Lucknow: The seed for forming an army of overseas Indians to fight against British rule was sown during a meeting at a Durga Puja celebration organised by the Bengali Club & Youngmen's Association in Lucknow in 1938. The meeting was attended by ‘Netaji' Subhas Chandra Bose, revolutionary Sachindra Nath Sanyal, and a Japanese consul.
This was revealed by Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister and a historian, during a session at the Koshala Lit Fest on Friday. In the session, titled "Fight for Freedom," he shared that his grand uncle, Sachindra Nath Sanyal, had a connection to Lucknow and those events.
Sanjeev Sanyal mentioned that after the Ghadar Movement, Sachindra Nath Sanyal was sentenced to five years in the Cellular Jail (Kala Pani) in Andaman. Upon his return, he co-founded the Hindustan Republican Army, which played a significant role in the Kakori Train Action, but was arrested again. In 1927, he was sentenced to life imprisonment and sent to the Cellular Jail again, though he was released in 1937 on medical grounds. During this period, the Sanyal family lost their wealth due to the British crackdown in Varanasi.
"Around 1938, Lucknow hosted Durga Puja celebrations at the Bengali Club. Subhas Chandra Bose also attended the Puja, ostensibly for the religious occasion. However, the real purpose was a discreet meeting between Bose, Sachindra Nath, and others amidst the gathering. A Japanese consul, sent by Rash Behari Bose (who had moved to Japan after the Ghadar Movement), was also present to discuss plans. They anticipated the possibility of another global war, which could provide an opportunity for rebellion," said Sanjeev Sanyal. "My cousin was a witness to the event."
He emphasised that the formation of the Indian National Army (INA) in Singapore in 1943 was not a sudden development. In fact, the groundwork for forming the INA was laid during the Durga Puja meeting in Lucknow," he highlighted.
He concluded with an inspiring message for the youth. Bhagat Singh achieved greatness by 23, and history shows that many transformative achievements were made by individuals in their twenties. Yet today, we often underestimate their potential, treating them as incapable of taking on responsibilities. Parents, he urged, should avoid being overly protective and instead empower their children to take risks and grow.