Sanjeev Sanyal Writes: Love In The Time Of Revolution — The Incredible Life of Ullaskar Dutt

Your Saturday Morning Read

As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Indian Republic, it is worth remembering one of our lesser-known freedom-fighters – Ullaskar Dutt. His remarkable story highlights the extra-ordinary personal sacrifices that made it possible to establish an independent republic. 

Ullaskar Dutt was born in 1885 into an educated family in the village of Kaliakachha, Brahmanbaria, in the Tipperah district of undivided Bengal (now in Bangladesh). His father was an agricultural expert and would later become a Professor in Civil Engineering College in Shibpur. 

Dutt first became interested in the freedom struggle as a result of a fiery speech delivered in Star Theatre Hall by nationalist leader Bipin Chandra Pal (of the famous Lal-Bal-Pal trio). The speech mocked the meek loyalists who then dominated the Indian National Congress. In his book “Twelve Years of Prison Life”, Dutt recounts how it had a profound impact on him.  He was then finishing high school at City College, Calcutta (now Kolkata). 

A few months later, he took the entrance examination and joined Presidency College – then considered the most prestigious academic institution in the country – to study chemistry. It was here that he would meet Leela, the vivacious daughter of Bipin Chandra Pal, and they would fall in love... [continue reading here]