Kalpana Datta
Encyclopedia
Kalpana Datta (27 July 1913 – 8 February 1995) (later Kalpana Joshi) was an Indian independence movement
activist and a member of the armed resistance movement led by Surya Sen
, which carried out the Chittagong armoury raid
in 1930. Later she joined the Communist Party of India
and married Puran Chand Joshi, then General Secretary of the Communist Party of India in 1943.
of Bengal Province in India. After passing her matriculation examination in 1929 from Chittagong, she went to Calcutta and joined the Bethune College
for graduation in Science. Soon, she joined the Chhatri Sangha (Women Students Association).
to attack the European Club in Chittagong. But a week before the attack, she was arrested while carrying out reconnaissance of the area. She went underground after release on bail. On 17 February 1933 the police encircled their hiding place and Surya Sen was arrested but Kalpana was able to escape. She was arrested on 19 May 1933.
for life. After her release in 1939, Kalpana graduated from the Calcutta University in 1940 and joined the Communist Party of India
. In 1946, she contested in the elections for the Bengal Legislative Assembly as a Communist Party of India
candidate from Chittagong but could not win. She died in Calcutta on 8 February 1995.
. He was also known for his work, Bhindranwale: Myth and Reality (1985). Chand's wife Manini (née Chatterjee) penned a book on the Chittagong armoury raid, titled, Do and Die: The Chittagong Uprising 1930-34.
starred as Kalpana Datta, in a Hindi movie, Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey
, which dealt with the Chittagong armoury raid
and its aftermath.
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
activist and a member of the armed resistance movement led by Surya Sen
Surya Sen
Surya Sen was a prominent Bengali freedom fighter, an Indian independence activist and the chief architect of anti-British freedom movement in Chittagong, Bengal...
, which carried out the Chittagong armoury raid
Chittagong armoury raid
The Chittagong armoury raid was an attempt on April 18, 1930 to raid the armoury of police and auxiliary forces from the Chittagong armoury in Bengal province of British India, by armed revolutionaries led by Surya Sen....
in 1930. Later she joined the Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
and married Puran Chand Joshi, then General Secretary of the Communist Party of India in 1943.
Early life
Kalpana Datta was born at Sripur in Chittagong DistrictChittagong District
Chittagong District is a district located in the south-eastern region of Bangladesh. It is a part of the Chittagong Division. The port city of Chittagong, second largest city in Bangladesh, is located in this district.-History:...
of Bengal Province in India. After passing her matriculation examination in 1929 from Chittagong, she went to Calcutta and joined the Bethune College
Bethune College
Bethune College is a women's college in India. It was founded as a school in 1849 by John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune and in 1879 developed as the first women's college in India. It is located at 181, Bidhan Sarani, Kolkata -700006, just opposite the current campus of Scottish Church College,...
for graduation in Science. Soon, she joined the Chhatri Sangha (Women Students Association).
Armed resistance movement
The Chittagong armoury raid was carried out on 18 April 1930. Kalpana joined the "Indian Republican Army, Chittagong branch", the armed resistance group led by Surya Sen in May 1931. In September, 1931 Surya Sen entrusted her along with Pritilata WaddedarPritilata Waddedar
Pritilata Waddedar was a Bengali anti-British revolutionary from what is now Bangladesh, who became a martyr for the liberation of her motherland....
to attack the European Club in Chittagong. But a week before the attack, she was arrested while carrying out reconnaissance of the area. She went underground after release on bail. On 17 February 1933 the police encircled their hiding place and Surya Sen was arrested but Kalpana was able to escape. She was arrested on 19 May 1933.
Trial, transportation and later life
In the second supplementary trial of Chittagong armoury raid case, Kalpana was sentenced to transportationPenal transportation
Transportation or penal transportation is the deporting of convicted criminals to a penal colony. Examples include transportation by France to Devil's Island and by the UK to its colonies in the Americas, from the 1610s through the American Revolution in the 1770s, and then to Australia between...
for life. After her release in 1939, Kalpana graduated from the Calcutta University in 1940 and joined the Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
. In 1946, she contested in the elections for the Bengal Legislative Assembly as a Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
candidate from Chittagong but could not win. She died in Calcutta on 8 February 1995.
Personal life
In 1943, she married Puran Chand Joshi. They had two sons: Chand and Suraj. Chand Joshi was a noted journalist, who worked for the Hindustan TimesHindustan Times
Hindustan Times is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded in 1924 with roots in the Indian independence movement of the period ....
. He was also known for his work, Bhindranwale: Myth and Reality (1985). Chand's wife Manini (née Chatterjee) penned a book on the Chittagong armoury raid, titled, Do and Die: The Chittagong Uprising 1930-34.
Artistic depictions
In 2010, Deepika PadukoneDeepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone is an Indian actress and a former model. She appears mostly in Hindi as well as Tamil and Kannada language films. Born to Badminton player Prakash Padukone, she chose to become an actress and not pursue a career in sports.Padukone made her acting debut in the 2006 Kannada film...
starred as Kalpana Datta, in a Hindi movie, Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey
Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey
Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey is a Hindi period piece film directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone in the lead roles. It is based on the book Do And Die by Manini Chatterjee, based on the Chittagong Uprising of 1930. The film has been shot mostly in Goa along...
, which dealt with the Chittagong armoury raid
Chittagong armoury raid
The Chittagong armoury raid was an attempt on April 18, 1930 to raid the armoury of police and auxiliary forces from the Chittagong armoury in Bengal province of British India, by armed revolutionaries led by Surya Sen....
and its aftermath.
External links
- Deepika Padukone as Kalpana Datta in Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey Movie - hungama.tumblr.com