Narendranath Bandhopadhyay

Narendranath Bandyopadhyay (Bengali: নরেন্দ্রনাথ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় Narendranath Bandhopadhyay) (1884–1963) was a Bengali revolutionary from Chandernagore, Hooghly district, and an associate of the early Indian independence movement. A disciple of Jyotish Ghosh, he played a pivotal role in arming revolutionaries like Kanailal Dutta and Bagha Jatin during the Alipore Bomb Case and provided shelter to Aurobindo Ghosh before his escape to Pondicherry. Closely linked with Barindra Ghosh and Rash Behari Bose, he was implicated in multiple revolutionary actions including attempts on colonial officials and police informers. Despite police suspicion, he evaded conviction, remaining an unheralded but vital figure in Bengal's underground nationalist network.^[1]

Narendranath Bandopadhyay (born 1884) was associated with the revolutionary activities centred in Gondolpara, located in Chandannagar subdivision. He was born in that locality, at his maternal uncle's residence. His father was Nityagopal Bandopadhyay, and the family's ancestral roots were in the Basirhat region of the 24 Parganas district.

Bandopadhyay began his formal education at Dupleix College (present day Chandernagore Government College) in Chandannagar. He discontinued his studies after the tenth standard and subsequently enrolled at the Government Art School in Calcutta, where he trained in draftsmanship.^[2]

In 1905, the partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon prompted widespread political unrest and galvanized nationalist sentiment across the region. During this period, revolutionaries led by Barindra Kumar Ghosh established a bomb-making facility and training centre at the Muraripukur Garden House in Calcutta as part of a broader movement to resist British Raj.^[3][4]

Around the same time, a group of young men from Gondolpara, including Narendranath, Basanta Kumar Bandopadhyay, and Upendranath Bandhopadhyay, founded an organization named Bandhab Sammilani (Friends' Association). Initially focused on cultural and social engagement, the group organized literary discussions, athletic events, and various community activities.

Tensions in the region escalated when Christian missionaries established a girls' school in Gondolpara and began evangelical efforts. In response, members of the Bandhab Sammilani initiated a protest movement, which ultimately led to the closure of the school.

Subsequently, under the leadership of Charuchandra Roy, a clandestine revolutionary society was formed in Chandannagar. The Bandhab Sammilani gradually evolved into an active center for revolutionary activity. Its members began organizing public meetings, processions, and Raksha Bandhan ceremonies to promote nationalist unity and anti-colonial sentiment.

During this period, Christian missionaries established a school for girls in Gondolpara and initiated religious proselytization in the area. The members of Bandhab Sammilani, a youth organization initially focused on cultural and educational activities, collectively opposed the missionary initiative. Their organized protest ultimately led to the closure of the school.^[5][6]

In the ensuing years, under the leadership of Charuchandra Roy, a secret revolutionary society was formed in Chandannagar. As political awareness grew, Bandhab Sammilani gradually transformed into an active center of revolutionary activity. Its members began conducting public meetings, organizing nationalist processions, and hosting Raksha Bandhan ceremonies as expressions of solidarity and patriotic sentiment.^[7]

A pivotal moment came when a public meeting was held at the garden of Gopal Babu near the Grand Trunk Road in Tematha. The gathering was presided over by Surendranath Banerjee, a prominent leader of the nationalist movement. In his address, Banerjea urged the youth to dedicate themselves to the service of the nation and called for a boycott of foreign-manufactured goods. Inspired by his appeal, the members of the Sammilani adopted "Vande Mataram" as their motto and deepened their involvement in the Swadeshi movement.

To promote indigenous products and reinforce the boycott, Narendranath Bandopadhyay, along with Upendranath Bandhopadhyay and others, undertook outreach efforts in rural areas. They travelled from village to village using pushcarts to distribute swadeshi (indigenous) cloth and encourage local resistance to British imports.

Narendranath Bandopadhyay was a frequent visitor to the revolutionary center led by Charuchandra Roy, where he developed close associations with prominent young revolutionaries including Kanailal Dutta, Rash Behari Bose, and Motilal Roy. Under Charuchandra Roy's guidance, he acquired skills in handling firearms and later took responsibility for training members of the secret society based in Gondalpara, utilizing the Bengal Sporting Ground for this purpose.^[8]

In Kolkata, Narendranath regularly visited the office of Hitavadi, a nationalist publication and gathering place for patriotic youth. There, he interacted with figures such as Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar and engaged in discussions on revolutionary ideas. Several revolutionaries seeking refuge from colonial authorities stayed at Narendranath's residence in Gondalpara for extended periods.^[9][10][11]

Due to surveillance and restrictions imposed by the British government, operations of revolutionary newspapers including Yugantar, Navashakti, and Sandhya were partially relocated to Narendranath's home. During this time, notable revolutionaries such as Professor Jyotish Ghosh, Amarendranath Chatterjee, and Jatin Mukherjee (popularly known as Bagha Jatin) frequently visited the centre clandestinely. On his final visit, Bagha Jatin reportedly obtained 50 cartridges from Narendranath.^[12]

In 1908, Shyamsundar Chakraborty, a nationalist from Calcutta, attended a swadeshi meeting planned at Hatkhola in Chandannagar. However, permission for the gathering was denied by Monsieur Tardival, the mayor of the French-administered town. The refusal sparked anger among the local youth, who viewed the action as a direct suppression of nationalist activities.^[13][14]

In response, Narendranath, along with Barindra Kumar Ghosh, Shrish Chandra Ghosh, and Indu Bhusan Roy, conspired to target Tardival. On a designated night, while Tardival was dining at his residence, the group threw a bomb through a window of his house. The device failed to detonate, but the incident caused considerable alarm. As a result, Tardival fled Chandannagar with his family and returned to France.

When Sri Aurobindo sought refuge in Chandannagar, he initially stayed briefly at Narendranath Bandopadhyay's residence before arrangements were made for him to reside with his relative, Kshetramohan Chattopadhyay. Captivated by the peaceful surroundings, Aurobindo was known to spend time by the Ganges ghat late at night. He expressed a desire to establish an ashram in Chandannagar; however, various circumstances prevented this plan from materializing. Subsequently, he left Chandannagar clandestinely for Pondicherry, where he eventually founded his ashram.

Gondalpara emerged as a significant center in the Indian independence movement. Following the formation of Charuchandra Roy's secret society, revolutionary activities intensified in the area, establishing it as a hub connecting revolutionaries across Bengal. The locality was involved in the manufacture of bombs, and weapons—including bombs and pistols—were procured from various districts, stored covertly, and distributed among revolutionaries as required.^[15][16][17]

According to a confidential report by Nabakumar Basu, Deputy Superintendent of the Bengal Government's Special Branch Police, Gondalpara, along with the Gondalpara Bandhab Sammilani, Gondalpara Conference, and Narendranath Bandopadhyay's residence, was identified as a dangerous revolutionary stronghold.^[18]

In 1911, Jyotish Ghosh assigned Nanigopal Mukherjee of Chinsurah the task of assassinating Charles Godfrey Denham, a senior police official in Kolkata's Intelligence Department. Narendranath, Basanta Kumar Bandopadhyay, and Shrish Chandra Ghosh were responsible for surveilling Denham's movements. On the designated day, Nanigopal threw a bomb at Denham's car; however, an engineer named Mr. Cowley was in the vehicle instead. The bomb failed to detonate, resulting in no casualties.^[19][20]

Following the incident, Nanigopal Mukherjee was arrested and subsequently sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment in the Andaman Cellular Jail. Jyotish Ghosh, Shrish Chandra Ghosh, and Narendranath were also arrested on suspicion. After a brief period of detention, they were released and returned to Chandannagar, where they resumed their revolutionary activities.^[21]

Amid increasing British government crackdowns, segments of the revolutionary newspapers Yugantar (edited by Monoranjan Guha Thakurta), Navashakti, and Sandhya (edited by Brahmabandhab Upadhyay) were relocated to Narendranath Bandopadhyay's residence in Gondalpara. These publications were clandestinely printed and distributed to various locations to sustain revolutionary momentum.^[22]

While working at the office of Atmashakti, Narendranath met Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das and, at his invitation, took part in the Tarakeswar Satyagraha movement. Following the Shakhari Tola murder in Kolkata, and the subsequent arrest of Amarendranath Chatterjee, Upendranath Bandhopadhyay, and Jyotish Ghosh, Narendranath assumed responsibility for the Atmashakti newspaper and its affiliated library, acting on the request of Subhas Chandra Bose. During this period, he engaged with numerous prominent and respected figures in the freedom struggle.^[23]

To support revolutionary activities and facilitate communication among activists in distant regions, Narendranath established a stationery shop in Chandannagar, located opposite Banga Vidyalaya School near Deepro Press. This shop operated as a covert meeting point for revolutionaries and served as a conduit for the secret transport of letters and revolvers to various locations.^[24]

In 1920, following an agreement between Motilal Roy and the British government, the Prabartak Ashram officially distanced itself from armed revolutionary activities. Subsequently, weapons stored at the ashram were transferred to Narendranath's revolutionary centre in Gondalpara through Shrish Chandra. During this period, British police conducted two searches of Narendranath's residence but failed to uncover any incriminating evidence, a testament to the quick thinking and resilience of his mother, who played a key role in protecting many revolutionaries sheltered in the house.^[25][26][27]

By 1930, Narendranath served as editor of the newspaper Prajashakti, which provided open commentary on political events and local governance issues in Chandannagar. Over several years, he also collected important historical materials related to the freedom struggle, which were stored at the "Gondalpara Ambika Smriti Mandir". Unfortunately, these valuable archives were lost when the temple was destroyed.^[28][29]

In his later life, Narendranath authored Rakta Biplaber Ek Adhyay ("A Chapter of the Bloody Revolution"), a work offering detailed accounts of the personalities, strategies, and activities of the revolutionary movement. Beyond Gondalpara, he maintained associations with several institutions across Chandannagar, Chinsurah, and other regions.^[30][31]

Narendranath Bandopadhyay passed away quietly in Chandannagar on October 29, 1963, at the age of 79 due to a heart attack.

• Jyotish Ghosh
• Kanailal Dutta
• Indu Bhusan Roy
• Upendranath Bandhopadhyay
• Shrish Ghosh
• Nanigopal Mukherjee
• Rash Behari Bose

• Hemendranath Dasgupta, Bharater Biplab Kahini, II & III, Calcutta, 1948;
• Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, History of the Freedom Movement in India, III, Calcutta 1963;
• 1911 Political records proceedings, July 1911 no. 48-50 by National Archives of India.
• Abishmaraniya by Ganganarayan Chandra
• Amar dekhe biplab o biplabi by Motilal Roy

• Works by or about Narendranath Bandhopadhyay at the Internet Archive

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