Azad had a band of young associates and they had issued several warnings to the British government. The warnings were merely angry reactions because the group had no definite plans, ideology, organisation or resources and no know-how.
When the ‘Benaras Conspiracy’ leader Shachindranath Sanyal was sent to Andeman, better know as Kala Pani to serve life sentence it appeared as if the revolutionary movement had fizzled out. The revolutionaries of Bengal had been conducting most of the militant activities in India. They had built up networks in other states. Their aim was to destroy British Empire through armed struggle. Now they were in jails or lying underground inactive.
In 1920, as a peace move the government released all the arrested or imprisoned revolutionaries. Sanyal too was freed. He took advantage of this opportunity and raised a new revolutionary group. This organisation gained strength in fast time. U.P. was the main area of its activities. Meanwhile, there was a revolutionary outfit in Bengal named ‘Implementation Committee’ that was active. Both the organisation were conducting the activities separately in different ways. But their aims were same and identical. In the changed situation, they realised it and came together to for a strong ‘Hindustan Republican Association.’ This party wanted to establish Republic through armed revolution. That was the time when Indians had no voting rights. The weaker sections of the society were mercilessly being exploited. Therefore, the party decided to make the voting rights to citizens (Adult Franchise) and the upliftment of the exploited classes as its main agenda.
The members of this revolutionary party spread all over UP. In Benaras, a few members were doing good work of implementing the programmes of the party. Azad chanced to meet a youngman named Pranvesh who was a dedicated worker of the said revolutionary party. He was impressed with young Azad and enrolled him into the membership of the party. After becoming a member Azad met great revolutionaries like Ram Prasad Bismil. It was the beginning of the revolutionary career of Azad. He took the revolutionary thinking and activities of the party as fish takes to water. Azad was where he always wanted to be. All the young comrades were full of courage and bravery. They wouldn’t shirk from throwing a challenge to British government. The young revolutionaries were so dedicated that they didn’t mind doing party work or executing plans without eating for long periods.
The party needs as many more youngman as its members as it could enrol. Here Azad proved his worth. He worked hard to bring in more youth. It was a very delicate operation. Every Tom, Dick and Harry couldn’t be made a member of a revolutionary party targeted by CID and the police. Azad went around in Sadhu guise or Panditji guise, met the young people, talked to them, found out their backgrounds and political leanings before asking them to join the party. Due to his diligent work the party gained a large number of new members.
Robberies for a noble cause
The party needed funds to carry on its programmes and plans. There was not apparent source of the party’s income. What was the solution? The party couldn’t ask for funds from the public like Congress could. No individual could help them for fear of the law. In such hopeless situation someone suggested a robbery and it was accepted. Ram Prasad Bismil was to lead the operation ‘Robbery.’ A group set out looking for a suitable target. They reached a village near Fatehpur town in the evening. Some villagers saw them and asked, “Where do you go, youngman?”
“On an invitation, brother,” a youngman replied.
“At whose home?”
“The headman of the village.”
There was a lot of hue and cry when the group of the aggressive looking strange youngmen reached the house of the headman. The noise brought the neighbours out and a crowd gathered around the house. Several youngmen had barged into the house and begun the plunder. Many of the revolutionaries stayed out to hold the villagers at sway at gun points. The word went around that the robbers had struck.
Azad had clearly instructed every youngman to stay away from women. They were in no way to be outraged or dishonoured, Azad was particular about it. He believed that only showing respect to woman would make their patriotism fruitful. The young revolutionaries were asked to stay calm and bear it even if women attacked. The revolutionaries inside the house drove out the men folk. But they could say nothing to the womenfolk and appeared avoiding them as if in awe. This strange behaviour gave the woman clue to the weakness of the youngmen.
They pushed back the youngmen and began manhandling them when no resistance was offered. The youngmen stood or backed out in confusion. This emboldened the women to become aggressive. They took away the guns from the hands of the youngmen. When Bismil saw the situation getting out of hand he signalled to his comrades to flee. Now there was the danger of the villagers attacking them. So, the youngmen ran away leaving behind the loot and their guns.
The revolutionary party was in real trouble. There was no money to finance any activity. Azad was getting more and more worried. He was going around to raise some money. One day he met an acquaintance who called him out and remarked, “What is the matter, brother Chandra Shekhar? You look very worried. What is eating you?”
“You are right, friend. I am worried about money. I am in bad need of it. I wonder from where I can get it?” Azad confided.
“Strange! The revolutionary like you should not suffer for want of money. If you like you can raise lacs of rupees anytime you want.”
“Tell me how?” Azad asked.
“A rich man lives in a nearby village. He has tons of money. I know the people who work for him. We can rob him. My men would be there inside and outside. No problem. We can strike tonight.”
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