Sukumar Ghosh-A distinguished revolutionary of Bengal

A prominent revolutionary, Sukumar Ghosh was a key member of the Bengal Volunteers of Hemchandra Ghosh. He was associated with the planning of all major secret society activities in the early 1930s.

Not much is known about his place of birth, parentage, early life, and education.

In 1934, Governor General of Bengal, John Anderson appointed village guards with ruffians to keep track of the movement of the revolutionaries, which ultimately led to their large-scale arrest.

On 19 April 1934, Sukumar Ghosh and Madhu Banerjee met in Matilal’s home in Deobhog but were interrupted by the village guards while they were on their way back. Ramjan Mian lost his life after he was shot during the scuffle. Even though Sukumar and Madhu managed to escape, Matilal was arrested by the police. Matilal was later hanged to death.

Following the incident, the Bengal Volunteers leaders made a plan to avenge the death by eliminating Anderson during his Darjeeling tour.

On 8 May, Bhabaniprasad and Ravindranath, with the help of Manoranjan and Ujjwala, shot at Anderson; but they missed the target. They were arrested on the spot.

Two months late, Sukumar Ghosh was arrested from Gardenreach and lodged in Darjeeling Jail. Sukumar was sentenced to twelve years’ rigorous imprisonment in a hurriedly conducted trial. He was later sent to the Cellular Jail.

Three years later, in 1937, Sukumar joined other revolutionaries in the historic hunger strike by the Cellular Jail prisoners for the release of political convicts, repatriation of all, and equal treatment for 45 days.

However, he was also repatriated along with others the next year but was imprisoned in Alipore till his release in 1946. Here also, he participated in the 35 days of a hunger strike to press their demands.