Jatin Das, revered by many as 'Jatin Da,' was a name synonymous with sacrifice and revolution in India’s struggle for independence. His enduring legacy is often tied to the 63-day hunger strike he embarked on, a journey that would ultimately lead to his tragic yet heroic death. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose fittingly likened Jatin Das to Dadhichi, the mythological sage who sacrificed himself for the greater good. The depth of his conviction shone through as he chose to die in protest rather than succumb to a British-imposed execution.

Jatin Das’s contribution extended beyond his hunger strike. He was instrumental in crafting the bombs used by Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt in their symbolic attack on the Central Legislative Assembly in 1929. It was Jatin’s expertise that gave this momentous event its force, adding yet another layer to his revolutionary identity.

On the eve of his arrest, Jatin Das shouted the resounding battle cry, "Inquilab Zindabad" (‘Long Live the Revolution’), capturing the spirit of an entire movement. Arrested at the tender age of 25, Jatin had already spent eight years fighting for India's freedom. September 13, 1929, marked the end of his remarkable fight, a battle he had waged since he was just 17 years old.

The day of Jatin’s funeral was somber yet powerful. The streets were lined with people mourning his death. He was lovingly placed on a bed of rose petals, his head resting on a pillow. What remained was only a frail, skeletal body—an echo of the vibrant youth who once inspired thousands. His eyes had sunken deep into their sockets, and his face had turned ghostly white, reflecting the unimaginable pain he endured. Inch by inch, his body wasted away, but his indomitable spirit never faltered.

The scale of Jatin Das’s final journey was astounding. Seven lakh people reportedly attended his funeral​ India Today. His body, carried by train from Lahore to Calcutta, received tributes at every station it passed. Jawaharlal Nehru and other prominent leaders paid their respects, acknowledging the sacrifice Jatin made not just for himself, but for the millions who dreamt of a free India​ Wikipedia, MBC.

Jatin Das’s hunger strike became a symbol of passive resistance, far more effective in garnering public sympathy than any act of violence. His death forced the British government to confront the inhumane treatment of political prisoners. His spirit of resistance, embodied in his unbreakable will, left an indelible mark on India's fight for freedom​ Wikipedia, MBC.

The 63-Day Fast of Freedom Fighter Jatin Das at Lahore Jail

Jatindra Nath Das, famously known as Jatin Das, embarked on a hunger strike on 13 July 1929 that would stretch into 63 agonizing days. His strike, protesting the cruel treatment of Indian political prisoners, was intended to demand the same rights that European prisoners enjoyed. The conditions inside Lahore Jail were beyond inhumane, yet the British administration remained unmoved by the plight of the revolutionaries.

By 20 July, the gravity of Jatin’s condition was evident as doctors saw blood oozing. Despite this, he resisted any attempts to break his resolve. By 25 July, the authorities resorted to force-feeding him. They tied him to a bed and inserted rubber pipes through his nostrils, attempting to force-feed him milk. Jatin, in a fierce display of resistance, coughed and choked, successfully preventing the process. When the British tried to insert a larger tube through his mouth, Jatin held his breath until he passed out, forcing them to stop. His conviction was unwavering, and he refused to consume even a drop of water.

As his health deteriorated, he developed pneumonia on 26 July. His weight plummeted from 132 lbs to just 112 lbs by 31 July, reflecting the toll the strike had taken on his body. By 5 August, Jatin could no longer move. His condition worsened to the point that the British authorities called his family on 10 September. Tragically, just days later, Jatin succumbed to his fast, passing away on 13 September 1929.

His death sent shockwaves across the nation. The news of his passing spread quickly, and his funeral became a symbol of national mourning. His body, which had wasted away over the course of his hunger strike, was transported from Lahore station to Bengal, his birthplace, to be laid to rest. His coffin, marked by a large black flag, passed through several railway stations, where crowds gathered to pay homage. The streets of Lahore’s Anarkali market remained shut in his honor​ Chakra Foundation, Indiatimes, India Today, Newsd, Azadi Mahotsav.

Subhash Chandra Bose, a key figure in the Indian independence movement, collected 3,000 rupees to arrange a special train for Jatin’s final journey. Bose, who had earlier referred to Jatin as the "young Dadhichi" due to his self-sacrifice, made sure Jatin's remains would return to Bengal with dignity. The funds were used to arrange a special train to transport Jatin’s body from Lahore to Bengal. His final journey, though solemn, became a moment of national pride and deep sorrow, as thousands came to pay their respects. The train departed from Lahore, and at every station along the route, crowds gathered, each stop a testament to the revolutionary’s impact on the nation.

As the train made its way through Kanpur, Jawaharlal Nehru and Ganesh Chandra Vidyarthi joined the grieving crowds, offering their tributes to Jatin. The respect shown at every station reflected the deep connection the people had with his sacrifice, and when the train finally arrived in Calcutta, it was Subhash Chandra Bose himself who received the body. Jatin, just 25 years old at the time of his death, had become a symbol of the unyielding fight for India's freedom.

In Calcutta, the Lord Mayor, Mr. JM Sengupta, along with Subhash Bose, Dr. P.C. Ray, and other dignitaries, entered the train compartment to pay their last respects. A procession soon followed, led by students from Bangabasi College. The solemn sound of the Dead March, played by the Bengal Volunteer Guards, accompanied the coffin as it proceeded through the streets, heading toward Howrah Town Hall via Buckland Bridge.

At exactly quarter past seven, amidst the deafening sounds of “Bande Mataram” and “Veer Jatindranath ki Jai”, the coffin was lifted by students and leaders, surrounded by a sea of mourners. The journey to the cremation ghat took six long hours, during which placards bearing phrases like “You are the modern Dadhichi” and “Jatin – the Martyr” could be seen hanging from doors and trees along the route. A thousand women squatted on the steps of Calcutta University as the body passed by, many in silent reverence. Even European onlookers, struck by the respect the procession commanded, removed their hats as Jatin Das made his final journey.

As the funeral procession for Jatin Das reached the Corporation building at 10:30 AM, officials laid wreaths on his bier in a poignant gesture of respect. The crowd moved silently through Bhawanipore, where not a single shop remained open—a mark of the deep grief and reverence the people felt for the young martyr. The entire locality seemed to be mourning the loss of their revolutionary hero.

At the Keoratala Ghat, Jatin’s body was placed for cremation. Subhas Chandra Bose, representing the Bengal Volunteers, took on the task of performing most of the funeral rites, alongside Kiran Das, Jatin’s brother, who set the pyre ablaze. As per Jatin’s final wish, his remains were cremated next to those of his mother and sister—a touching reminder of the deep familial bonds that sustained him even in his final moments.

There was a moment of raw honesty when Jatin’s father, Bankim Babu, refused to perform the funeral rites. His reason was heart-wrenching: “I don’t want to see Jatindra’s face which I am told it has been somewhat disfigured. I should like to remember for the few days that is left to me, the smiling face with which he left me at the time of going to Lahore.” His grief, mixed with a desire to preserve a loving memory, was palpable.

Tributes poured in from around the world. Mary MacSwiney, of the Irish Terrance MacSwiney family, expressed solidarity, writing: “Family of Terrance MacSwiney unites patriotic India in grief and pride on death of Jatin Das. Freedom will come.” The Irish champion of freedom, Eamon De Valera, echoed this sentiment in a cablegram to the Mayor of Calcutta: “Jatin Das has not died in vain. He is the Indian MacSwiney. Freedom is certain.”

But perhaps the most controversial response came from Mohandas Gandhi. Instead of joining the chorus of tributes, Gandhi chose silence. He stated: “I preferred to be silent over Jatindra Nath Das’s self-immolation because any expression of my opinion at this juncture is likely to do more harm than good to the country’s cause.” In a time when the nation mourned a selfless act of sacrifice, Gandhi’s decision to remain quiet seemed more an act of self-preservation. His reluctance to acknowledge the contributions of revolutionaries like Jatin, Bhagat Singh, and even Subhas Chandra Bose, speaks volumes. Was Gandhi more concerned with protecting his own political image as the sole figure of India’s freedom struggle? His silence felt like a betrayal to the very movement he claimed to represent, as he continued to distance himself from those who, unlike him, took direct and dangerous action against British oppression.

Jatin Das bid his final farewell to the world on 13th September 1929 after enduring and successfully defending a sixty-three-day hunger strike. A passionate freedom fighter, Jatin Das was a proud member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), a group instrumental in shaping India's fight for independence. His dedication to ousting the British was unwavering, leading to multiple imprisonments. During his involvement with the HSRA, Jatin learned the art of making bombs, a skill that would further fuel the revolutionary activities of the time. In 1929, he was arrested and tried under the supplementary Lahore Conspiracy Case, a trial series connected to the aftermath of the Ghadar Mutiny.

The impact of Jatin’s death on nationalist politics was profound. As Kama Maclean, Associate Professor of South Asian and World History at the University of New South Wales, noted in her book “A Revolutionary History of Interwar India”, Jatin’s death sent shockwaves through the political landscape. She pointed out, “Das’ death created a major impact on nationalist politics, as indicated on the first page of The Tribune. After this, the British stopped handing over bodies of revolutionaries to their kin.” The colonial regime, rattled by the mass outrage following Jatin’s death, changed its policy regarding the bodies of political prisoners.

According to contemporary reports, an astounding five lakh people took part in Jatin Das’s final procession in Kolkata. The moment was captured in a now-iconic photograph, taken at the entrance of Borstal Jail, where Jatin’s younger brother, Kiron Das, had been allowed to stay with him to care for him in his final days. Kiron recorded in his book, “Profile of Martyr Jatin Das”, that the photo was taken on the evening of September 13, right outside the jail. “After the photo of the dead hero was taken, the bier was bedecked with garlands and flowers,” he recalled.

The martyrdom of Jatin Das had a lasting effect on how the British dealt with the remains of revolutionary heroes. Harish Jain, a Chandigarh-based historian and one of the editors of the book series “Hanging of Bhagat Singh,” observed that Jatin’s death, and the immense public reaction it triggered, forced the British to change their approach. From that point on, they refused to hand over the bodies of revolutionaries to their families. This tragic shift in policy led to the secretive midnight cremation of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev on the banks of the Sutlej River, far from the public eye.

In those days, a photograph featured in a newspaper was a rarity, yet on September 17, 1929, The Tribune—a publication known for its consistent support of the national movement—published a half-page photo essay under the title “Lahore’s Tribute to Jatin”. This emotional spread displayed powerful images of a sea of people walking through Lahore’s Anarkali Bazar with Jatin’s bier, while women tenderly decorated it outside the jail. Even before Jatin Das’s death, The Tribune had regularly reported on the hunger strike and the worsening health of the revolutionaries, keeping the nation updated on the deteriorating condition of the young freedom fighter.

Following Jatin’s death, his body was handed over to the family, but it was the Bengal Congress that took on the responsibility of repatriating his body to Bengal. The train carrying Jatin’s remains made stops at several major stations, and at each stop, crowds gathered to pay their final respects. This remarkable journey, filled with grief and reverence, caused a sensation in the press as it made its way back to Calcutta.

As Kama Maclean observed, “Jatin Das’ body was given to family, but the Bengal Congress took responsibility to repatriate him back to Bengal. The train stopped at major stations and the body was viewed by many. It caused a sensation in the press and all the way back to Calcutta.” The entire nation was gripped by the loss, and the public mourning that followed was a reflection of Jatin’s profound impact on the independence movement.

Just two years after Jatin Das’s martyrdom, the nation was once again shaken when Bhagat Singh was hanged at the age of just 23. It almost seemed as though there was a grim competition among these brave revolutionaries, each laying down their lives at such young ages for the freedom of their country.

Jatin's journey that inspired millions

The weapon forged by Jatin Das’s martyrdom was far mightier than any metal or physical tool. It was the idea of freedom, a weapon of thought, that inspired confidence and ignited the call for revolution across the nation. His sacrifice wasn’t just an individual act of defiance; it was an invitation for the masses to rise up and offer their lives for the cause of their country’s freedom.

During that tumultuous period, the struggle for independence was intensifying. The nation had already seen the sacrifice of Lala Lajpat Rai, the assassination of Saunders, and the bombing of the Central Legislative Assembly by Bhagat Singh and his comrades. One event after another was feeding the growing consciousness of freedom. But it was Jatin’s death that became a turning point, creating an atmosphere of resistance that drenched the people of India with an overwhelming sense of duty and pride.

The Tribune newspaper reported that 7 lakh people participated in Jatin’s last journey—a staggering show of solidarity and mourning. His death had such an impact that the British government was left shaken, prompting them to change their approach to revolutionary bodies. From that point forward, the British refused to hand over the bodies of revolutionaries to their families. This draconian policy led to the secretive cremation of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev before their scheduled hangings, their bodies disposed of in the dead of night.

From student to revolutionary

Jatin Das’s story begins on 27 October 1904, in Calcutta, where he was born into a world filled with unrest and the early stirrings of India’s independence movement. His revolutionary journey started when he joined the Anushilan Samiti of Bengal, an organization founded by the legendary ‘Bagha Jatin’ and other prominent revolutionaries. This secret society, driven by a vision of militant nationalism, was focused on overthrowing British rule through direct action and armed resistance. Jatin was deeply influenced by their ideals and devoted himself to the cause.

When Mahatma Gandhi called for non-cooperation with the British regime, Jatin, ever determined to contribute, joined the Non-Cooperation Movement. However, his defiance did not go unnoticed by the British authorities. In 1925, while studying at Vidyasagar College in Calcutta, Jatin was arrested on charges of engaging in anti-national activities. It was here, in jail, that he encountered firsthand the appalling conditions that Indian prisoners endured. The food was unfit for consumption, there were no proper places to sleep or bathe, and the overall environment was one of neglect.

Refusing to accept such dehumanizing conditions, Jatin lodged complaints with the jail authorities. When these complaints fell on deaf ears, he initiated a 20-day hunger strike, during which he did not consume even a morsel of food. His relentless protest forced the jail authorities to eventually bow to his demands. This hunger strike was not only a personal victory but also a preparation for the larger struggle ahead.

After his release, Jatin met the revolutionary Bhagat Singh, who at the time was leading the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in North India. Bhagat Singh, recognizing Jatin’s commitment and expertise, invited him to join the HSRA. Jatin, ever the patriot, readily accepted the invitation. His skills as an expert in bomb-making became invaluable to the HSRA’s revolutionary activities, and he quickly became one of its key members.

Jatin Da last strike to death

On 8 April 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt hurled a bomb inside the Delhi Assembly, marking one of the most iconic acts of resistance in the Indian freedom struggle. What many may not know is that the bomb they used had been meticulously prepared by Jatin Das. His technical expertise and revolutionary fervor made him an integral part of the operation.

However, Jatin’s involvement in this act led to his arrest. He was imprisoned in Lahore Jail, where the divide between British and Indian prisoners became painfully clear. While the British inmates received better facilities, Indian prisoners like Jatin were subjected to deplorable conditions. The clothes were never washed, the utensils remained dirty, and cockroaches infested the kitchen, making the food nearly inedible. Prisoners frequently fell ill due to the unsanitary conditions.

Jatin, with his unwavering sense of justice, couldn’t ignore this inequality. On 13 July 1929, he began a hunger strike to protest the inhumane treatment of Indian prisoners. His courage inspired the rest of the inmates, who soon joined him in the strike. Initially, the British were confident that this hunger strike would not last long, thinking that if even Gandhi could not endure a hunger strike for more than 21 days, Jatin and the other prisoners would give up soon.

But they underestimated Jatin’s resolve. Something remarkable happened—the hunger strike achieved what the bomb blast could not. By the 30th day, the issue of the prisoners’ condition had captured the attention of the public. News of Jatin’s hunger strike and the appalling treatment of Indian prisoners began to spread across the country, making headlines in newspapers. The story ignited public outrage and brought the plight of these revolutionaries into the national spotlight.

Unlike violence, which the British could suppress through force, this form of passive resistance struck a chord with the masses. Sympathy for Jatin and his fellow revolutionaries grew, and their non-violent protest resonated with people all over India, marking a pivotal moment in the struggle for freedom.

The British government, realizing the growing influence of Jatin Das’s hunger strike, decided that breaking the strike was essential. They tried every method they could think of. From serving delicious food to the prisoners, hoping the sight and smell would tempt them, to filling their water pots with milk, the British tried everything to weaken the resolve of the strikers.

Their tactics saw limited success. Some prisoners, overcome by thirst and hunger, eventually gave in. But Jatin Das was different. His indomitable spirit could not be shaken by such attempts. When those softer methods failed, the British turned to force. Jatin was held down by four people, and they forcibly inserted a tube into his nose, attempting to force-feed him with milk. But even then, Jatin struggled, trying to break free. In the process, milk entered his lungs, worsening his already fragile condition.

By the time Jatin reached the 63rd day of his fast, on September 13, 1929, his body had deteriorated to the point of no return. He was finally admitted to the hospital, where he breathed his last, leaving behind a legacy of immense sacrifice and resolve.

Fasting as a method of protest is a well-established practice, often associated with figures like M.K. Gandhi and Anna Hazare, who both resorted to it at various times in their fight for justice. Yet, unlike them, Jatin Das never broke his fast. His commitment to the cause of freedom was so profound that he carried his hunger strike to its final, tragic conclusion. Jatin Das did not fast for negotiations or concessions—he fasted unto death. 

Sea of people

The Borstal Jail, where Jatin Das was held, was quite a distance from the city, but it took little time for a sea of people to gather there. The crowd was massive, solemn, and respectful. Thousands of people, heads bare in respect, lined the area as Jatin’s body was covered in flowers soaked with scented water. His head, resting on a large pillow, was now merely a skull—a haunting reflection of his slow and painful death. His bloodless face, with sunken cheeks and deeply recessed eyes, bore the unmistakable marks of his suffering. Inch by inch, Jatin had perished, and it was all too visible on his emaciated face.

Coins showered

The solemnity continued as the funeral procession moved through the city. Not a single shop was open, and as the sun began to set, the atmosphere became even more somber. The overwhelming sorrow blanketed the entire city, deepening as the procession made its way forward. In a touching display of reverence, people showered coins on the passing bier. Some people could be heard commenting that they would use these coins to make ornaments for their children, a gesture that symbolized the legacy of Jatin Das's sacrifice.

 Sources:

• Hindustan Times
• India Today
• Wikipedia​ India Today
• Chakra Foundation
• Wikipedia​ India Today
• Hindustan Times
• Harish Jain's commentary on the "Hanging of Bhagat Singh" series​ Hindustan Times
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dadhichi
   
• https://www.hindu-blog.com/2009/08/story-of-sage-dadhichi-and-vajrayudha.html
• https://blog.krishnakutumb.com/vajra-vrittrasur-rishi-dadhichi-bones/
• https://www.sanskritimagazine.com/dadhichi-the-sage-who-sacrificed-his-life-to-protect-the-devas/