Kakori Train Robbery - 9 August 1925
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Kokori Train Incident was planned at the Chedi Lal Dharamshala in Lucknow

Volume: 19, No: 08 ; August-2025

Commemorating Centenary of Kakori Train Incident that took place on the 9th of August 1925

The peaceful town of Kakori, about 20 kilometers from the state capital, and the 120-year-old Chedi Lal Dharamshala (Guest House, built to provide shelter to travellers at low cost by rich businessmen or trusts, usually for religious purposes) in Aminabad, Lucknow, both carry a strong patriotic essence, even a century after the Kakori Train Action damaged the British government’s reputation.

Room number 227 on the first floor of Chedi Lal Dharamshala is especially notable. This is the only renovated space in the dharamshala and it brings to mind the day when Ram Prasad Bismil and his nine fellow freedom fighters may have checked in to discreetly plan the Kakori Action for August 8, 1925. As Ram Nath Gupta, the dharamshala’s manager, shared, the room was renovated in 2019 to honor those who sacrificed their lives for freedom. Historian Udal Khatri, in his book ‘Lucknow ka Krantiteerth,’ notes that most revolutionaries lodged here as visitors.

Initially, on August 8, 1925, they missed the Number 8 down train from Shahjahanpur to Lucknow, which forced them to reschedule their plans for the next day. On the 9th of August they boarded the same train. Ashfaqulla Khan, Rajendra Nath Lahiri, and Sachindra Nath Bakshi bought second-class tickets, while others, including Ram Prasad Bismil, Chandrashekhar Azad, Murarilal, Murarimlal, Mukundlal, Banwarilal, and Manmath Nath Gupta, travelled on the guard’s compartment.

Those in the second class compartment, pulled the chain to stop the train, and the members then leaped out to execute their plan. Sachindra Nath Bakshi later confessed to two German Times workers that only 10 people carried out the plan and they weren’t 25 as was being believed. All of them were charged with violating Sections 302 and 120B of the Penal Code. The freedom fighters reportedly took cash, GC notes, and vouchers of a significant amount. The trial began in the month of December at Roshan-ud-Daula Kacheri (court) in Lucknow.

Ramkrishna Khatri’s book ‘Lucknow Ki Azadi Mein’ describes a powerful scene outside the court where a large crowd had gathered, making it hard to distinguish revolutionaries from the public once their handcuffs were removed for presenting them in the court room. Revolutionaries tied saffron kerchiefs and sang “Rang De Basanti Chola” as Basant Panban’s band played. The very next day, students from Kanyakubja College (now called Jai Narain PG Degree College) also arrived, similarly adorning the saffron scarves and kerchiefs and singing the same song. Six months later, the court relocated to the Rink Theater, now the General Post Office in Hazratganj, Lucknow.

Freedom Fighters who faced trial and their fates:

  1. Ram Prasad Bismil: Executed in Gorakhpur Prison Jail on the 19th of December 1927
  2. Ashfaqullah Khan: Executed in Faizabad (Ayodhya) Prison on the 19th of December 1927
  3. Chandrashekhar Azad: Was on the run but finally martyred while engaging with the police at Alfred Park in Allahabad (Prayagraj)
  4. Rajendra Nath Lahiri: Executed in Gonda Prison on the 17th of December 1927
  5. Sachindra Nath Bakshi: Awarded a sentence for being in prison for life.
  6. Mukundlal: Awarded a sentence for being in prison for life.
  7. Manmath Nath Gupta: Awarded a sentence for being in prison for 14 years
  8. Kesh Chandra Chakravarty: Absconded and untraceable
  9. Murari Lal Sharma: Absconded and untraceable
  10. Banwari Lal: Awarded a sentence for being in prison for 2 years
  11. Ramkrishna Khatri : Awarded a sentence for being in prison for 10 years

Click Here to know more about Kakori Incident 

Credits : Godhooli Sharma (Hindustan Times)

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Kokori Train Incident was planned at the Chedi Lal Dharamshala in Lucknow

Commemorating Centenary of Kakori Train Incident that took place on the 9th of August 1925

The peaceful town of Kakori, about 20 kilometers from the state capital, and the 120-year-old Chedi Lal Dharamshala (Guest House, built to provide shelter to travellers at low cost by rich businessmen or trusts, usually for religious purposes) in Aminabad, Lucknow, both carry a strong patriotic essence, even a century after the Kakori Train Action damaged the British government’s reputation.

Room number 227 on the first floor of Chedi Lal Dharamshala is especially notable. This is the only renovated space in the dharamshala and it brings to mind the day when Ram Prasad Bismil and his nine fellow freedom fighters may have checked in to discreetly plan the Kakori Action for August 8, 1925. As Ram Nath Gupta, the dharamshala’s manager, shared, the room was renovated in 2019 to honor those who sacrificed their lives for freedom. Historian Udal Khatri, in his book ‘Lucknow ka Krantiteerth,’ notes that most revolutionaries lodged here as visitors.

Initially, on August 8, 1925, they missed the Number 8 down train from Shahjahanpur to Lucknow, which forced them to reschedule their plans for the next day. On the 9th of August they boarded the same train. Ashfaqulla Khan, Rajendra Nath Lahiri, and Sachindra Nath Bakshi bought second-class tickets, while others, including Ram Prasad Bismil, Chandrashekhar Azad, Murarilal, Murarimlal, Mukundlal, Banwarilal, and Manmath Nath Gupta, travelled on the guard’s compartment.

Those in the second class compartment, pulled the chain to stop the train, and the members then leaped out to execute their plan. Sachindra Nath Bakshi later confessed to two German Times workers that only 10 people carried out the plan and they weren’t 25 as was being believed. All of them were charged with violating Sections 302 and 120B of the Penal Code. The freedom fighters reportedly took cash, GC notes, and vouchers of a significant amount. The trial began in the month of December at Roshan-ud-Daula Kacheri (court) in Lucknow.

Ramkrishna Khatri’s book ‘Lucknow Ki Azadi Mein’ describes a powerful scene outside the court where a large crowd had gathered, making it hard to distinguish revolutionaries from the public once their handcuffs were removed for presenting them in the court room. Revolutionaries tied saffron kerchiefs and sang “Rang De Basanti Chola” as Basant Panban’s band played. The very next day, students from Kanyakubja College (now called Jai Narain PG Degree College) also arrived, similarly adorning the saffron scarves and kerchiefs and singing the same song. Six months later, the court relocated to the Rink Theater, now the General Post Office in Hazratganj, Lucknow.

Freedom Fighters who faced trial and their fates:

  1. Ram Prasad Bismil: Executed in Gorakhpur Prison Jail on the 19th of December 1927
  2. Ashfaqullah Khan: Executed in Faizabad (Ayodhya) Prison on the 19th of December 1927
  3. Chandrashekhar Azad: Was on the run but finally martyred while engaging with the police at Alfred Park in Allahabad (Prayagraj)
  4. Rajendra Nath Lahiri: Executed in Gonda Prison on the 17th of December 1927
  5. Sachindra Nath Bakshi: Awarded a sentence for being in prison for life.
  6. Mukundlal: Awarded a sentence for being in prison for life.
  7. Manmath Nath Gupta: Awarded a sentence for being in prison for 14 years
  8. Kesh Chandra Chakravarty: Absconded and untraceable
  9. Murari Lal Sharma: Absconded and untraceable
  10. Banwari Lal: Awarded a sentence for being in prison for 2 years
  11. Ramkrishna Khatri : Awarded a sentence for being in prison for 10 years

Click Here to know more about Kakori Incident