Bijnor Jail Honors Sachindranath Bakshi | 12 Aug 2025

Why in News? 

Sachindranath Bakshi, an unsung hero of the Kakori Train Action, has been honored at his memorial in Bijnor Jail, where he was once imprisoned after being sentenced to life imprisonment. 

  • The memorial, named ‘Smritika’, was inaugurated on 11th August 2023 and includes a statue of Bakshi, along with the engraved names of 419 freedom fighters who were held in the jail during the British era. 

Key Points 

  • Role in Kakori Train Action  (9th August 1925): Bakshi, alongside revolutionaries Ashfaqullah Khan, Chandrashekhar Azad and Rajendra Lahiri, played a pivotal role in the 1925 Kakori Train Action, where they looted the British treasury for the cause of India’s independence (procuring arms). 
    • He attacked the guard's compartment and seized a chest of money. 
  • Bakshi’s Contribution: He had purchased the tickets and pulled the emergency chain, leading to the revolutionary act. 
  • Bakshi’s Legacy: After his arrest, Bakshi was sentenced to life imprisonment, unlike his fellow revolutionaries who were executed.  
    • His memoir, ‘Kranti Ke Path Par’, reflects his emotional turmoil about the disparity in their fates. 
    • Later, he was released and continued to participate in politics after India’s independence. 
  • Historical Insight: He led protests and hunger strikes (53 days) to demand recognition for freedom fighters as political prisoners. 

Sachindranath Bakshi 

Sachindranath_Bakshi 

  • Born: 25th December 1904 (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh) 
  • Death: 23rd November 1984 (Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh) 
  • Role: Prominent freedom fighter, founder of Hindustan Republican Army (HRA) 
  • HRA Formation: 1924, aimed at armed struggle against British colonial rule 
  • Initial Contributions: 
    • Propagated HRA ideals in Varanasi. 
    • Moved to Jhansi to expand HRA’s base.