Baikunth Sukul: A patriot against a traitor, a common man against the British empire

There came a knock on the door. A servant opened the door and looked up to see a CID inspector standing before him. The inspector came in and waited until Phanindra had finished his lunch. As Phanindra came into the drawing room, the inspector placed a pamphlet on the table and said, “Have a look.”

Phanindra’s face went white momentarily as he saw the image of an older man and woman holding the severed heads of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. A message was printed on the bottom “Will you carry the traitor’s blot, or will you dare to wash it away?” He knew immediately that it was a message from the remaining revolutionaries in Punjab, directed towards Bihar. But he quickly composed himself, placing his hand on his Mauser, and expressed calmly, “I don’t understand what this means.”

The inspector looked at him with empathy but then handed him the picture. “It’s a message, Mr Ghosh,” he said. “A message from those who seek to avenge the death of Bhagat Singh and his comrades. And it seems you are at the wrong end of the message.”

Phanindra took the picture, studying it carefully. He knew it was a call to action, a challenge to the...

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