Underground literature played a crucial role in political mobilization in the anti-British struggle in India. There were innumerable pamphlets and journals that steered the Indian masses regardless of class, caste and creed to participate in a unique nationalist movement in which the Mahatma reigned supreme. Apart from projecting a particular ideology, a large chunk of the underground literature also talks about the British atrocity in various forms presumably to demonstrate the ruthlessness of the colonial rule-a strategy that was most effective in the context of the last nationalist offensive, known as the Quit India Movement which has also been described in the contemporary literature as 'the open rebellion. Even before the Movement was formally inaugurated, a cursory perusal of the contemporary proscribed literature reveals its distinctive features that substantially altered the ideology, Gandhi so assiduously nurtured since the 1920-22 Non Cooperation days.
Political pamphlets and journals were published almost every where in India during the Quit India Movement though the major centres were Bombay and Bengal. Of all the publications, Biplabi is a significant milestone in the history of India's freedom struggle for two important reasons. First, in view of the growing interest in the grassroots movements, Biplabi is a highly useful tract in grasping the hitherto unknown socio-political processes that largely account for mass mobilization even under adverse circumstances. Biplabi is therefore not merely a document relevant to a specific reality it also contains those dimensions of organized political activities of transcendental nature. What is most striking is the recurrence of themes that immediately link those fighting against brutality, oppression and exploitation. So, whatever the forms, these articulated themes are universally acceptable to the underprivileged. Hence, its utility as a political treatise which is meaningful and effective enough to start and sustain a mass movement. Secondly, as a political documentary, the tract has brought out the versatile and diverse nature of the Gandhi-led nationalist movement at the grassroots in the context of the 1942 open rebellion. It has also shown the extent to which the local issues figured prominently in articulating protest in the villages of Bengal. By continuously harping on local grievances the journal sustained the tempo of the rebellion despite the absence of the top level district leadership.
There are altogether 75 issues, each comprising two pages on an average. While translating the entire run of the journal into English, ample care has been taken to sustain the original spirit of its content. Several passages with names of those, harassed, tortured and imprisoned by the British during the struggle, have been deleted to ascertain continuity in the text. Furthermore, the inclusion of a glossary and explanatory bottom notes clearly captures the nuances of Biplabi that succeeded in infusing a new zeal to the Quit India movement in the district. As Biplabi is an important part of the relatively unknown chapter of the freedom struggle, a select bibliography seems to be most relevant to aquaint the reader with the contemporary literature on the subject. Hence, it has been included in the volume.
The idea of publishing the journal in English for a wider audience was mooted during my association with the University of lowa, USA as a faculty member in the Department of Asian Civilization. It was Dr. Paul Greenough of the Department who encouraged me to plunge into such a gigantic task and with his profound knowledge of Bengal villages, he helped me a lot at every stages of this work. Without his support, it would not have been possible to complete the project. I fondly remember Adriene who never allowed me to feel home-sick in lowa by being accessible even in the midst of lier busy schedule. Gillian, with her natural charm and ready wit, was a wonderful break during the monotonous academic fiat.
While working on the project. I had interacted with those 'nationalist rebels in Midnapur who with their unflinching dedication and commitment to India's freedom stood apart in the history of India's freedom struggle. I am grateful to all of them because without their unconditional support, the project would not have taken-off. I am also thankful to the Indian Council of Historical Research for having financially supported my proposal on Biplabi.
Finally, the project would have taken longer to complete without the cooperation and warnin encouragement of my friends and relatives in Delhi and Calcutta who would like to remain anonymous.
Biplabi a text of the 1942 open rebellion
Underground literature played a crucial role in political mobilization in the anti-British struggle in India. There were innumerable pamphlets and journals that steered the Indian masses regardless of class, caste and creed to participate in a unique nationalist movement in which Mohandas Karam Chand Gandhi, the Mahatma reigned supreme. Apart from projecting a particular ideology, a large chunk of the underground literature also talks about the British scarcity in various forms presumably to demonstrate the ruthlessness of the colonial rule-a strategy that was most effective in the context of the last nationalist offensive, known as the Quit India Movement which has also been described in the contemporary literature as 'the open rebellion'. Even before the Movement was formally inaugurated, a cursory perusal of the contemporary proscribed literature reveals its distinctive features that substantially altered the ideology, Gandhi so assiduously nurtured since the 1920-22 Non-cooperation days. Political pamphlets and journals were published almost everywhere in India during the Quit India Movement though the major centres were Bombay and Bengal.
With the adoption of the famous 8 August Resolution, the entire country plunged into what was the last battle for freedom. Bengal was no exception. What separates Bengal from other provinces was the continuity of the Movement when its pan-Indian counterpart was completely smashed. Of all the districts in Bengal, Midnapur added a new chapter in the nationalist movement by successfully challenging the British state during the 1942 August Revolution. Biplabi is a document illustrating the growth and nature of the 1942 Quit India Movement in the district of Midnapur in Bengal. A weekly Bengali publication, Biplabi dealt with the day-to-day Congress-led anti-British consult in the district and elsewhere in India. The journal was regularly published during the period between September, 1942 and late August, 1944 despite adverse circumstances. Like other propaganda materials for political purposes, Biplabi might have exaggerated Congress. Nonetheless it helped sustain 'the anti-British feelings by constantly printing accounts of government brutality vis-a-vis the nationalists.
Biplabi was not merely a political pamphlet, it was a serious endeavour at political mobilization as well. As one goes through this political documentary, one is impressed by the organised effort of the district Congress leadership to convert suffering into political support. Its arguments were ironic, declamatory, logical, emotional and exhortative in turn. Biplabi enabled the nationalists, to a significant extent, to sustain the political support for the Movement when it has almost evaporated everywhere. The information available in Biplabi may not be authentic, as is true of all propaganda literature, but its is certainly useful in understanding the nature of the nationalist movement, organised and controlled solely by the Congress volunteers at the grassroots.
In order to situate the journal in the historical context of the last battle against the British, it is appropriate to underline the distinctive characteristics of the rebellion that rocked the imperial state by largely involving the Indian masses irrespective of class, caste and region. Moreover, unlike the 1920-22 Non-cooperation and 1930-32 Civil Disobedience Movements which were basically non-violent campaigns against the British rule in India, the 1942 Quit India movement.2 was the ultimatum to the British for final withdrawal, a Gandhi-led un-Gandhian way of struggle since the Mahatma exhorted to take up arms in self defence and resort to armed resistance against a stronger and well-equipped aggressor. It was a call for freedom.
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