Jatin Das
Born:
Died:
1904
1929
State:
Odisha
Summary:
Jatin Das was a dedicated revolutionary whose supreme sacrifice during a prolonged hunger strike exposed the brutality of British colonial rule and galvanized public opinion across India. His death in prison became a moral turning point in the freedom struggle, uniting revolutionaries and moderates alike in outrage and solidarity. Through discipline, courage, and self-sacrifice, he transformed suffering into a powerful political weapon.
Biography:
Jatin Das was born in 1904 to an Odia family and grew up in an environment influenced by nationalist thought. From an early age, he was drawn toward revolutionary ideals and became actively involved in underground movements resisting British authority. His intellectual clarity and moral seriousness earned him respect among fellow revolutionaries.
He became a member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association and was arrested for his involvement in revolutionary activities. While imprisoned in Lahore Jail, Jatin Das joined fellow political prisoners in a hunger strike demanding equal treatment, better living conditions, and recognition of political prisoners as distinct from criminal inmates. The strike was a non-violent yet radical act of resistance within the colonial prison system.
After enduring sixty-three days of hunger, Jatin Das died in 1929, refusing to compromise on principle. His death triggered massive protests, and his funeral procession in Calcutta drew unprecedented crowds, attended by leaders across ideological lines. He is remembered as a martyr whose self-sacrifice strengthened the ethical force of India’s struggle for independence.
Key Movements:
- Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (Revolutionary Organization advocating armed resistance)
- Lahore Prison Hunger Strike (Protest against inhuman treatment of political prisoners)
- Revolutionary Prison Reform Movement