Swadhinata Yuddhe Adekha Lalbazar by Supratim Sarkar [Hardcover]

The first few decades of the twentieth century—a time of great turbulence in Bengal. It was the era of fire and revolution. Bengali revolutionaries were locked in direct combat with the British Raj. The daring actions of young men committed to armed struggle for independence kept the British administration on edge, prompting the police force of Kolkata to employ every possible means to crush the rebellion.

This was a different Lalbazar, an unseen Lalbazar. That tumultuous period forms the foundation of this book. Drawing from the authentic archives of the state and Kolkata police, experienced IPS officer Supratim Sarkar uncovers the fearless sacrifices of unknown and forgotten revolutionaries.

Be it the successive assassinations of three British district magistrates in Medinipur over three years, the audacious attempt to kill the Viceroy in the hills of Darjeeling, the fearless execution of a pro-British lawyer by a physically challenged young revolutionary, the thrilling escape of two rebels from a police torture center in disguise, or the sensational story of two teenage Bengali girls who stunned the world by assassinating oppressive British officials—this book brings to light these forgotten tales of bravery. It also narrates the unheard contributions of two nameless Bengali women in the freedom struggle.

Though presented as a book, it is, in essence, a tribute to memory. It is neither burdened with excessive facts nor overwhelmed by emotion. Written in fluid prose with a crisp narrative style, this work offers a unique way of experiencing history—structured like a thriller, yet deeply rooted in research.