unsung hero deben dey

 Deben Chandra Dey (1905–1 November 1954) was an Indian revolutionary, freedom fighter, and later a politician in independent West Bengal. A member of the Anushilan Samiti, he took part in the Pahartali Railway Robbery and underground resistance against British Raj. Post-independence, he served as a Member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly and held positions such as Deputy Home Minister and Chief Whip during the tenure of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, the second Chief Minister of West Bengal.[1] A grassroots leader, he championed communal harmony, education, and social justice. Known for his simplicity and courage, he died under mysterious circumstances in a car crash while on a political mission. His legacy survives through the schools he founded and the memories cherished by his family and peers.[2] [failed verification]  

Deben Chandra Dey
দেবেন চন্দ্র দে
Deben Chandra Dey
Born1905
Dacca District, Eastern Bengal and Assam, British India
Died1 November 1954
Calcutta, West Bengal, India
Other namesKhoka,Deben Dey
Known forparticipation in Indian independence movement

Early life and revolutionary activities

Dey was born in 1905 in Kumarkhola village of Dacca District, Eastern Bengal and Assam (then part of British India). From an early age, he was drawn to the Indian nationalist movement and joined the Anushilan Samiti, a revolutionary organization in Bengal. He was mentored by prominent nationalist leaders, including Jyotish Ghosh, Santosh Mitra, Bipin Behari Ganguli, Subhas Chandra Bose, and Surya Sen.

Charles Tegart assassination attempt

In the early 1930s, Deben Chandra Dey became associated with the Jugantar party under the leadership of Santosh Kumar Mitra. The group organised a series of coordinated political dacoities in and around Kolkata, targeting locations such as the Ultadanga and Shankharitola post offices and an oil factory in Agarpara. These operations aimed to finance revolutionary activities and challenge British administrative authority. Following a crackdown by colonial authorities, Mitra and others were arrested, but Dey and his co-revolutionary Gopinath Saha evaded capture, aided by Surya Sen, who arranged shelter for them in Taltala.[3][4]

Dey later participated in a planned assassination of Police Commissioner Charles Tegart.[5] Alongside Gopinath, Ananta Singh, and Nogen Sen, Dey carried arms and explosives.[6] On the day of the attempt, a chemical accident occurred when an igniting compound spilt on Dey's clothes, causing a fire that forced the team to abort the mission.[7] Dey escaped serious injury by extinguishing the flames in a roadside drain. The group reconvened that night and revised their plans. While Gopinath[8] and Nogen Sen remained in Kolkata to continue the operation, Dey and Ananta Singh were tasked with travelling to Chittagong to raise funds for future revolutionary activities.[9][10][11]

He became actively involved in revolutionary activities in the early 1920s.[12][13] Notably, Dey participated in the Pahartali Railway Robbery on 14 December 1923. The operation, planned under Surya Sen's leadership, targeted a government payroll transported by carriage through the 'Tiger Pass' route near Chittagong. Dey, along with Ananta Singh, Rajendra Dasgupta, and Nirmal Sen, ambushed the carriage, seized the funds, and delivered them to a safe house. This incident marked Dey as a key participant in the underground revolutionary movement in Bengal.[14][15]

Due to his involvement, Dey became a fugitive. To evade arrest, he used disguises—including traditional women's attire—and travelled across Burma, Singapore, Java, and Malaysia under the alias "Shaikh Kaloo." The British government declared him a "dangerous terrorist criminal" and offered a reward for his capture.[16][17]

Political career

After India's independence, Dey transitioned to mainstream politics as a member of the Indian National Congress. He represented a Calcutta constituency. He became Chief Whip and later Deputy Home Minister in West Bengal during Dr. B.C. Roy's administration.[18][19][20]

During his tenure, he was involved in riot-relief and communal harmony efforts during the violent episodes of the 1946 and 1950 riots in Calcutta. Reports suggest he was instrumental in protecting both Hindu and Muslim families[21] and was appointed to lead anti-riot campaigns by the state government.[22]

Dey was committed to social welfare and education. He established schools for children from underprivileged communities, including Benpukur Vidyapith and Debendra Chandra Dey Balika Vidyalaya, both of which continued operating under government support.[23]

Personal life

Dey was married to Roma Dey and had two sons. Known for his disciplined lifestyle, he maintained a routine of early morning swimming and exercise. He often taught swimming to local children and avoided the trappings of political privilege, choosing to drive himself to work without police escort.[24]

He was known to have assisted Subhas Chandra Bose by driving him to secret meetings during the freedom struggle.[25]

Death and legacy

On 1 November 1954, Dey died at the age of 49 from injuries sustained in a car accident while travelling to Krishnanagar with other Congress colleagues. Dr. B. C. Roy personally oversaw his treatment. The circumstances surrounding the accident remained unclear, and members of Dey's family, including his widow, believed it may have involved political foul play. The incident was never formally investigated.[26]

Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Chief Minister Dr. B. C. Roy expressed shock at his passing. Some contemporaries believed he was being considered as a future Chief Minister of West Bengal.[27]

Dey's photograph is displayed in the Chief Whip's chamber at Writers' Building, Kolkata. His widow, Roma Dey, was later granted a freedom fighter's pension in 1973.[28][29]

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