Chhatri Sangha

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Chhatri Sangha, or the Girls’ Students’ Association, was an Indian women’s student group linked to the All India Students’ Federation. It trained women revolutionaries, ran study circles, and taught cycling, driving, and armed skills. In 1928, after girl students urged equal participation in the movement, Kalyani Das and her friends started Calcutta’s first women’s student union, Chhatri Sangha, at Calcutta University with support from Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan. Surama Mitra became president and Kalyani Das the secretary. They connected with Dipali Sangha, a Dhaka-based women’s group led by Leela Roy, and worked with Dinesh Majumder, who trained young women in physical exercises and self-defense.

The Communist Party recruited Chhatri Sangha to help with relief work in refugee camps and other activities. Some members lived in hostels used by revolutionaries and were involved in dangerous missions, including placing bombs.

Notable members and actions:
- Kalpana Dutta: arrested and exiled for life for her role in the Chittagong Armory raid.
- Pritilata Waddedar: died in action after leading a raid on a Railway Officers’ Club in 1932.
- Santi and Suniti: shot the District Magistrate of Comilla and were sentenced to life.
- Bina Das: shot the British Governor of Bengal at a college convocation in 1932 and was imprisoned.
- Kamala Das Gupta: acted as a courier, sometimes carrying bombs.

Many Chhatri Sangha members were inspired by Subhas Chandra Bose, who formed the Indian National Army (INA). They joined his call and formed the women’s Rani Jhansi Regiment, led by Captain Lakshmi Sahgal. Later, many members joined the Communist Party of India, opposing some policies of the Indian National Congress.