The Hijli episode - Subhas reaches out unconditionally to Jatindramohan Sengupta

Subhas Chandra Bose and Jatindra Mohan Sengupta, both were trusted young lieutenants of Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das. Both loved the country, both were selfless and true patriots. Jatindra was twelve years senior to Subhas. He was born in Chattagram and went to England to study law. He met Nellie in England and married her. After coming back to India, Jatindra joined the Non Cooperation Movement of Gandhiji. Subsequently he rallied round Deshbandhu when he formed the Swaraj party, and entered the Bengal Legislative Council. When Subhas was sent to Mandalay, Jatindra was picked up by Gandhiji to lead the Swaraj party in Bengal and subsequently he became the leader of Bengal Provincial Congress. In 1929 he became the Mayor of Calcutta Corporation. There was a rivalry between Subhas and Jatindra. Jatindra belonged to the devoted Gandhi faction of Bengal while Subhas was not always aligned with Gandhi's policies. The rivalry between them was in practise carried out by a section of their so called followers who used to abuse the opponent of their resp. leaders in public. When The British Government police opened fire on the political detainees in Hijli prison camp without any provocation, Santosh Mitra and Tarakeshwar Sen were killed. The entire Bengal erupted in protest against this inhuman extra judicial murder of the two young men. Subhas decided to have a public meeting in protest. He heard that Jatindramohan had also called for a meeting at the same place at the same time. Subhas made up his mind quickly. He telephoned Jatindra and offered to end all rivalry by conceding his position unconditionally, accepting Jatindra as the president of the meeting and giving his assurance of unconditional support. The sacrifice of two lives brought these two great men once again on the same platform. But this also shows the lack of ego and pride on the part of Subhas, who would not think twice before giving up all false ego and vanity in the interest of the Nation. Jatindra died in 1933 in prison. His love for the country and his sacrifice earned him the epithet "Deshapriya" from the people of Bengal.