলাপিডিয়া". bn.banglapedia.org.

  5. ↑

    "বিপ্লবী রবি নিয়োগী কি হারিয়ে যাবেন?". Prothomalo. May 10, 2021.

  6. ↑

    Lahiri, Somnath Tr (June 17, 1961). "Bigyane Biplab" – via Internet Archive.

  7. ↑

    Sarkar, satishchandra (June 17, 1931). "Biplab Pathe Spain" – via Internet Archive.

  8. ↑

    Alam, Mir Shahidul (April 30, 2016). "শেরপুরে বিপ্লবী রবি নিয়োগী'র ১০৬ তম জন্মবার্ষিকী পালন - দেশের খবর".

  9. ↑

    Roy, motilal (June 17, 1923). "Biplabi Shahid Kanailal Ed.1st" – via Internet Archive.

  10. ↑

    Ghosh, Manoranjan (June 17, 1950). "Chattogram Biplab Ed. 2nd" – via Internet Archive.

  11. ↑

    "আজ বিপ্লবী রবি নিয়োগীর ১১৪তম জন্মবার্ষিকী". www.kalerkantho.com. April 17, 2024.

  12. ↑

    "Biplabi Kanailal Ed. 1st : Basu, Jyoti Prosad : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

  13. ↑

    Majumdar, Satyendranarayan (1971). Aamar Biplab-jigyasa Parbo.1(1927-1985).

  14. ↑

    "Revolutionaries Of Bengal : Sarkar, H.k. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

  15. ↑

    "The bomb in Bengal : the rise of revolutionary terrorism in India, 1900-1910 : Heehs, Peter : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

  16. ↑

    "Jug-Barta যুগবার্তা : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

  17. ↑

    "AMAR DEKHA BIPLOB O BIPLOBI আমার দেখা বিপ্লব ও বিপ্লবী : RAY, MOTILAL : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

  18. ↑

    Bose, Subhas Chandra. Subhas-rachanavali Vol. 2.

  19. ↑

    "JAGARAN জাগরণ : SUR, SHRISH CHANDRA : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

  20. ↑

    Rakshit, Bhupendrakishor (1960). Bharater Sashastra-biplab.

  21. ↑

    Kanungo, Hemchandra (1929). Banglay Biplab Prachesta Ed. 1st (in other). NA.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)

  22. ↑

    "Abismaraniya Vol. 1 : Chandra, Ganganarayan : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

  23. ↑

    Ray, Bhupendrakishore Rakshit (1960). Bharate Shashastra Biplab.

  24. ↑

    "Bijaychandi Gitabhinay বিজয় চন্ডী গীতাভিনয় : Ray, Motilal : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

  25. ↑

    "Gita Katha Ed. 1st : Jogeshananda Saraswati : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

  26. ↑

    "THE STORY OF INDIAN REVOLUTION : GUHA, ARUN. CHANDRA : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

  27. ↑

    "Rebels, wives, saints : designing selves and nations in colonial times : Sarkar, Tanika, 1949- author : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

  28. ↑

    "Amar Dekha Biplob O Biplobi : Ray, Motilal : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

  29. ↑

    "Abishmaraniya Vol. 2 : Chandra, Ganganarayan : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

  30. ↑

    "Mrityunjayee Kanailal : Dey, Purnachandra : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

  31. ↑

    "Jug-barta : Not Available : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

  32. ↑

    "INDIAN REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT ABROAD(1905-1921) : SAREEN, TILAK RAJ : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

  33. ↑

    "Remembering our leaders : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

  34. ↑

    "Arabinda-prasanga : Ray, Dinendrakumar : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

  35. ↑

    Dasgupta, Sri Hemendranath (1946). Bharater Biplab Kahini Vol. 1.

  36. ↑

    "Ichapur Barta Edited By Biplab Ghosh : Biplab Ghosh : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

  37. ↑

    "Pharasi Biplab : Chakraborty, Praphullakumar : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

Bibliography

  • Hemendranath Dasgupta, Bharater Biplab Kahini, II & III, Calcutta, 1948;
  • Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, History of the Freedom Movement in India, III, Calcutta 1963;
  • Abishmaraniya by Ganganarayan Chandra

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Debendra Nath Ghosh: From Revolutionary to People’s Advocate

Image
“আমি মানুষ, আমি ভয়কে করি তুচ্ছ, আমি মাথা নত করিনি কভু অন্যায়ের কাছে।” ( "I am human—I scoff at fear. I have never bowed my head before injustice." — Kazi Nazrul Islam) In a world that forgets too quickly, the life of Debendra Nath Ghosh , who lived to the age of 108 , reminds us of a time when courage was not just a word but a way of life. A revolutionary, political prisoner, and idealist , Ghosh belonged to that defiant generation who stared down the might of the British Empire — and never blinked. Born at the turn of the 20th century in Barisal , Ghosh joined the Indian freedom struggle as a teenager, facing prison, persecution, and exile. Yet even after independence, his fight continued — against authoritarianism, against Partition injustices, and later, against undemocratic regimes in both India and Bangladesh . He was not a man of slogans, but of action — one who endured without reward and resisted without bitterness . This post honours the extraordinary journey...
Read more

Chained But Unbroken: The Last Stand of Manindranath Bannerjee

Image
दिल फ़िदा करते हैं, क़ुर्बान जिगर करते हैं, आज जो कुछ है, वो मता की नज़र करते हैं। ख़ाना वीरान कहाँ, देखिए घर करते हैं, ख़ुश रहो अहले-वतन, हम तो सफ़र करते हैं। "We offer our hearts, we sacrifice our souls, Whatever we have today, we lay at our motherland’s feet. We do not seek comfort or shelter—wherever we go becomes home. Stay happy, people of my nation, for we are destined to depart on this journey." In the long, painful struggle for India’s independence, countless brave hearts laid down their lives—not always with guns, but with grit, silence, and sacrifice. Manindranath Bannerjee , a young revolutionary, chose the path of resistance not only through direct action but ultimately through the extreme protest of a hunger strike , which claimed his life in Fatehgarh Jail in 1934 . Today, how many of us remember the name of this quiet martyr? In a country where statues and slogans celebrate the few, the many who truly suffered and died in prison cells, away from the l...
Read more

From Barracks to Gallows: The Untold Story of Sunil Mukhopadhyay

Image
  “মরণের পরে আমি কাঁদিব তোমাদের প্রাণে প্রাণে, রহিব হৃদয়ের মাঝে, করিব জাগরণ গানে।” — রজনীকান্ত সেন ( “After death, I shall cry out in your soul, I shall dwell in your heart, awaken you in song.” ) Some martyrs do not die — they continue to stir the nation’s conscience long after they’re gone. Sunil Mukhopadhyay (17 August 1920 – 27 September 1943) was one such flame, extinguished too soon, yet still burning in silence. Born in Kamalpur, Hooghly , Sunil was a brilliant student who could have walked a different path. But the ideals of Swadeshi patriotism , and later the influence of Subhas Chandra Bose , drew him toward revolution. To support his family, he joined the 4th Heavy Battery of the Indian Coastal Defence , but his heart remained devoted to India's freedom. Sunil took part in a failed uprising in Cochin on 18 April 1943 , a daring but doomed act of defiance against colonial power. On 27 September 1943 , he was executed alongside eight comrades , sealing his place i...
Read more