Forgotten Revolutionary Mohankishore Nomodas: The Martyr Whose Death Shook British Prison Rule

He was the son of a poor farming family from a remote village in Bengal. He belonged neither to an influential lineage nor to any circle of social privilege. Yet his unwavering courage and dream of a free nation elevated him to a remarkable place in history. He was Mohankishore Nomodas—a self-sacrificing revolutionary of the anti-British independence movement whose name may have faded from public memory, but whose sacrifice remains undiminished.

Born in Sararchar village of Bajitpur, Kishoreganj district, in present-day Bangladesh, then part of British India, Mohankishore Nomodas came from an impoverished Dalit farming family. Despite facing social discrimination and economic hardship, he developed a strong sense of patriotism and resistance against colonial rule. This spirit eventually led him to join the Anushilan Samiti, one of Bengal’s most prominent revolutionary organizations.

The Road to Revolution and Imprisonment

As part of the armed struggle against British rule, revolutionaries became involved in various underground activities. In 1932, Mohankishore Nomodas and several others were arrested in connection with a political dacoity case in Soyarikanda village of Netrokona. Following trial, he was sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment.

He was subsequently deported to the notorious Cellular Jail in the Andaman Islands, a place that symbolized terror, isolation, and suffering for Indian freedom fighters. Known as “Kala Pani” (Black Waters), the prison was among the British Empire’s most brutal instruments of repression.

A Hunger Strike Against Inhumanity

Political prisoners in the Andamans endured relentless torture and degrading treatment. In protest against the appalling conditions, discrimination, and abuse within the prison system, revolutionary inmates launched a historic hunger strike in 1933.

Mohankishore Nomodas joined the movement alongside several fellow revolutionaries, including Mohit Mohan Maitra and Mahavir Singh. As the days passed, the prisoners remained steadfast, refusing to abandon their demands despite mounting physical suffering.

Death in the Name of Force-Feeding

Determined to break the strike, British authorities resorted to force-feeding the prisoners. Liquid food was administered through tubes inserted into the nose or mouth—a procedure that was often dangerous and cruel.

According to historical accounts, during one such attempt, the liquid intended for Mohankishore entered his respiratory tract and lungs instead of his stomach, causing severe complications. Despite unbearable pain and deteriorating health, he refused to give up his protest.

On 26 May 1933, inside the dark confines of Cellular Jail, Mohankishore Nomodas breathed his last. Two days later, fellow revolutionary Mohit Mohan Maitra, who had been imprisoned in a neighboring cell, also died during the same hunger strike. Revolutionary Mahavir Singh likewise lost his life in the movement.

A Name Lost in the Shadows of History

While names such as Bhagat Singh, Surya Sen, and Khudiram Bose are widely remembered in the history of India’s freedom struggle, Mohankishore Nomodas remains largely overlooked. Yet his sacrifice represents the countless unsung revolutionaries who gave their lives for the cause of independence.

Even today, a statue of Mohankishore Nomodas stands in front of Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, serving as a lasting tribute to his courage and sacrifice. The memorial reminds future generations that freedom was not a gift—it was earned through the blood, suffering, and determination of innumerable martyrs.

Remembering a Forgotten Hero

The life of Mohankishore Nomodas is more than the story of a revolutionary; it is a testament to the extraordinary courage, dignity, and patriotism of a man who rose from the margins of society to challenge an empire.

On the anniversary of his martyrdom, he deserves to be remembered with profound respect. For the history of independence remains incomplete unless it honors not only the celebrated heroes, but also the silent warriors whose sacrifices laid the foundation of freedom itself.