Many of our comrades have laid down their lives, so will many others in the days to come. For the revolution in India won’t be accomplished without a price. Out of this sacrifice will emerge those death-defying mortals who will smash imperialism to the ground, who through their selfless labour, will build up a new India, the India that holds aloft great hope and inspiration for the people of the world.
— Charu Mazumdar
THE ROLL OF HONOUR : MARTYRS IMMORTAL
Scores of organisers and activists have so far laid down their lives in the course of the nearly two-decade-long revolutionary peasant struggle in Bihar. This is the first attempt on our part to record the names and other available particulars of these martyr comrades. The names have been arranged, first, districtwise and then in chronological order. Unless otherwise specified all of them belonged either to the undivided CPI(ML) or subsequently to our Party organisation. Note on abbreviations used in the list are given at the end.
PATNA
1. Raghunandan Ravidas — Age –; Class – LLP; Village – Purneia; PS. – Poonpoon; Status – Cultural Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – Mar 1973, killed by landlords.
2. Dinanath Manjhi — Age -20; Class – LLP; Village – Chhati; PS. – Dhanarua; Status – Commander; Particulars of martyrdom – 1975, killed in police firing while snatching arms.
3. Ram Babu Yadav (Kailash) — Age -28; Class – Intellectual; Village – Taregana; PS. – Masaurhi; Status – RCM; Particulars of martyrdom – May 1975, while fighting against police encirclement in the Ghorahuan incident.
4. Gyaneshwar Yadav (Nagendra) — Age – 25; Class – Intellectual; Village – Ekrashi (Bhojpur); PS. –; Status – SCM; Particulars of martyrdom – May 1975, while fighting against police encirclement in the Ghorahuan incident.
5. Birda Manjhi — Age -40; Class – LLP; Village – Dehri; PS. – Poonpoon; Status – RCM; Particulars of martyrdom – May 1975, while fighting against police encirclement in the Ghorahuan incident.
6. Prakash Chandra — Age – 27; Class – Worker; Village – Patna City; PS. – –; Status – ACM; Particulars of martyrdom – May 1975, while fighting against police encirclement in the Ghorahuan incident.
7. Raj Ballav Ravidas — Age – –; Class – –; Village – Deokuli; PS. – Poonpoon; Status – Fighter; Particulars of martyrdom – May 1975, while fighting against police encirclement in the Ghorahuan incident.
8. Raja Ram Ravidas — Age – –; Class – –; Village – Deokuli; PS. – Poonpoon; Status – Fighter; Particulars of martyrdom – May 1975, while fighting against police encirclement in the Ghorahuan incident.
9. Kamindar Ram (Rajkumar) — Age – 20; Age – –; Class – –; Village – Deokuli; PS. – Poonpoon; Status – Fighter; Particulars of martyrdom – May 1975, while fighting against police encirclement in the Ghorahuan incident.
10. Girija Paswan — Age – 18; Class – LLP; Village – Deokuli; PS. – Poonpoon; Status – Fighter; Particulars of martyrdom – May 1975, while fighting against police encirclement in the Ghorahuan incident.
11. Ram Jatan Manjhi — Age – 22; Class – LLP; Village – Dehri; PS. – Poonpoon; Status – Commander; Particulars of martyrdom – May 1975, while fighting against police encirclement in the Ghorahuan incident.
12. Ramji Manjhi — Age – 18; Class – LLP; Village – Dehri; PS. – Poonpoon; Status – Fighter; Particulars of martyrdom – May 1975, while fighting against police encirclement in the Ghorahuan incident.
13. Ramdas Paswan — Age 20; Class – PP; Village – Harbanspur PS. – Poonpoon; Status – Fighter; Particulars of martyrdom – May 1975, while fighting against police encirclement in the Ghorahuan incident.
14. Sipahiji — Age – 50; Class – MP; Village – Khadiha; PS. – Poonpoon; Status – Fighter; Particulars of martyrdom – May 1975, while fighting against police encirclement in the Ghorahuan incident.
15. Nageshwar Manjhi (Suresh) — Age – 22; Class – LLP; Village – Nemachak; PS. – Poonpoon; Status – Fighter; Particulars of martyrdom – May 1975, while fighting against police encirclement in the Ghorahuan incident.
16. Ali Raza Mian — Age – –; Class – PP; Village – Dehri; PS. – Poonpoon; Status – Fighter; Particulars of martyrdom – May 1975, while fighting against police encirclement in the Ghorahuan incident.
17. Bhagu Ravidas — Age – 18; Class – Intellectual; Village – Deokuli; PS. – Poonpoon; Status – Fighter; Particulars of martyrdom – May 1975, while fighting against police encirclement in the Ghorahuan incident.
18. Kishori Ravidas — Age 40; Class – PP; Village – Madhuban; PS. – –; Status – Local activist; Particulars of martyrdom – May 1975, while fighting against police encirclement in the Ghorahuan incident.
19. Sudhir Ranjan (Rabi/Chandu) — Age -25; Class – Intellectual; Village – Dhanagaon; PS. – Jehanabad; Status – CCM; Particulars of martyrdom – 9 Apr 1976, Killed in Police firing at Basuarh.
20. Ram Das Yadav (Lalan) — Age -34; Class – Rly. Worker; Village – Jamalluddinchak; PS. – Khagaul; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 4 May 1976, Killed by the police during Bhagalpur Jail-break.
21. Sadhu Saran Das (Surendra) — Age – 22; Class – LLP; Village – Marachi; PS. – Mokama; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 4 May 1976, Killed by the police during Bhagalpur Jail-break.
22. Shailendra Singh — Age – 26; Intellectual; Village – Nadwa; PS. – Barh; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 4 May 1976, Killed by the police during Bhagalpur Jail-break.
23. Rabindra Ram — Age – 20; Class – PP; Village – Dahara; PS. – Bikram; Status – Local activist; Particulars of martyrdom – Feb 1978, Killed by landlords.
24. Mangeshwar Manjhi — Age – 30; Class – LLP, Village – Dahara; PS. – Bikram; Status – Local activist; Particulars of martyrdom – Feb 1978, Killed by landlords.
25. Pannu Paswan — Age – 40; Class – PP; Village – Deokuli; PS. – Poonpoon; Status – Local activist; Particulars of martyrdom – Mar 1980, accidental death.
26. Surendra Prasad — Age – 22; Class – pp; Village – Pirahi; PS. – Bikram; Status – Local activist; Particulars of martyrdom – 30 Oct. 1981, killed in police firng in the Narhi-Pirhi incident.
27. Devendra Ram — Age –; Class – –; Village – Karja; PS. – Naubatpur; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – 30 Oct. 1981, killed in police firng in the Narhi-Pirhi incident.
28. Dewaki Manjhi — Age – –; Class – LLP; Village – Bahuara; PS. – Naubatpur; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – 30 Oct. 1981, killed in police firng in the Narhi-Pirhi incident.
29. Lakshman Chaudhari — Age – –; Class – PP; Village – Rerbigha; PS. – Dhanarua; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – 30 Oct. 1981, killed in police firng in the Narhi-Pirhi incident.
30. Durga Paswan — Age – 36; Class – LLP; Village – Ufrou; PS. – Poonpoon; Status – Member of armed unit; Particulars of martyrdom – Mar 1982, killed by landlords.
31. Kisun Paswan Age – 40; Class – PP; Village – Kirimdichak; PS. – Masaurhi; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – Jan 1983, killed by Bhoomi Sena
32. Saudagar Ravidas — Age – 52; Class – LLP; Village – Dhanakipar; PS. – Poonpoon; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – Feb 1983, killed by Bhoomi Sena.
33. Lal Babu Singh — Age – 38; Class – RP; Village – Parthu; PS. – Poonpoon; Status – A cadre of Marxist Coordination Committee, also Vice President of Bihar IPF; Particulars of martyrdom – 8 Oct 1983, killed by Bhoomi Sena.
34. Shravan Kumar (Madhukar) Age – 30; Class – Urban poor; Village – Malkaha; PS. – Masaurhi; Status – Member of armed unit; Particulars of martyrdom – Oct 1983, killed by the police at Firoji in Kako (Gaya).
35. Ram Bachan Paswan — Age — 45; Class – LLP; Village – Lahasuna; PS. – Masaurhi; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – Mar 1984, Killed by Bhoomi Sena.
36. Dinkar — Age –; Class – LLP; Village – Berhampur; PS. – Dhanarua; Status – Member of armed unit; Particulars of martyrdom – Oct 1984, killed by landlord.
37. Gandhi Manjhi (Viveka) — Age –; Class – LLP; Village – –; PS. – –; Status – Member of local squad; Particulars of martyrdom – Oct 1984, killed by landlord.
38. Ram Babu Ram (Mahendra) — Age – 28; Class – MP; Village – Chhakanbigha; PS. – Poonpoon; Status – Member of armed unit; Particulars of martyrdom – 17 Nov 1985, Killed by Bhoomi Sena.
39. Munsi Chaudhari (Lakshman) — Age – 36; Class – PP; Village – Chandhosh; PS. – Pali; Status – Member of armed unit; Particulars of martyrdom – 21 May 1986, killed by landlords’, armed gang.
40. Surendra Prasad — Age – –; Class – –; Village – –; PS. – –; Status – Dy. Secy of Patna unit of BPKS; Particulars of martyrdom – 15 June 1986, natural death.
BHOJPUR
41. Jagdish Prasad (Mastersahab) — Age – 37; Class – Intellectual; Village – Ekwari; PS. – Sahar; Status – SCM; Particulars of martyrdom – 10 Dec 1972, killed by landlords and their goons at Behea Bazar.
42. Ramayan Ram — Age – 20; Class – PP; Village – Ayar; PS. – Jagdishpur; Status – Commander; Particulars of martyrdom – 10 Dec 1972, killed by landlords and their goons at Behea Bazar.
43. Rameshwarjee — Age – 25; Class – MP; Village – Bargaon; PS. – Sahar; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 10 Dec 1972, accidental death.
44. Ganeshi Dusadh — Age – 35; Class – LLP; Village – Chauri; PS. – Sahar; Status – Commander; Particulars of martyrdom – 6 May 1973, killed by the police in the Chauri incident.
45. Lalmohar Dusadh — Age – 22; Class – LLP; Village – Chauri; PS. – Sahar; Status – Sqd. Member; Particulars of martyrdom – 6 May 1973, killed by the police in the Chauri incident.
46. Dinanath Teli — Age – 25; Class – LLP; Village – Chauri; PS. – Sahar; Status – Sqd. Member; Particulars of martyrdom – 6 May 1973, killed by the police in the Chauri incident.
47. Balkeswar Dusadh — Age – 26; Class – LLP; Village – Chauri; PS. – Sahar; Status – Sqd. Member; Particulars of martyrdom – 6 May 1973, killed by the police in the Chauri incident.
48. Ram Govind — Age – 36; Class -PP; Village – Kaup; PS. – Charpokhri; Status – Sqd. Member; Particulars of martyrdom – 28 Feb 1974, killed by landlords.
49. Gopal — Age – 26; Class – LMP; Village – Muradpur; PS. – Sahar; Status – Sqd. Member; Particulars of martyrdom – 16 Apr 1974, Shot by a doctor of Sahar block Hospital.
50. Muni Pasi — Age – 60; Class – PP; Village – Baruhi; PS. – Sahar; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 17 Aug 1974, killed by the police at Baruhi.
51. Daroga Ram — Age – 16; Class – LLP; Village – Chilhoas; PS. – –; Status – Sqd. Member; Particulars of martyrdom – 19 Dec 1974, killed by the police during a raid on a police camp in Sahar
52. Mahendra — Age – 22; Class – LLP; Village – Dehritola; PS. – Sahar; Sqd. Member; Particulars of martyrdom – 1974, accidental death
53. Rameswar Ahir (Sadhuji) — Age – 42; Class -MP; Village – Ekwari; PS. – Sahar; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 14 Jan 1975, killed by police at Sonatala
54. Amawas Dusadh — Age – 24; Class – PP; Village – Sonatola; PS. – Sahar; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – 14 Jan 1975, killed by the police at Garhani Police camp
55. Algu Ram — Age – 38; Class – PP; Village – Aiyar-Chapra; PS. – Piro; Status – Sqd. Member; Particulars of martyrdom – 3 Apr 1975, killed by the police in a fake encounter following an attack on the Kowath Bazar police camp Which had yielded 5 rifles.
56. Viswanath — Age – 25; Class – PP; Village – Shahpur; PS. – Dumri; Status – Sqd. Member; Particulars of martyrdom – 3 Apr 1975, killed by the police in a fake encounter following an attack on the Kowath Bazar police camp Which had yielded 5 rifles.
57. Shiv Narayan — Age -28; Class – PP; Village – Aiyar-Chapra; PS. – Piro; Status – Sqd. Member; Particulars of martyrdom – 3 Apr 1975, killed by the police in a fake encounter following an attack on the Kowath Bazar police camp Which had yielded 5 rifles.
58. Lalmohur — Age – 25; Class – MP; Village – Dilya; PS. – Dawath (Rohtas); Status – Sqd. Member; Particulars of martyrdom – 3 Apr 1975, killed by the police in a fake encounter following an attack on the Kowath Bazar police camp Which had yielded 5 rifles.
59. Ram Pravesh Kahar — Age – 35; Class – PP; Village – Dullam Chak; PS. – Sahar; Status – Chairman of Revolutionary Committee; Particulars of martyrdom – 22 May 1975, killed by the police at Dhanchhuan.
60. Gopal Chamar — Age – 24; Class – PP; Village – Dhanchhuan; PS. – Sahar; Status – Local activist; Particulars of martyrdom – 22 May 1975, killed by the police at Dhanchhuan.
61. Suresh Koiri — Age – 13; Class – PP; Village – Semraon; PS. – Charpokhri; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – 2 June 1975, hacked to pieces by the landlords of Hadiabad, Jagdishpur
62. Puran Ram (Butan) — Age – 24; Class – LLP; Village – Baruna; PS. – Sahar; Status – Commander; Particulars of martyrdom – 2 July 1975, killed by the police in the famour battle of Bahuara.
63. Ramanand Pasi — Age – 26; Class – LLP; Village – Ekwari; PS. – Sahar; Status – Sqd. Member; Particulars of martyrdom – 2 July 1975, killed by the police in the famour battle of Bahuara.
64. Biswanath Chamar — Age – 35; Class – LLP; Village – Baruna; PS. – Sahar; Status – Chairman of revolutionary committee; Particulars of martyrdom – 2 July 1975, killed by the police in the famour battle of Bahuara.
65. Sarju Teli — Age – 30; Class – LLP; Village – Baruna; PS. – Sahar; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 2 July 1975, killed by the police in the famour battle of Bahuara.
66. Ravana Ram — Age – 25; Class – LLP; Village – Phoolari; PS. – Sandesh; Status – Sqd. Member; Particulars of martyrdom – 14 Aug 1975, killed by the police at Ramasaar
67. Shiv Narayan (Santoshi) — Age – 40; Class – LLP; Village – Raghunathpur; PS. – Rajpur; Status – Sqd. member; Particulars of martyrdom – 11 Nov 1975, killed by landlords
68. Bhusan — Age – 34; Class – PP; Village – Kharbania; PS. – Nawanaga; Status – Sqd. member; Particulars of martyrdom – 11 Nov 1975, killed by the police at Aiyar-Chapra
69. Subrata Dutta (Jouhar) — Age – 30; Class – Intellectual; PS. – Behala, Culcutta; Status – GS; Particulars of martyrdom – 29 Nov 1975, killed by the police at Babubandh, Sahar.
70. Rajendra Yadav (Ratan) — Age – 25; Class – Intellectual; Village – Keshot; PS. – Nawanagar; Status – RCM; Particulars of martyrdom – 29 Nov 1975, killed by the police at Babubandh, Sahar.
71. Nirmal Mahato (Narendra) — Age – 27; Class – Intellectual; Village – Barora; PS. – Sandesh; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 29 Nov 1975, killed by the police at Babubandh, Sahar.
72. Lahari — Age – 18; Class – LLP; Village – Ramassar; PS. – Sandesh; Status – Woman commander; Particulars of martyrdom – 31 Dec 1975, killed by the police at Pinjrohi, Sandesh
73. Sonamati (Agni Devi) — Age – 25; Class – Rural petty bourgeois; Village – Sandesh; PS. – Sandesh; Status – Woman cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 31 Dec 1975, killed by the police at Pinjrohi, Sandesh
74. Jawahar Chamer — Age – 22; Class – PP; Village – Ayar; PS. – Jagdishpur; Status – ACM; Particulars of martyrdom – 31 Dec 1975, killed by the police at Pinjrohi, Sandesh
75. Srikrishna — Age – 16; Class – LLP; Village – Bhadwar; PS. – Brahmpur; Status – Vill. Sqd. member; Particulars of martyrdom – 31 Dec. 1975, killed by the police while attacking a police camp at Bhadwar
76. Anantalal Gupta (Ajay) — Age – 32; Class – Rural petty bourgeois; Village – Sandesh; PS. – Sandesh; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 28 Jan 1976, heart failure during a Party meeting
77. Bir Bahadur Singh — Age – 60; Class – Intellectual; Village – Ahpura; Sandesh; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – 12 Mar 1976, killed by landlords and their goons
78. Narayan Koiri (Kaviji) — Age – 55; Class – Intellectual; Village – Semraon; PS. – Charpokhri; Status – RCM; Particulars of martyrdom – 31 Mar 1976, killed by the police at Hanuman-Chapra near Ekwari
79. Fagu Singh (Raghunath) — Age – 26; Class – Intellectual; Village – Agiwab; PS. – Piro; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 4 May 1976, killed by the police during Bhagalpur jail-break
80. Jag Jivan (Bhikhari) — Age – 25; Class – PP; Village – Ojbalia; PS. – Sahapur; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 4 May 1976, killed by the police during Bhagalpur jail-break
81. Sheila Chatterjee (Tutu) — Age – 20; Class – Intellectual; Village – –; PS. – –; Status – Woman cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 10 Oct 1976, killed by the police at Ekwari
82. Hira (Chanchal) — Age – 24; Class – PP; Village – Semraon; PS. – Charpokhri; Status – Sqd. Member; Particulars of martyrdom – 10 Oct 1976, killed by the police
83. Baikunath Singh (Sankar Yadav) — Age – 25 MP; Village – Gobindapur; PS. – Arrah Mufassil; Status – ACM; Particulars of martyrdom – 20 Mar 1978, accidental death
84. Jagannath Ram — Age – –; Class – LLP; Village – Manihari; PS. – Dinara; Status – Sqd. Member; Particulars of martyrdom – 1979, burnt alive in Hadiabad burning incident (Rohtas)
85. Mukhtar Ahmed (Jivan) — Age – 24; Class – Intellectual; Village – Saihar; PS. – Simri; Status – RCM; Particulars of martyrdom – 17 Nov 1981, killed by the police at Mathila
86. Jay Govind Ram (Vikas) — Age – 46; Class – Worker; Village – Dumra; PS. – Arrah Mufassil; Status – ACM; Particulars of martyrdom – 17 Nov 1981, killed by the police at Mathila
87. Konar Singh (Narsingh) — Age – 28; Class – LLP; Village – Birpur; PS. – Dumraon; Status – Sqd. Member; Particulars of martyrdom – 17 Nov 1981, killed by the police at Mathila
88. Baijanth Singh — Age – 25; Class – MP; Village – Agiwab; PS. – Piro; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – 1981, accidental death
89. Biswanath Singh — Age – 38; Class – MP; Village – Kosiar; PS. – Sahar; Status – Ex-chairman of revolutionary committee; Particulars of martyrdom – 1981, natural death
90. Janardan Chaube (Bigu) — Age – 35; Class – MP; Village – Itwa; PS. – Rajpur; Status – Member of armed unit; Particulars of martyrdom – 11 Nov 1983, killed by the police at Rohia in Ramgarh PS of Rohtas
91. Prem Chand Ram — Age – 28; Class – LLP; Village – Bhadwar; PS. – Brahmpur; Status – Commander; Particulars of martyrdom – 4 July 1985, killed by dacoit gang
92. Totaman Paswan (Jiut) — Age – 28; Class – PP; Village – Baruha; PS. – Brahmpur; Status – Commander; Particulars of martyrdom – 14 Nov 1985, killed by the police at Kunai
93. Gobardhan Paswan (Sahato) — Age – 30; Class – LLP; Village – Pokhraha; PS. – Brahmpur; Status – Member of armed unit; Particulars of martyrdom – 14 Nov 1985, killed by the police at Kunai
94. Jagdish Paswan — Age – 28; Class – PP; Village – Pokhraha; PS. – Brahmpur; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – 25 Dec 1985, killed by the police at mass meeting in Kunai
GAYA
95. Siddheswar Sharma (Suresh) — Age – –; Class – MP; Village – Amarpur; PS. – Kako; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 4 May 1982, killed by the police during Bhagalpur jail-break
96. Sankar Chaudhary — Age – –; Class – PP; Village – Sahobigha; PS. – Ghosi; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – June 1982, killed by landlords
97. Jeerwa Devi — Age – –; Class – LLP; Village – Gandharmath; PS. – Ghosi; Status – Woman activist; Particulars of martyrdom – June 1982, killed in police firing on a BPKS procession.
98. Lakhan Manjhi — Age – 20; Class – LLP; Village – Bhagwa; PS. – –; Status – Activist of COC, CPI (ML) Party Unity; Particulars of martyrdom – 10 Aug 1982, killed by landlords
99. Sudeshi Manjhi — Age – 19; Class – LLP; Village – Bhagwa; PS. – –; Status – Activist of COC, CPI (ML) Party Unity; Particulars of martyrdom – 10 Aug 1982, killed by landlords
100. Balkishore Manjhi — Age – 15; Class – LLP; Village – Bhagwa; PS. – –; Status – Activist of COC, CPI (ML) Party Unity; Particulars of martyrdom – 10 Aug 1982, killed by landlords
101. Chandeshwar Chaudhary — Age – –; Class – Intellectual; Village – Salempur; PS. – Gaya Mufassil; Status – Sqd. Member; Particulars of martyrdom – Oct 1983, killed by the police at Kako
102. Rohon Paswan — Age – — ; Class – PP; Village – Surangapur; PS. – Jehanabad; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – 1983, killed by Bhoomi Sena
103. Aslam Ali — Age – — ; Class – PP; Village – Badhar; PS. – Jehanabad; Status – Sqd. Member; Particulars of martyrdom – 1983, killed in encounter with Bhoomi Sena
104. Dr. Lalan Prasad — Age – –; Class – Intellectual; Village – –; PS. – Gaya Mufassil Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – Mar 1985, natural death
NALANDA
105. Surendra Singh — Age – 25; Class – Intellectual; Village – Sahajanpur; PS. – Hilsa; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 1974, killed by landlords at Barh (Patna)
106. Dhanaraj Das — Age – 40; Class – PP; Village – Bairiganj; PS. – Hilsa; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – 8 Dec 1980, killed by landlords
107. Satyendra Ram — Age – –; Class – LLP; Village – Makrauta; PS. – Hilsa; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – June 1981, killed by landlords
108. Bijendra Paswan — Age – 24; Class – MP; Village – Khusapar; PS. – Hilsa; Status – Member of local sqd.; Particulars of martyrdom – June 1982, killed by landlords
109. Brigu (Basundhari) — Age – 25; Class – LLP; Village – Bairiganj; PS. – Hilsa; Status – Member of armed unit; Particulars of martyrdom – Aug 1982, killed in police firing at Agarpar, Hilsa
110. Karu Manjhi — Age – 22; Class – LLP; Village – Jalalpur; PS. – Hilsa; Status – Member of local sqd.; Particulars of martyrdom – Apr. 1984, killed by landlords
111. Moti — Age – 40; Class – –; Village – Pitambarasarai; PS. – Ekangarpur Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – 1984, accidental death
112. Dr. Gopal Prasad — Age – 38; Class – Intellectual; Village – Makrauta; PS. – Hilsa; Status – Vice-president of Nalanda dist. unit of BPKS; Particulars of martyrdom – 28 June 1985, killed by the police
113. Kailash Paswan (Sarista) — Age – 28; Class – PP; Village – Kushapur; PS. – Hilsa; Status – Member of armed unit Particulars of martyrdom – 28 June 1985, killed by the police
114. Mahabir Prasad Yadav — Age – 32; Class – MP; Village – Dhamaulbigha; PS. – Dhanarua (Patna); Status – ACM; Particulars of martyrdom – 21 Nov 1985, killed by the polic at Gangabigha, Chandi
115. Devendra Paswan — Age – 26; Class – PP; Village – Satbarhi; PS. – Chandi; Status – Member of village self-defence corps; Particulars of martyrdom – 21 Nov 1985, killed by the polic at Gangabigha, Chandi
116. Harendra Mahato — Age – 23; Class – LMP; Village – Amnawa; PS. – Islampur; Status – Member of armed unit; Particulars of martyrdom – 21 Nov 1985, killed by the polic at Gangabigha, Chandi
117. Munna Thakur — Age – –; Class – PP; Village – Pitambarpur; PS. – Ekangarsarai; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – 30 Nov 1985, killed by Lorik Sena
118. Baisakhi Manjhi — Age – 35; Class – LLP; Village – Asherdih; PS. – Hilsa; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – 4 Feb 1986, killed by landlords
AURANGABAD
119. Behari Sao (Gopi) — Age – 30; Class – PP; Village – Sonbarsa; PS. – Haspura; Status – Commander; Particulars of martyrdom – 6 Oct ’76, killed by landlords
120. Balchand Yadav (Awadesh) 35; Class – MP; Village – Hichhanbigha; PS. – Daudnagar; Status – Member ofarmed unit; Particulars of martyrdom – 1 Jan 1985, killed by the police in the Kaithibigha incident
121. Kali Ram (Kamta) — Age – 30; Class – LLP; Village – Samsernagar; PS. – Daudnagar; Status – Member of armed unit; Particulars of martyrdom – 1 Jan 1985, killed by the police in the Kaithibigha incident
122. Narsingh Paswan — Age – 30; Class – LLP; Village – Mangrubigha; PS. – Obra; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 1 Jan 1985, killed by the police in the Kaithibigha incident
123. Baijnath Paswan — Age – 30; Class – LLP; Village – Samsernagar; PS. – Daudnagar; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – 1 Jan 1986, killed by landlords
124. Rajnath Paswan — Age – 32; Class – LLP; Village – Samsernagar; PS. – Daudnagar; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – 1 Jan 1986, killed by landlords
125. Kameshwar Singh (Kapil) — Age – 25; Class – MP; Village – Thakurbigha; PS. – Daudnagar; Status – Member of armed unit; Particulars of martyrdom – 27 Mar 1986, killed by the police at Jakhim Rly. Stn. During rifle-snatching
126. Sri Ram (Ramesh) — Age – 28; Class – LLP; Village – Chichni; PS. – Obra; Status – Member of armed unit; Particulars of martyrdom – 27 Mar 1986, killed by the police at Jakhim Rly. Stn. During rifle-snatching
VAISHALI
127. Shyam (Birendra) — Age – 28; Calss – Intellectual; Village – –; Sitamarhi dist.; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 20 Apr. 1981, killed by Kallu Gang
128. Rajeswar Singh — Age – 40; Class – MP; Village – Chandpura; Hazipur Dist.; Status – Secy. of IPF; Particulars of martyrdom – 13 Jan 1985, killed by Kallu Gang
SAMASTIPUR
129. Rajendra Sah (Raju) — Age – 35; Class – Petty bourgeois; Village – Goriamath; PS. – Tajpur; Status – SCM; Particulars of martyrdom – 21 Nov 1977, natural death
130. Kalicharan Roy (Hari) — Age – 21; Class – PP; Village – Rahamatchak; PS. – –; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 14 Jan 1982, killed by the police in Samastipur jail
131. Guneshwar Mahato (Abhaya) — Age – 28; Class – Intellectual; Village – Maldah; PS. – Hasanpur; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 19 Aug 1983, killed by landlords
132. Sukhdeo Roy (Bimal) — Age – 38; Class – –; Village – –; PS. – –; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 6 Aug 1984, killed by landlords
BEGUSARAI
133. Prasanta Kr. Chaudhary (Shiv) — Age – 25; Class – Intellectual; Village – –; PS. – –; Status – SCM; Particulars of martyrdom – 4 May 1976, killed by the police during Bhagalpur jail-break.
134. Kamleshwari Roy (Sushil) — Age – 54; Class – Intellectual; Village – Basdevpur; PS. – –; Status – RCM; Particulars of martyrdom – 20 Jan 1982, natural death
135. Brajesh Mahan Thakur (Balraj) — Age – 24; Class – Intellectual; Village – Meghol; PS. – Khodabanpur Asst. Secy. of Bihar IPF; Particulars of martyrdom – 15 Mar 1986, killed by landlords in Purnea
BHAGALPUR
136. Mahendra Pandit — Age – 30; Class – LLP; Village – Tulsipur; PS. – Naugachhia; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 1973, killed in police lock-up
137. Bibeka Roy (Prabhu) — Age – 18; Class – LLP; Village – Tulsipur; PS. – Naugachhia; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 1973, natural death
138. Sanat Kumar Banerjee (Dilip) — Age – 26; Class – Intellectual; Village – Bainchi; PS. – Hooghly (WB); Status – RCM; Particulars of martyrdom – Jan 1978, natural death
MUZAFFARPUR
139. Sripati Mahato — Age – –; Class – PP; Village – Sakra; PS. – Mushahari; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – –, Mushahari struggle
140. Sankar Sahi — Age – –; Class – Intellectual; Village – Jalalpur; PS. – Mushahari; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – –, Mushahari struggle
141. Vijay Sahi — Age – –; Class – Intellectual; Village – Jalalpur; PS. – Mushahari; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – –, Mushahari struggle
142. Mahesh Jha — Age – –; Class – Intellectual; Village – Jalalpur; PS. – Mushahari; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – –, Mushahari struggle
143. Bhola Pandit — Age – –; Class – PP; Village – Patepur; PS. – Mushahari; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – –, Mushahari struggle
144. Pashupati Verma — Age – –; Class – MP; Village – Patepur; PS. – Mushahari; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – –, Mushahari struggle
145. Sachchida Singh — Age – –; Class – MP; Village – Ratanpur; PS. – Mushahari; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – –, Mushahari struggle
146. Raj Kishor Singh — Age – –; Class – Intellectual; Village – Gangapur; PS. – Mushahari; Status – CCM of undivided CPI(ML); Particulars of martyrdom – –, Mushahari struggle
147. Ashok Singh — Age – –; Class – Intellectual; Village – Gangapur; PS. – Mushahari; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – –, Mushahari struggle
148. Taslim — Age – –; Class – Intellectual; Taroora; PS. – Mushahari; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – –, Mushahari struggle
149. Lakhan Dev Ram — Age – –; Class – LLP; Village – Paru; PS. – Mushahari; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – –, Mushahari struggle
150. Ram Sogarth Ram — Age – –; Class – PP; Village – Bochahari; PS. – Mushahari; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – –, Mushahari struggle
151. Mahendra Ram — Age – –; Class – LLP; Village – Manika; PS. – Mushahari; Status – Activist; Particulars of martyrdom – –, Mushahari struggle
152. Mahesh Thakur — Age – 30; Class – Intellectual; Village – Chapata; PS. – Vaishali dist.; Status – Professional revolutionary; Particulars of martyrdom – 31 July 1974, killed by warder at Muzaffarpur Central Jail
153. Devendra Nath Sharma — Age – 26; Class – Intellectual; Village – Purushottampur; PS. – Muzaffarpur dist.; Status – Professional revolutionary; Particulars of martyrdom – 31 July 1974, killed by warder at Muzaffarpur Central Jail
154. Mahesh Sharma — Age – –; Class – Intellectual; Village – Pilkhi; PS. – Muzaffarpur dist.; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 31 July 1974, killed by warder at Muzaffarpur Central Jail
155. Ganapati Ram — Age – –; Class – –; Village – –; PS. – Parthu; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – Aug 1979, killed by landlords
EAST CHAMPARAN
156. Gombhira Sah — Age – –; Class – MP; Village – –; PS. – Chouradano; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 3 July 1977, killed in the chouradano police lock-up
157. Madan — Age – –; Class – Intellectual; Village – –; PS. – Chouradano; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 5 Sept 1977, killed by landlords
HAZARIBAGH
158. Prabhu — Age – –; Class – –; Village – –; PS. – –; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 21 May 1974, killed by the police at Pratappur (Hazaribagh)
159. Rajendra — Age – –; Class – –; Village – –; PS. – –; Status – Cadre; Particulars of martyrdom – 21 May 1974, killed by the police at Pratappur (Hazaribagh)
PALAMAU
160. Krishna Singh — Age – 33; Class – –; Village – Badem; PS. – Nabinagar; Status – Member of State Organising committee, COC, CPI(ML), Party Unity and GS of MKSS; Particulars of martyrdom – 17 June 1984, killed by landlords at Alintar village (Japla PS, Palamau)
161. Ramashis — Age – 28; Cass – LLP; Village – –; PS. – –; Status – A cadre of COC, CPI(ML), (Party Unity); Particulars of martyrdom – 22 Jan 1985, died in action against the murderer of Krishna Singh
MADHUBANI
162. Narayan Thakur — Age – –; Class – Intellectual; Village – Ghorbanki; PS. – –; Status – Professional revolutionary; Particulars of martyrdom – 1976, killed by landlords
Names in brackets are the ones by which the comrades concerned were known in Party circles. Abbreviations used : LLP = Landless Peasant, PP = Poor Peasant, LMP = Lower-middle Peasant, MP = Middle Peasant, RP = Rich Peasant ACM=Member of an Area Committee, RCM = Member of a Regional Committee, SCM—Member of a State Committee, CCM=-Member of the Central Committee, GS—General Secretary of the Party.
If sympathisers and general peasant masses are also taken into account, the martyrs’ list will become more than twice as long. We have been able to collect minimum informations about 168 such martyrs. Districtwise, the figures are—Patna : 78, Bhojpur : 22, Gaya : 33, Nalanda : 5, Aurangabad : 21, Madhubani : 6, Vaishali : 2, Begusarai : 1;
Finally, here are short life-sketches of a small cross-section of martyrs.
Com. Subrata Dutt (Jouhar) (1946—29.11.75)
Comrade Subrata Dutt was born in a middle class family of Calcutta. His father was a founder-leader of the Students’ Federation in Bengal. In 1953 he joined the Hindustan Times as a journalist and the Dutt, with their four sons and two daughters, moved to Delhi. It was in Delhi that Jouhar spent his early student-life, passing with distinction the School Leaving Certificate examination in 1961 from the Raisina Bengali High School. After that he returned to Calcutta and joined the Guest Keen Williams as an apprentice.
In Calcutta Jouhar came to identify himself with the growing tide of anti-imperialist, anty Congress awakening in its diverse expressions, and joined the communist movement. During the 1962 India-China war he resolutely stood against the wave of chauvinism. He also took keen interest in the film society movement and other progressive cultural activities and was a founder-member of the South Calcutta Cine Club. After the 1964 split in the CPI, Jouhar rejected the old revisionist leadership to join the CPI(M). But this fight against revisionism continued in this new party, and following the Naxalbari peasant uprising as the struggle against neo-revisionism mounted within the CPI(M) Jouhar revolted and left the party. After a short stint with the MMG group, he joined the CPI(ML) and soon left his job to become a professional revolutionary. His first responsibility was to organise the peasantry in the Bengal-Bihar border region of Chhotanagpur.
While working under the Bengal-Bihar Border Regional Committee, Com Jouhar firmly defended the revolutionary essence of the Party line against all sorts of attacks both from within and without. Soon he became a member of the Bihar State Committee of the Party. Following the martyrdom of Com. Charu Mazumdar and the arrest of almost the entire leadership of the Bihar State Committee, when the Party in Bihar found itself in dire straits, Com. Jouhar came forward to resuscitate the Party. Through a relentless two-pronged struggle against both left and right diviations, Com. Jouhar led the reorganisation of the Party in Bihar (Interestingly, for him this struggle also had a personal implication as his father preferred to remain with the left-adventurist camp led by Mahadev Mukherjee). Subsequently, following the reorganisation of the Central Committee on 28 July, 1974, he was elected its secretary. It was under the leadership of the reorganised Central Committee headed by Com. Jouhar that the peasant struggle in Bihar entered the new revolutionary phase.
While making all possible efforts to reorganise the Party and to give it an all-India shape, simultaneously Com. Jouhar worked hand in hand with the rank and file for developing the struggle in Bhojpur. And it was on the soil of Bhojpur (Babubandh, Sahar) that he finally embraced martyrdom on 29 November, 1975, in a surprise attack by the reactionary armed police force. In an all-out bid to safeguard their leader, his comrades-in-arms also laid down their lives, but in vain.
Com. Sadhir Ranjan (Rabi) (1951—9.4.76)
Born in a rich family of Dhanagaon (Gaya), Com. Sudhir Ranjan was attracted towards revolutionary politics in the early 70s while he was a student of B N College, Patna. At the call of the Party, he soon left his college-career to devote himself completely to the task of rousing and organising the peasant masses in Bikram and Phoolwarisharif blocks of Patna. Through arduous work and relentless struggle he attained the fine qualities of a revolutionary intellectual, combining, with equal sincerity, theoretical work with wide-ranging practical work. Always first in shouldering harder responsibilities and last in claiming comfort and privileges, Com. Rabi earned the confidence of the Party within a short span of time. In quick succession, he was appointed first as the secretary of an area organisation and then as the editor of Lokyudh (State Party organ) and member of the State Committee of the Party. Following the martyrdom of almost all the leading cadres and armed fighters in the Ghorahuan incident, be came forward to take the charge of the Patna-Gaya region and devoted himself to reorganising the Party organisation, armed forces and the peasant movement. Just two months after the Second Party Congress which had elected him as a member of the Central Committee, he was arrested and brutally killed by the police in Basuarh (Poonpoon PS ) on 9 April, 1976.
Com. Jagdish Prasad (Mastersahab) (10.12.35—10.12.72)
Born in a Koiri middle peasant family of Ekwari (Sahar, Bhojpur). Com. Jagdish Prasad always worked for the welfare of the downtrodden. Frustrated with the CPI(M)’s collaboration with feudal oppressors, he and his friends had initially started dreaming of building a harijanistan where harijans would at least be able to live with dignity. At this juncture, Naxalbari peasant uprising showed the way, and leaving his job of a science teacher in the Town School of Arrah, Mastersahab returned to his village to prepare the ground for a new India where power would belong to the people. A founder-leader of the Party in Bhojpur and an architect of the Bhojpur peasant uprising, Mastersahab was a beloved leader of the people and a veritable terror to the tyrant feudal forces and their henchmen. The reactionaries finally managed to get rid of him by killing him in a brutal fashion in a surprise attack in Behea Bazar. His close comrade-in-arms and a harijan-turned-proletarian vanguard, Com. Ramayan Ram, also embraced martyrdom while trying to save his leader from the cultches of the goons. At the time of his martyrdom, Mastersahab was a member of the Bihar State Committee of the Party.
Com. Rameshwar Ahir (Sadhuji) (1942- 14.1.75)
A legendary figure of the Bhojpur peasant struggle, Com. Rameshwar was born in a middle peasant family of Ekwari. Dropping out of school after the seventh standard he had first drifted into a dance troupe. But out of hatred for upper-caste landlords, militant Rameshwar subsequently turned a rebel, joined a dacoit gang, and had to suffer imprisonment for a considerable length of time. The surging peasant movement of the late 60s, however, ushered in a great change in Rameshwar’s course of life. He came in touch with Mastersahab and became a foremost figure of the peasant struggle in Bhojpur. Popularly known as Sadhuji, Com. Rameshwar died a martyr in an encounter with the police at Sonatola in Sahar on 14 January, 1975.
Com. Gyaneswar Yadav (Nagendra) (1950—May ’75)
Born in a rich peasant family of Ekrashi (Bhojpur), Com. Gyaneshwar began his political life as a ‘Red Guard’ among the lower sections of peasants and other rural poor around Patna. At that time he was a student of B. N. College, Patna. Soon he left his studies and joined the movement as a professional revolutionary. A sathi (companion) in their sorrows and sufferings, and an organiser of their struggles, Com. Nagendra boldly roused and mobilised the peasant masses in anti-feudal struggles and developed peasants, armed guerrilla squads and revolutionary village committees. Till the final moment of his martyrdom in the heroic resistance against the police in the famous Ghorahuan incident, Com. Nagendra, a founder-member of the Party organisation as well as of the revolutionary peasant movement in rural Patna, worked as a disciplined soldier of the Party, who boldly asserted his own ideas and understandings but always submitted himself to the majority. He died a martyr as the secretary of the Patna-Gaya Regional Committee and a member of the Bihar State Committee of the Party.
Com. Prasant Knmar Choudhary (Shiv) (1951—4.5.76)
Born in a renowned intellectual family of Bihar, Com. Prasant was a brilliant student of the Patna Medical College. Deeply influenced by the Naxalbari peasant uprising, he gave up all illusions of bourgeois careerism and by 1970 he devoted himself completely to the task of developing revolutionary peasant struggles in Bihar. Soon he was arrested and kept in the Bankipur Central Jail, Patna, but by 1974 he was again in the midst of the class struggle in the countryside, thanks to a successful jail-break. He became the secretary of the Nawada-Bihar Regional Committee and a member of the Bihar State Committee of the Party, But in 1975 he again got arrested and embraced martyrdom alongwith a number of comrades while attempting to break the Bhagalpur Central Jail on 4 May, 1976.
Com. Rajendra Sah (Raju) (1942—21.11.77)
Com. Rajendra came of a middle-class family of Samastipur district. He left his studies in 1968 and joined the movement as a professional revolutionary. He died a martyr on 21 November, 1976, succumbing to a chronic heart disease. At that time he was in charge of Party work in North Bihar and was a member of the Bihar State Committee of the Party.
Com. Rajendra Prasad (Ratan) (1950—29.11.75)
Born in a progressive middle-class family of Keshat, the CPI’s ‘Moscow’, Com. Rajendra grew up watching ‘communists’ collaborate with the hated landed gentry and ask the oppressed rural poor to rally behind the oppressors. The riddle was finally solved as he came to be acquainted with the path of Naxalbari. A science graduate from the Maharaja College of Arrah, young Rajendra took up the challenge of transforming the CPI’s ‘Moscow’ into a foreground of revolutionary peasant struggle. By January 1972, he was fully engaged in the task of mobilising the peasants in a militant movement. Unhesitant in criticising any mistake, whether comrnitted by himself or others, Com. Ratan earned the deep confidence, love and affection of all his comrades and the people within the short span of his revolutionary life. He sacrificed his life in Babubandh (Sahar) trying to safeguard Com. Jouhar. At that time he was a member of the Bhojpur Regional Committee and courier of Com. Jouhar.
Com. Nirmal Mahto (1.1.48—29.11.75)
Com. Nirmal was born in a Koiri middle peasant family of Barora village in Sandesh block. He was a very brilliant student. In 1965 he matriculated from Garbani, Piro in the first division. After completing his B. Sc. from the H. D. Jain College, Arrah, Nirmal moved to the Patna Science College, to do his master’s degree in 1968. It was here in Patna that he got attracted towards communism. Subsequently he secured admission in a medical college at Lahe-riasarai, Darbhanga. Here he organised a group of fellow leftist students and came in touch with Naxalism. Since then Dr. Nirmal, as he came to be popularly known among his comrades and the people, devoted himself to rousing and organising the peasant masses. After breaking through the police encirclement at Bahuara in the beginning of July ’75, Com. Nirmal finally embraced martyrdom at Babubandh on 29 November, 1975,
Com. Prakash Chandra Mukherjee (Gopi) (1947—May ’75)
A mechanic in Patna, Com. Prakash left his job in 1968 to fully devote himself to the work of spreading the message of Naxalbari among the peasants of rural Patna. Within a year he got arrested, but by 1974 he came out of the jail, playing a leading role in the successful revolt and jail-break in Bankipur Central Jail, Patna. Once again he took up the task of organising revolutionary peasant struggle in Patna and it was in the countryside of Patna that he finally died a martyr in May ’75 putting up a heroic resistance against police encirclement at Ghorahuan (Poonpoon),
Com. Ramdas Yadav (Lalan) (1942—4.5.76)
Born and brought up in a worker family of Jamalluddin-chak, Khagul (Patna), Com. Ramdas, himself a railway worker, always stood in the forefront of working-class movement. He played an active role in organising the 1969 general railway strike. He joined the Party in 1970 and gradually developed himself as a working-class Party cadre. At the call of the Party, he left his job in April 1973 to engage himself completely in the task of organising agrarian revolution in the countryside of Bihar. He was arrested of 25 August 1973, and subsequently he took a leading part in the revolt at Bankipur Central Jail, Patna, on 4 November, 1974. The jail-break was successful, but he got re-arrested. He again played a leading role in the revolt at Bhagalpur Central Jail on 4 May, 1976, but this time he died a martyr.
Com. Jai Govind Paswan (1935—17.11.81)
Born in a landless peasant family of Dumra (Arrah Mufassil), Com. Jai Govind Paswan had joined the Rohtas Industries (Dalmianagar) as a worker. Soon he came to be established as a popular, militant leader of the trade union. Simultaneously he also developed a workers’ Party unit. In 1974 he left the job and moved to the countryside of Bhojpur to organise the peasants. Thanks to his hard-working nature, art of simple propaganda and agitational speeches, he succeeded in mobilising a great number of people within a short span of time. Gradually he became the political commissar of an armed guerrilla unit. Later he was entrusted with the task of organising peasant struggle in Dumraon area. The ground for today’s Mathila land movement was prepared by none other than Com. Vikas. He was arrested and killed by the police during a night-march near Mathila on 17 November, 1981.
Com. Mukhtar Ahmed (Jivan) (1958-17.11.81.)
An intelligent youth from a middle-class Muslim family of Saihar (Bhojpur) and an energetic participant in student movements of his time, Com. Jivan joined the ranks of organisers of the Bhojpur peasant struggle in January, 1974. Driven by his youthful zeal, soon he was found taking part in rifle-snatching from a police camp in Dumraon. However, he promptly shifted attention to deep-going political work, organising the youth in communist study circles while working among the peasantry. Gradually he turned into a good organiser—he built up a propoganda network to conduct political propaganda among the people, including the middle strata among upper castes, of 25 to 30 villages of Dumraon and developed local activists, people’s armed forces as well as revolutionary village committees. He paid serious attention to investigation and study and derived many a creative idea from practice. In exposing and isolating the CPI in his area—ideologically, politically as well as organisationally—he played an important role. Alongwith Com. Vikas and Com. Narsing, he was also encircled, arrested and killed by the police during a night-march near Mathila on 17 November, 1981. He died a martyr as a member of the Bhojpur-Rohtas Regional Committee.
Com. Kamaleshwari Rai (Sushilji) (1928—20.1.82.)
Born in a lower-middle class family of Basdevpur (Begusarai), Com. Kamaleshwari Rai had joined the communist movement wayback in 1954. During the Naxalbari-inspired struggle against revisionism he finally broke away from the revisionist leadership and joined the revolutionary camp. No hardship or hurdle could deter him for a moment from the task of organising the people and standing by them. He was jailed in 1971 and underwent severe torture. But that could not weaken his high communist morale a bit: with his release in 1977 he once again resumed his work on the peasant front, and remained a staunch communist fighter till he breathed his last. With the profound wisdom of a veteran, spirit of a youth and simplicity of a child, Com. Sushil was really worthy of the name by which his beloved comrades-in-arms addressed him. At the time of his demise he was a member of the East Bihar Regional Committee of the Party.
Com Sanat Kumar Banerjee (Dilip) (1952—Jan ’78)
Com. Sanat came of a small jotedar family of Bainchi-gram of Burdwan district in the West Bengal He was attracted towards Naxalism while he was a student. By 1970 he left his studies to join the movement as a professional revolutionary. After working for a few months in an industrial area of West Bengal, he started working among the Bihar peasantry since 1971. And he continued this painstaking work for seven long years till he breathed his last in January 1978.
Com. Gombhira Sah ( — 3.7.77)
Born in a middle peasant family in a village in Choura-dano PS of East Champaran district, Com. Gombhira emerged as a militant mass leader and a popular Party organiser in his area. Initially he was with another communist revolutionary group, and by 1975-76 be came in contact with our Party. In 1977 he organised a militant peasant movement in Chouradano which soon assumed the proportions of an upsurge. Alarmed at this growth of peasant militancy, the local landlords and their henchmen decided to finish him off. Finally on 3 July, 1977 Com, Gombhira was done to death in Chouradano police custody. As the news of his martyrdom spread, peasants came out from nearby villages with whatever traditional weapons they could get hold of, and seeing this 7,000-strong funeral procession the policemen in the Darpa police camp all fled to the Chouradano police station. The broad peasant masses vowed to complete the unfulfilled tasks of Com. Gombhira and 20 peasant cadres became full-time cadres. Since then every year July 3 is observed as the martyrs’ day in this area.
Com. Gopal Prasad (1947—25.6.85)
A village doctor in Makrauta village of Nalanda and a popular peasant mass leader, Com, Gopal successfully led the peasants of the area to many a victory against tyrant landlords. He was president of the Hilsa Block Committee and vice-president of the Nalanda District Committee of the BPKS. During ‘Operation Task Force’ he was brutally killed by the police in broad day-light in the morning of 25 June, 1985.
Com. Brajesh Mohan Thakur (Balraj) (23 8.62—15.3.86)
Born in a middle peasant family of Meghol village (Khodabanpur PS) of Begusarai district, Com, Brajesh came in contact with the Party in 1981 while he was a student. Soon he became active in student movement as well as in anti-autocratic movement and began to work as a professional revolutionary. He was a member of the East Bihar Regional Committee of our Party since 1982 and since 1985 he was working on the peasant front. He was a member of the National Council of the IPF and an Assistant Secretary of its Bihar unit. At a very young age he shouldered so many responsibilities with great seriousness, and through his simplicity, hard work, warm behaviour, daring initiative and firm faith on the Party, he earned for himself a special place in the hearts of numerous Party activists and the masses. Great potentials promised by Com. Brajesh got buried as he met an extremely premature end, being hacked to death by blood-thirsty landlords of Purnea district, a declining bastion of age-old feudal survivals.
Com. Premchand Ram (Kesho) (1957—6.7 85)
A landless peasant youth of Bhadwar village of Bhojpur, Com. Premchand led the people of his village in scores of struggle against feudal forces. In 1975 he joined an armed guerrilla unit of our Party and since then he participated in several successful armed actions against landlords and their goons as well as the police and paramilitary forces. Gradually, Com. Kesho achieved a significant development in his theoretical, political and organisational abilities to emerge as a fine Party organiser. He was a delegate to the Third Party Congress. He was a model for his proletarian firmness, creative thinking and comradely behaviour. Com. Kesho sacrificed his life while performing an arduous task specially entrusted on him by the Party. He was then in charge of the Party’s work in Rohtas district.
Com. Totaman Paswan (Jiut) (1957—14.11 85)
Com. Jiut was born in a poor peasant family of Baruha village in Brahmpur PS of Bhojpur district. Militant and brave, Jiut was a fighter per excellence. He had tremendous patience and initiative which enabled him to effectively tackle any situation, however difficult and adverse. He was also a successful organiser of peasants’ mass resistance against armed attacks of the enemy. Like Com. Kesho, he, too, had greatly developed his theoretical and political level over the years. A veritable terror to the enemy, Com. Jiut was shot dead by the coward police of the reactionary government while he was asleep in a shelter. At that time he was a member of the Bhojpur-Rohtas District Leading Team of the Party and in charge of the armed units of the two districts.
Com. Birda Manjhi (1935—May ’75)
A landless peasant of Dehri village in Poonpoon PS of Patna district, Com. Birda was a militant fighter and a popular leader of the landless and poor peasants of his village. He died a martyr during the Ghorahuan encounter with the police in May 1975. The landless and poor peasants of Dehri and nearby villages still do not believe that Com. Birda could have possibly been killed by the police.
Com. Puran Ram (Butan) (1953—2.7.75)
Com. Butan came of a landless peasant family of Baruna village in Sahar P.S. of Bhojpur district. He was probably the first Musahar to complete his matriculation in the entire district. After working for some time in a biscuit factory, Butan came to Calcutta in search of a job. But he returned to his village armed with the ideology of Naxalism. In 1973 he became a whole-time cadre of the Party. Soon Butan ‘Master’, as he was affectionately called by the people whom he taught to read and write, became a frontranking commander of the ‘Red Army’ of his time. He embraced martyrdom on 2 July, 1975, in the famous battle of Bahuara (Sahar, Bhojpur) after holding out against a massive contingent of CRP and Jat Regiment forces for no less than 65 hours.
Com. Narayan Mahto (Kaviji) (1921—31.3.76)
Born in a poor peasant family of Semraon village in Charpokhri PS of Bhojpur Com. Narayan received formal education only upto the seventh standard, but he grew up to be a rhymester, a gifted ‘kavi’ of the people. Deeply influenced by the Naxalbari peasant uprising, Narayan Kavi joined the Party in the early 70s. With his songs serving as a fountainhead of inspiration and courage for the struggling masses, Kaviji became a target of the government and its police. On many an occasion he was able to give the police the slip, notable among them being the Bahuara encirclement on 2 July, 1975, and the police cordon in Baruhi village on 17 August, 1974. But finally on 31 March, 1976, in the early hours of the morning he got trapped in the police cordon while walking from Gurpa village to Hanuman-Chapra, a village close to Ekwari, in Sahar. Kaviji died a martyr bequeathing a bouquet of songs and courage to his people.
Com. Suresh Mahto (1962—2.6.75)
Martyred at the age of 13, Com. Suresh is the youngest of the martyrs of the Bihar peasant struggle. Son of martyr Comrade Narayan Kavi, Suresh started working as a regular Party activist at the age of ten. Once the police beat him for hours but could not extract a single piece of information regarding the whereabouts of his revolutionary father. On 2, June, 1975 he was hacked to pieces by the notorious landlords of Hadiabad village in Jagdishpur PS as they went on a rampage in the Harijantola.
Com. Sonamati (Agni) (1950—31.12 75)
Com. Agni belonged to a shopkeeper family of Sandesh village of Bhojpur. Wife of martyr Comrade Anant Lal Gupta, she left her two children back at home to devote herself exclusively to the work of the Party. She was appointed political commissar of the Second Armed Unit of Women. Despite acute ulcer, she participated in hard manual labour as well, e.g, carrying soil in baskets to help others carry on digging a tunnel. She developed a revolutionary committee in Pinjrohi village and assisted Com. Lahari in forming a guerrilla squad there. She embraced martyrdom alongwith Com. Lahari, fighting against the police encirclement in Pinjrohi on 31 December, 1975.
Com. Lahari (1957—31.12.75)
A Landless peasant woman of Ramasaar village in Sandesh block of Bhojpur, Com. Lahari experienced severe economic exploitation as well as social oppression throughout her life: whether at home or in her father-in-law’s house. Once, when she came home after marriage, she came in contact with the Party. She was so attracted by the Party’s aims and objectives that she immediately decided to join it. In the face of strong opposition from elders against her unique decision, one night she secretly walked out of the house to join the armed unit. While in the unit, she vigorously aroused the peasant masses in the struggle for liberation from all exploitation and oppression. Within a short period, she became the commander of the Second Armed Unit of Women then operating in Sandesh block. She concentrated her work in Pinjrohi village where she led the peasants in many a struggle against the landlords. In the early hours of the morning of 31 December, 1975, a posse of 300 armed policemen acting on a tip-off, encircled the Harijantola of Pinjrohi. Com. Lahari immediately mobilised the villagers in a heroic resistance against the police, and as many as four times she was able to temporarily push the enemy back. But as she ran out of ammunitions she was cowardly shot dead by the police.
Com Sheila Chatterjee (Tutu) (1956—10.10.76)
Com. Sheila came of an intellectual family. She was a student when she joined the Party as a whole-time cadre. Through a hard struggle she integrated herself with the landless and poor peasants of Bhojpur. Loyal, sincere and resolute, Com. Sheila embraced martyrdom during a resistance struggle against police encirclement in Ekwari (Sahar) on 10 October, 1976.
Com. Jeerwa Devi ( —June ’82)
A landless peasant woman of Gandharmath in Ghosi block of Gaya, Com. Jeerwa Devi led the woman of her village in struggle for wages and land as well as against sexual oppression and social discrimination. In June ’82, when she was marching in the forefront of a BPKS procession towards Ghosi alongwith her fellow village-women to protest against the murder of martyr comrade Sankar Choudhary, a peasant cadre of Sahobigha village, the police and landlords jointly opened fire on the procession near Gorhsar village. With the BPKS banner in her hand, Jeerwa Devi dropped dead while many others suffered injuries.
Photo of Some Others Martyrs
Photo of Some Others Martyrs
Photo of Some Others Martyrs
Others Photos
the murder of Com. Brajesh Mohan Thakur
memory of Kaithi martyrs
against Arwal massacre
