Why in the News?

2025 marks the centenary year of the Kakori Train action.

About Kakori Train Action

• The train action was executed on August 9, 1925, at Kakori, a village near Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
• It was orchestrated by ten revolutionaries of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), to seize collection money from the British Indian railways.
• They stopped the 8-down train travelling from Shahjahanpur to Lucknow near Kakori station, which was transporting treasury funds intended for the British government in Lucknow.
• Key leaders: Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Chandrashekhar Azad, Thakur Roshan Singh, Rajendra Lahiri, among others.
  • Chandrashekhar Azad continued revolutionary activities across India until his death in a police encounter in 1931 at Alfred Park, Allahabad.

Aftermath of the Incident

• British Reaction: A massive manhunt began, with over two dozen arrests within a month and 40+ accused, including sympathizers.
• Kakori Conspiracy case trial: The British authorities charged the involving 28 active members of the HRA with robbery, conspiracy, manslaughter, and waging war against the Crown, intensifying the severity of the case. 
• Death Sentences: Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Rajendra Lahiri, and Thakur Roshan Singhwere sentenced to death by hanging.
• Prisoner Protests: Revolutionaries sent to different jails undertook hunger strikes to protest against jail conditions and demand political prisoner status.

Impact on India's Independence Movement

• Inspiration for future revolutionaries: The courage, defiance, and ultimate sacrifice of the Kakori martyrs inspired a new generation of revolutionaries, including Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru.
• National unity: The incident underscored the unity among revolutionaries from diverse religious and regional backgrounds, with leaders like Ashfaqullah Khan and Ram Prasad Bismil symbolising the secular nature of the freedom struggle.
• Public awareness: The high-profile trial and subsequent executions garnered widespread national attention, exposing the harshness of British rule and galvanising public support for the revolutionary cause.
• Shift towards Direct Action: It marked a critical shift in Indian independence movement, advocating that the struggle was not limited to non-violent protests but also required direct action against British exploitation.
• Revolutionary Spirit and Legacy: The event demonstrated the bravery and ingenuity of Indian revolutionaries; it is remembered as a bold assertion of India's right to freedom and self-determination, embodying the spirit of sacrifice and resilience.
• Reorganization HRA: In 1928, after the executions of its founders, HRA was reorganized into the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA).

Conclusion

The Kakori Train Action occupies a significant place in the trajectory of India's freedom movement as it not only challenged the economic foundations of colonial exploitation but also highlighted the ideological and organizational shift towards revolutionary methods of resistance. It also inspired subsequent revolutionary organizations such as the HSRA and influenced figures like Bhagat Singh, thereby ensuring the continuity of armed struggle as a parallel strand to non-violent resistance.