On August 9, 1925, a group of young revolutionaries from the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) carried out a daring train robbery near Kakori, a village close to Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Their target was the 8 Down Saharanpur–Lucknow passenger train, which was carrying government treasury funds collected from various railway stations. The revolutionaries, led by Ram Prasad Bismil, included Ashfaqullah Khan, Rajendra Lahiri, Chandrashekhar Azad, Manmathnath Gupta, and several others. Their objective was not personal gain but to fund their revolutionary activities aimed at overthrowing British colonial rule.
The plan was meticulously crafted. On the day of the action, the revolutionaries boarded the train at different stations and pulled the emergency chain near Kakori to bring it to a halt. Armed with Mauser pistols, they overpowered the guard and broke into the iron safe containing approximately ₹4,600—money that symbolized British economic exploitation. The revolutionaries reassured passengers that they were not in danger, stating clearly that their target was government property. However, during the operation, a passenger named Ahmad Ali was accidentally killed, which later complicated the legal proceedings.
The British government responded with swift and severe action. A massive manhunt was launched, and within months, most of the revolutionaries were arrested. In the subsequent trial, known as the Kakori Conspiracy Case, four revolutionaries—Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Rajendra Lahiri, and Thakur Roshan Singh—were sentenced to death and hanged in 1927. Others received long prison sentences. The incident marked a turning point in India’s revolutionary movement, inspiring future leaders like Bhagat Singh and leading to the transformation of HRA into the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in 1928.
The Kakori Train Action was more than a robbery—it was a symbolic strike against colonial oppression and a testament to Hindu-Muslim unity, especially embodied in the friendship between Bismil and Ashfaqullah. As India commemorated the 100th anniversary of the event in 2025, tributes poured in from across the country, and calls were made to expand its academic coverage so that future generations could appreciate the sacrifices made by these unsung heroes.
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Kakori Incident in Nut Shell
- Incident: Involved the robbery of the Number 8 down-train travelling from Shahjahanpur to Lucknow of its official cash to be used for revolutionary activities against the British state.
- Key Personalities Involved: Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Chandrashekhar Azad, Manmathnath Gupta, Rajendra Lahiri (Revolutionaries of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA)).
- Reaction of the British Government
- Quick and Hard: Arrested a large number of revolutionaries and tried them in the Kakori Conspiracy Case (1925).
- Led to the hanging of Ashfaqulla Khan, Ramprasad Bismil, Roshan Singh and Rajendra Lahiri.
- Aftermath of the Incident
- Caused a setback to the revolutionaries of northern India but not a fatal blow.
- Reorganisation of the HRA to Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA).
HRA became HSRA
- HRA was formed in Kanpur in 1924 .
- Key Personalities Associated: Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, Sachindra Nath Bakshi, Sachindranath Sanyal, and Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee.
- Basic Principle: Establishment of a Federal Republic of the United States of India where the basic principle would be adult suffrage.
- HSRA was formed in Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi in 1928.
- Key Personalities Associated: Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Shiv Verma, Chandra Shekhar Azad and Vijay Kumar Sinha
- Basic Principle: Goal of establishing a Socialist Republic.
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Prelims Practice Questions
1. In the famous Kakori Conspiracy Case (August 1925) which of the following revolutionaries was not hanged?
(a) Ram Prasad Bismil
(b) Asafaqualla Khan
(c) Bhagat Singh
(d) Roshan Singh
2.Ram Prasad Bismil was associated with which of the following revolutionary activities?
- Mainpuri Conspiracy (1918)
- Kakori Conspiracy (1925)
- Chittagong Armoury Raid (1930)
Select the correct answer using the code below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 2 only
3. Ram Prasad Bismil’s poem “Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna” became a rallying cry for
(a) Religious harmony
(b) Social equality
(c) Educating the youth
(d) Revolutionary fervor
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