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{{Short description|Indian independence activist (1895–1915)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Basanta Kumar Biswas
| birth_date = {{birth date|1895|02|06|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1915|05|11|1895|02|06|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Poragacha, [[Nadia district|Nadia]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]] (now [[West Bengal]], [[India]])
| death_place = [[Ambala]], [[Punjab (British India)|Punjab]], British India (now [[Haryana]], India)
| image = Martyr Basanta Kumar Biswas.jpg
| caption =
| movement = [[Indian Independence movement]]
| organization = [[Jugantar]]
| family = [[Zamindar]] Biswas Family of Poragachha
| relatives = [[Digambar Biswas]] (grand uncle)
}}

'''Basanta Kumar Biswas''' (6 February 1895 – 11 May 1915) was an Indian pro-independence activist involved in the [[Jugantar]] group who, in December 1912, played a role in the bombing of the [[Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst|Viceroy's]] parade in what came to be known as the [[Delhi-Lahore Conspiracy]].<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Das |first=Dr. Dulal Krishna |title=বাংলার নবরত্ন |publisher=Tuhina Publications |edition=2nd |location=[[Kolkata]] |publication-date=2021 |pages=166 to 183 |language=Bengali}}</ref>

Biswas was one of the illustrious names of the early pro-independence activists of [[Bengal]] and the entire country. He was expert in bomb making and was initiated into [[Revolutionary movement for Indian independence|revolutionary movement]] by [[Jugantar]] leaders [[Amarendra Chatterjee|Amarendranath Chattopadhyaya]] and [[Rash Behari Bose]].<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news |title=২০ বছরেই উঠেছিলেন ফাঁসির মঞ্চে, অকুতোভয় বসন্ত কুমার বিশ্বাসের স্মৃতি ছড়িয়ে সুদূর টোকিওতেও |url=https://bengali.abplive.com/news/know-the-story-of-freedom-fighter-basanta-kumar-biswas-on-independence-day-827229 |work=ABP News |language=bn |date=4 August 2021 |access-date=15 March 2022}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Basanta Kumar Biswas was born on 6 February 1895 at ''Poragacha'' village in a [[Bengali Hindu]] aristocratic [[Mahishya]] family of [[Nadia district]] of present day [[West Bengal]], to Motilal Biswas and Kunjabala Devi.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Biswas |first=Tarun |date=16 August 2024 |title=দিল্লিতে বড়লাটের ওপর বোমা নিক্ষেপের নায়ক কৃষ্ণনগরের বসন্ত বিশ্বাস |journal=Kolkata Purashree |pages=31 |quote=Shaheed Basanta Biswas, a burning symbol of patriotism, was born on February 6, 1895, in an educated Banedi Mahishya family in Poragachha village, near Krishnanagar, the headquarters of Nadia district. His father Motilal Biswas was a retired railway employee and his mother was Kunjabala Devi.}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Senapati and Das |first=Uma and Dulal Krishna |title=মাহিন্দ্র রত্নাবলী জীবনী শতক |publisher=Tuhina Publications |year=2018 |isbn=9788194434641 |edition=2nd |location=[[Kolkata]] |publication-date=2020 |pages=135 to 139 |language=Bengali |trans-title=Mahishya Ratnavali Biographical Century}}</ref> His ancestor (grand uncle), [[Digambar Biswas]] had gained fame as an active leader of the [[Indigo revolt]] (''Nil Bidroha,1859'') against the forced cultivation of the cash crop and freedom fighter [[Manmathanath Biswas]] was his cousin.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sena |first=Baṅkima Candra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VdcRAQAAIAAJ |title=Lokamātā Rāṇī Rāsamaṇī |date=1973 |publisher=[Prakāśa Bhabana]' |pages=55 |language=bn}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> He started his schooling in Srimanta M.I. School in nearby village of ''Madhabpur'' established by social reformer and industrialist [[Gagan Chandra Biswas]], with his cousin Manmathnath Biswas.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Biswa |first=Nilendu |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=waVjEQAAQBAJ&dq=gagan+chandra+biswas+B+E&pg=PA24 |title=Revolutionary Movements and Anti-Colonial Resistance in Nadia (1905–1947): A Socio- Psychological Study of Indian Nationalism and Political Violence |date=29 May 2025 |publisher=Deep Science Publishing |isbn=978-93-49910-66-9 |language=en}}</ref> In 1906, Basanta was moved to [[Muragachha|Muragacha]] school, where he studied upto [[Entrance examination]].<ref name=":4" /> Under the guidance of Khirodh Chandra Ganguly, [[Head teacher]] of Muragacha school, Basanta started his journey of freedom fight. When he was a student of this School he took active part in the Swadeshi agitation at Poragachcha and its neighbourhood.<ref>{{Cite book |title=DICTIONARY OF MARTYRS INDIA'S FREEDOM STRUGGLE (1857-1947) vol 4 |publisher=Indian Council for Historical Research |year=2016 |pages=48}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Sampad Narayan Dhar|title=Sahid Basanta Kumar Biswas & Delhi-Lahore Conspiracy Case|publisher=Kalinagar Co-Operative Colony & Credit Society Ltd.|language=Bengali}}</ref> In 1907, he left his studies and took up a job in 1910 at a swadeshi cloth store at Uttarpara, but left it for touring the different places of India. He went to [[Puri]], and eventually went to [[Benaras]], where he stayed at [[Ramakrishna Mission]]. Next year he met [[Rash Behari Bose]] in [[Dehradun]] and was recruited by him. Bose trained him in arms and bombs and lovingly often called him ''Bishe''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |volume=44 |number=45 |date=26 May 2012 |title=Calcutta Notebook|url=http://www.frontierweekly.com/archive/vol-number/vol/vol-44-2011-12/vol-44-45/cnb-44-45.pdf |website=Frontier Weekly |access-date=26 February 2022}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" />
[[File:Memorial of Basanta Biswas.png|thumb|Memorial of Basanta Kumar Biswas near his birthplace in Poragacha, [[Nadia district|Nadia]]]]

==Revolutionary activities==
Basanta Kumar Biswas was a member of [[Jugantar]] group, known for his organisation skills and was an important intermediary between Calcutta office of Jugantar and the 'co-conspirators' in [[Chandannagar]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Samaddar |first=Ranabir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LDzgNhV3tHEC |title=The Materiality of Politics: Volume 1: The Technologies of Rule |date=1 August 2007 |publisher=Anthem Press |isbn=978-1-84331-765-4 |pages=76–77 |language=en}}</ref> After meeting Rash Behari Bose in Dehradun, he was politically indoctrinated and learnt practical trainings to carry out his mission. He was brought to Lahore by Bose in October 1912 and stayed there with his Punjabi associates. At Lahore he took the job of a compounder at a popular dispensary.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Heehs |first=Peter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G4JuAAAAMAAJ |title=The Bomb in Bengal: The Rise of Revolutionary Terrorism in India, 1900-1910 |date=1993 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-563350-4 |pages=246–247}}</ref>

Biswas participated in the plot to throw a bomb on [[Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst|Lord Hardinge]], the Viceroy of India. It was carried out by him on 23 December 1912, when Lord Hardinge was passing through Chandni Chowk, Delhi, in a state procession marking the inauguration of [[Delhi]] as the capital of India. Dressed in women's clothing, Basanta went to a rooftop overlooking viceroy's route reserved for ladies. He introduced himself to other spectators as Lakshmibai – an allusion to famous Rani of [[Jhansi]]. As the procession was passing by the rooftop, where Biswas was waiting, a bomb sailed down and exploded behind the viceroy. Hardinge was seriously injured, and the servant behind him holding his parasol was killed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ajumukhopadhyay.com/Articles-Partition_of_Bengal.html |title=Website Disabled |access-date=9 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312085704/http://ajumukhopadhyay.com/Articles-Partition_of_Bengal.html |archive-date=12 March 2007 }}</ref> As soon as his job was done Basanta dashed down to street and threw off his saree and disappeared into the crowd. He returned to [[Punjab]] where he carried on his revolutionary activities. The authors of the deed remained obscure for many months despite the state's intense investigation, and lucrative reward.<ref name="executedtoday.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.executedtoday.com/2015/05/11/1915-basanta-kumar-biswas-bomber/|title=ExecutedToday.com|date=11 May 2015 }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=12 May 2015 |title=The forgotten martyrs of freedom struggle |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/477149/forgotten-martyrs-freedom-struggle.html |access-date=15 March 2022 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sengupta |first=Nitish K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kVSh_TyJ0YoC&dq=basanta+kumar+biswas&pg=PA329 |title=Land of Two Rivers: A History of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib |date=2011 |publisher=Penguin Books India |isbn=978-0-14-341678-4 |pages=329 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Biswas, Basanta Kumar - Banglapedia |url=https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/Biswas,_Basanta_Kumar |access-date=15 March 2022 |website=en.banglapedia.org}}</ref>

Biswas was arrested on 26 February 1914 at Poragachha, Nadia while he went to perform the last rites for his father. He was also accused of throwing a bomb in the Lawrence Garden, [[Lahore]], on 17 May 1913, in which a peon was killed. The trial, which came to be called the [[Delhi Conspiracy Case|Delhi-Lahore Conspiracy Case]], began on 23 May 1914 in Delhi; [[Master Amir Chand|Amir Chand]], Abadh Behari, and [[Bhai Balmukund]], were condemned to death in the trial, and Basanta Biswas was found guilty but initially sentenced to life imprisonment as he was just seventeen years of old.<ref name="executedtoday.com" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Anand |first=Anita |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HjleDwAAQBAJ&dq=basanta+kumar+biswas&pg=PP66 |title=The Patient Assassin: A True Tale of Massacre, Revenge and the Raj |date=4 April 2019 |publisher=Simon & Schuster UK |isbn=978-1-4711-7423-0 |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:An assassination attempt on Lord Charles Hardinge.jpg|thumb|Assassination attempt on viceroy Hardinge by Biswas]]
An [[appeal]] was formulated at [[Lahore High Court]]. The Crown won its appeal and Biswas was sentenced to be hanged.<ref>{{Cite news|agency=Press Trust of India|date=8 May 2014|title=Tributes to martyrs of Hardinge Bomb Case|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/tributes-to-martyrs-of-hardinge-bomb-case-114050801065_1.html|access-date=26 February 2022}}</ref>

Basanta Kumar Biswas was hanged on 11 May 1915 at Ambala Central Jail in [[Punjab (British India)|Punjab]] aged twenty and became one of the youngest people to be executed during the Indian revolutionary struggles during the 20th century.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|last=Smith|first=R. v|date=15 May 2017|title=The "mutiny swansong"|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/the-mutiny-swansong/article18454944.ece|access-date=26 February 2022|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=9 May 2016|title=Delhi remembers Hardinge bomb case martyrs|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/delhi-remembers-hardinge-bomb-case-martyrs/article8574119.ece|access-date=26 February 2022|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Legacy==
[[File:Basanta Kumar Biswas bust statue.jpg|thumb|Statue of Basanta Biswas in a school in Nadia]]
There is a statue of Basanta Biswas was established by Rasbihari Basu in a park of [[Tokyo, Japan]]. Another statue is situated in front of Rabindra Bhawan, [[Krishnanagar, Nadia]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Basanta Biswas noy, Bishe Das (Bengali)|last1=Narayan |first1=Sanyal |last2=Chakraborty |first2=Sudhir |publisher=Krishnanagar College Magazine, Patrika Parishad |year=1973 |location=Krishnanagar}}</ref> A school in [[Civil Lines, Delhi|civil lines]], Delhi was named "Shaheed Basant Kumar Biswas Sarvodaya Vidhyalaya" in his memory. Although it was later renamed to [[Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalaya]]. Loka Sabha Speaker [[Meira Kumar]] has installed a photo of Basanta Kumar at the Museum of the [[Parliament of India|Indian Parliament]]. [[Ujjal Biswas]], an Indian politician and the present Minister in the [[Government of West Bengal]] belongs to the family of Basanta Biswas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kolkatabengalinfo.com/2011/04/ujjwal-biswas-tmc-leader-profile-family.html|title=Ujjwal Biswas TMC Leader Profile Family Education Career Life & Background Ujjwal Biswas - Kolkata Bengal Information|author=S Kumar|work=kolkatabengalinfo.com}}</ref> The minister has been organising a three-day fair titled ''Basanta Mela'' at his village home in the month of February for the past 30 years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=NANDI |first=SOUMITRA |date=20 October 2017 |title=Story of Basanta Biswas, penned by Ujjal Biswas, to be portrayed on celluloid |url=https://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/story-of-basanta-biswas-penned-by-ujjal-biswas-to-be-portrayed-on-celluloid-267293 |access-date=22 July 2023 |website=www.millenniumpost.in |language=en}}</ref>[[File:Shaheed Basanta Kumar Biswas.jpg|thumb|Shaheed Basanta Kumar Biswas]]

==See also==
* [[Indian National Army]]
* [[Azad Hind]]
* [[Delhi conspiracy case]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Biswas,_Basanta_Kumar Biography]
* [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000206/spectrum/main2.htm The Tribune article]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060529165624/http://www.aicc.org.in/india%E2%80%99s_struggle_for_freedom.php AICC website article]

{{Anushilan Samiti}}
{{Indian Revolutionary Movement}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Biswas, Basanta}}
[[Category:1895 births]]
[[Category:1915 deaths]]
[[Category:People from the Bengal Presidency]]
[[Category:Indian Hindus]]
[[Category:Bengali Hindus]]
[[Category:Anushilan Samiti]]
[[Category:Executed Indian revolutionaries]]
[[Category:20th-century executions by British India]]
[[Category:Indian nationalism]]
[[Category:Indian nationalists]]
[[Category:Indian people convicted of murder]]
[[Category:People executed by British India by hanging]]
[[Category:People from Nadia district]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Bengal]]

Basanta Kumar Biswas - Revision history

Victoruot at 04:05, 18 January 2026