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Manindra Kishore Roy

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Manindra Kishore Roy
মনীন্দ্রকিশোর রায়
Manindra Kishore Roy
Born5 October 1900
Dhaka, Bengal, British India
Died1 August 1979
Calcutta, Independent India
Known foractive member of Bengal Volunteers and later the Forward Bloc
FatherKrishna Kishore Roy

Manindra Kishore Roy (Bengali: মনীন্দ্রকিশোর রায় Manindra Kishore Roy) (5 October 1900 – 1 August 1979) was an Indian revolutionary and political activist associated with the Bengal Volunteers and the Forward Bloc. Influenced by Hemchandra Ghosh, he joined the freedom struggle as a student and served as secretary of Sri sangha in Dhaka. Arrested in 1930, he spent eight years in prison. In 1939, he joined Subhas Chandra Bose’s Forward Bloc and managed its newspaper. Imprisoned again in 1940 under the Defence of India Act, he developed a close association with Bose in jail. After his release in 1946, Roy dedicated himself to public service until his death.[1]

Early life

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Manindra Kishore Roy was born on 5 October 1900 in Simulia, located in the Dhaka of the former Bengal Presidency under British India. He was the son of Krishna Kishore Roy. During his years as a Dhaka University student, Roy was drawn to nationalist ideas and became actively involved in the Indian independence movement. He joined the Bengal Volunteers, an underground revolutionary organisation, and was among its early members.[2][3]

Revolutionary activities and imprisonment (1930–1938)

Roy was a close associate of Rasamoy Sur, the director of the Bengal Volunteers' Action Squad. His political involvement led to his arrest on 4 September 1930. Despite the absence of concrete evidence, he was detained under the Bengal Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1930, which allowed for preventive detention of suspected political activists without formal trial.[4]

Over the next several years, Roy was incarcerated in various detention centres across British India. His periods of confinement included:

  • Presidency Jail, Comilla (from 4 September 1930)
  • Hijli Detention Camp (from 31 July 1931)
  • Bandarduari Camp (from 30 November 1931)
  • Dehradun Detention Camp (from 30 May 1933)
  • Presidency Jail (from 8 September 1934)
  • Dehradun Camp again (from 29 November 1934)
  • Presidency Jail (November 1935)
  • Berhampore Detention Camp (from 20 January 1938)
  • Village domicile in Bagmara, Rajshahi (from 8 February 1938)

He was finally unconditionally released on 26 August 1938, after nearly eight years of incarceration.

Involvement with the Forward Bloc

In 1939, Roy joined the Forward Bloc, a political organization founded by Subhas Chandra Bose after his resignation from the Indian National Congress. The party’s radical anti-colonial stance aligned closely with Roy’s convictions. Within the organisation, he took on important organisational responsibilities and served as manager of the Forward Bloc’s newspaper, which was edited by Bose himself.[5]

Arrest during the Holwell Monument agitation (1938)

On 3 July 1938, a protest was scheduled under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose to remove the Holwell Monument in Kolkata, a symbol of colonial commemoration. However, on 2 July 1938 at 2:00 PM, Manindra was arrested under Section 129 of the Defence of India Act and detained at Presidency Jail. While imprisoned, he joined several other Bengal Volunteers leaders, including Hemchandra Ghosh and Satya Ranjan Bakshi.[6][7][8][9]

On 29 November 1938, Subhas Chandra Bose began a hunger strike unto death demanding the release of political prisoners. As a result, the British government agreed to a conditional release on 5 December, releasing Bose and Bakshi due to their deteriorating health.[10][11]

Re-arrest and later activities (1940–1946)

Roy was arrested once more in 1940 under the Defence of India Act, a law enforced during World War II to suppress political dissent. During this term of imprisonment in Presidency Jail, he developed a close association with Subhas Chandra Bose.[12][13]

He was released in 1946 as India approached independence.[14]

Later life and legacy

Following his release, Manindra Kishore Roy continued to serve the cause of public welfare. Although the period of mass nationalist activity had ended, Roy remained dedicated to social work and refrained from seeking personal recognition for his past contributions to the freedom movement.[15][16][17]

Manindra Kishore Roy remained committed to the ideals of Indian nationalism throughout his life. His role in the revolutionary movement, particularly his association with the Bengal Volunteers and the Forward Bloc, left a lasting impact on many contemporaries and younger activists involved in the struggle for India’s independence.[18]

He passed away on 1 August 1979.

References

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  1. ^ https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/district-reopsitory-detail.htm?27868
  2. ^ "Dwitiyo Biplab". 1935.
  3. ^ "Pharasi Biplab". 1955.
  4. ^ "Revolutionary Organizations". netajisubhasbose. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Banhi Biplab". 1980.
  6. ^ "Gita Katha ed. 1st". 1950.
  7. ^ "The Story of Indian Revolution". Prajnananda Jana Seva Sangha, Calcutta. 1972.
  8. ^ Sarkar, Tanika (2014). Rebels, wives, saints : Designing selves and nations in colonial times. Permanent Black. ISBN 978-81-7824-396-2.
  9. ^ "Welcome to Midnapore.in - Bengal Volunteers of Midnapore". www.midnapore.in.
  10. ^ "Bengal Volunteers - বেঙ্গল ভলেন্টিয়ার্স দল - Bangla MCQ". www.banglamcq.in. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  11. ^ Rakshit-ray, Bhupendrakishor (1953). Biplab-tirthe Ed.1st.
  12. ^ "Mahajibaner Punyaloke". 1959.
  13. ^ "Mukti-tirtha ed. 4th". 1951.
  14. ^ "Ami Subhash Bolchi By Shoilesh Dey" – via Internet Archive.
  15. ^ "Jiban Brittanta". 1927.
  16. ^ "The Bengal Revolutionaries and Freedom Movement". 1909.
  17. ^ GHOSH, KALI CHARAN (1960). The Roll of Honour. Vidya Bharati, Calcutta.
  18. ^ Day, Shilash (1958). Ami Subhas Bolchi Vol. 1,3 Ed. 1st.

Bibliography

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  • Hemendranath Dasgupta, Bharater Biplab Kahini, II & III, Calcutta, 1948;
  • Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, History of the Freedom Movement in India, III, Calcutta 1963;
  • Ganganarayan Chandra, Abismaraniya, Calcutta, 1966.


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