A 63-day hunger strike that shook the British Raj and defined a martyr's legacy.

Nature · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Jatindra Nath Das was a 24-year-old revolutionary whose death in a Lahore jail became a turning point in India's independence movement. By refusing food for over two months to demand equality for political prisoners, he transformed from a student activist into a national symbol of unyielding sacrifice and courage.

Born in 1904, Jatin Das was a brilliant student who became deeply involved in revolutionary politics. After joining the Anushilan Samiti and participating in early non-cooperation movements, he was repeatedly imprisoned. His activism was defined by a commitment to the rights of political prisoners, a cause he championed through hunger strikes in both Mymensingh and Lahore jails. In 1929, he was arrested for his alleged role in manufacturing the bomb used by Bhagat Singh and Batukeswar Dutt in the Assembly hall.

The conditions in Lahore Jail were starkly unequal. While British prisoners received better treatment, Indian detainees faced deplorable environments, including unwashed uniforms and unsanitary kitchens. Das and his fellow revolutionaries demanded equal status, sparking a hunger strike that began on 13 July 1929. Despite the authorities' attempts to force-feed him and offers of release on bail, Das remained steadfast. His health rapidly declined, and he passed away on 13 September 1929, at the age of 24.

His death triggered a massive national response. More than five lakhs of people attended his funeral, and his body was transported from Lahore to Calcutta in a procession led by Subhas Chandra Bose. The political impact was immediate; the Central Assembly passed a censure motion against the government's treatment of prisoners by 55 votes to 47. Even his adversaries, such as the prosecution lawyer Carden Noad, acknowledged his unwavering fortitude. Today, his legacy persists through memorials like the Jatin Das Park metro station and his enduring status as a martyr for Indian independence.

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