Introduction
- In 1690, Job Charnock established a trading post for the British East India Company by leasing three settlements along the Hooghly River: Sutanuti, Govindapur, and Kolikata (Calcutta). This laid the foundation for Calcutta’s future significance.
- By the late 1800s, the political climate in India was rapidly evolving. A faction within the Indian National Congress grew disillusioned with the slow progress of the moderates and Lord Curzon’s authoritarian rule, leading to a shift towards more radical approaches.
- The 1905 Partition of Bengal, intended to weaken Bengali nationalism, instead ignited a surge of revolutionary activities led by figures like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal. Secret organizations such as Atmonnati Samiti and Anushilan Samiti played a crucial role in this radical resistance.
Body
Key Factors Contributing to Calcutta’s Role in Revolutionary Activities:
Presidency College and Eden Hindu Hostel:
- Presidency College, founded in 1817 as Hindoo College, became a hotbed of student agitation for independence.
- Eden Hindu Hostel on Lower Circular Road served as a stronghold for revolutionaries, with students hiding stolen British weapons and ammunition.
Laboratory of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray:
- Acharya Ray’s laboratory on Upper Circular Road, although modest in appearance, was a center of revolutionary planning.
- Sister Nivedita, a prominent figure in the independence struggle, often facilitated revolutionary activities within this laboratory.
Saraswati Press on Upper Circular Road:
- This press became a gathering spot for prominent revolutionaries like Jayaprakash Narayan, Subhas Chandra Bose, and Ram Manohar Lohia.
- The adjoining Saraswati Library, while appearing as a typical bookshop, was a covert meeting place for rebels.
Paramount Sherbet, College Square:
- Founded in 1918 by Nihar Ranjan Majumder, this shop was frequented by luminaries like Rabindranath Tagore and Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray.
- The location became a symbolic site for the revolutionary movement, fostering the exchange of ideas and strategies.
Parks as Revolutionary Hotspots:
- Parks like Greer Park, St. James Square, and Sradhananda Park were venues for fiery speeches by revolutionaries such as Barin Ghosh.
- These parks, now faded into history, were once alive with the fervor of the independence struggle.
Conclusion
Calcutta emerged as a pivotal center for cultural and political movements in India, spearheading the 19th-century Renaissance and Reformation. Influential figures like Raja Rammohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, and many others contributed to its rich cultural legacy.
Despite the active involvement of women and the passionate commitment of revolutionaries, mass mobilization remained challenging. Over time, with increasing police repression and the shift of the capital to Delhi, Bengali influence in national politics began to wane, but Calcutta’s contributions to India’s freedom struggle remain indelible.