June 29th, 2001

The story of the conversion of Susil Kumar Sen from a meek and mild bhadralog boy into a gun and bomb terrorist shows how a brutal ruler drives the subject peoples to violence.

Kingsford was Chief Presidency Magistrate Calcutta from August 1904 to March 1908. He became notorious for the harsh cruel and merciless punishments he inflicted on Indians who showed the slightest sign of self respect and patriotism.

In 1907 Kingsford as Chief Presidency Magistrate presided over the proceedings in which Aurobindo, editor of the Bande Mataram was tried for subversion. Bepin Chandra Pal refused to take oath or bear witness and was arraigned for contempt, tried in the same court and sentenced to six months imprisonment.

On 26th August 1907 some young men raised the slogan “Bande Mataram“. Kingsford ordered that they be dispersed by the police. Steel helmeted policemen wielded their laatthies to terrorize the people while dispersing them.
A young, fifteen year old boy, Susil Kumar Sen retaliated.

The newspaper Sandhya reported on 30th August:

Everybody who saw Susil”s heroic conduct in the affray at Lal Baazaar was amazed. Susil, when he saw a red faced darogha assaulting a number of people without any provocation, stepped into the fray, and in doing so was assaulted….. Susil is a stripling of fifteen while the red-faced one was a huge and heavy fellow. But Susil”s zest was a thing to see ……The red-faced fellow was thoroughly worsted….. Let nobody get frightened by the big show the feringhee fellows make. Inside them is all straw and Susil dragged it out and smashed up their showy exterior.

A case for criminal assault was started against Susil Kumar Sen on complaint from the Sergeant.

Susil stated:-

“I don”t know anything about being guilty or non guilty. I was coming from Sealdah. At a short distance from Lal Baazaar I saw a large gathering. I came to the place and tried to ascertain what the matter was. At this moment this sergeant (pointing to the complainant) came and assaulted anybody and everybody he met there. I returned the blow. He then began to beat me again and again and to prevent him I too returned the blows. A few other police officers came and threw me down onto the street”.

Kingsford had, before any evidence had been recorded stated “There is a feeling amongst young men that Bengalis can resist the police.” The defense counsel had retorted that the police on their part believed that they could do anything to the Bengalis and even on the day before many persons had been assaulted.

Kingsford said “Why not?” They should be bludgeoned as in other countries”. Kingsford sentenced Susil to flogging. He was to receive fifteen stripes ” by way of student discipline”.

The English language paper “The Nation” wrote

“The flogging of an educated man for a political offence is surely a novel infamy. Even in Russia the flogging of politicals is a rare event. Its frequency under Austrian rule in Italy was one of the circumstances most potent in alienating even the sympathy of English Conservatives in 1848.”

Susil maintained a stoic silence during his ordeal as he thought it would be derogatory to the national cause if he betrayed any sign of weakness to the servants of the bureaucracy.

To honour Susil”s bravery his alma mater the National College closed for a day and a. public meeting was held in College Square. Surendra Nath Banerjea sent a gold medal to the president of the meeting to pin on Susil”s chest.

After the meeting Susil was placed in a horse carriage and driven around the city with a patriotic song being sung.

The words of the song were

“jubbey jubbey jeebon choley
jagat maajhey toamaar kaajey
“Bandey Maataram” boaley
Beyt maarey kaa mee bholaabee
Aamraa kee maar seyee chheyley

“Even if we lose our life in your service (O Mother) we shall go on shouting Hail to You. Flogging cannot make us give up or forget”.

Nine moths later, on 15th May 1908 Susil was arrested with Aurobindo Barindra and other titans of India”s freedom struggle in what came to be known as the Alipore Conspiracy Case.

Susil was found “Not Guilty” by the Assessors.

Despite this finding the British Magistrate disagreed with the Assessors and sentenced Susil to seven years rigorous imprisonment.

In the Appeal to the High Court a two judge Bench failed to come to a decision as they differed with each other. The case was referred to a third judge who acquitted Susil of all charges on 18th February 1910.

India was under the British heel and ruled from far away London. Viscount Morley Secretary of State was the Chief Executive. He promoted Kingsford.

This was not the end of the story of India”s ordeal. We shall return to Susil”s bravery in another column.