Relevance for UPSC (GS Paper I – Modern Indian History) • Source: The Hindu

Who Was Batukeshwar Dutt?

Batukeshwar Dutt (1910–1965) was a revolutionary associated with the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) and a close comrade of Bhagat Singh. On April 8, 1929, Dutt and Bhagat Singh exploded harmless smoke bombs in the Central Assembly Hall in Delhi, raising slogans such as Inquilab Zindabad to protest colonial repression. Both were arrested and sentenced for the act.

Key Contributions & Journey

• Played a pivotal role in the Delhi Assembly Bomb Case (1929).
  
• Sentenced to life transportation; endured harsh imprisonment in Cellular Jail, Lahore, Multan, and the Andamans.
  
• Joined hunger strikes demanding political-prisoner rights.
  
• After independence, struggled with poor health and limited recognition.
  
• His letters and memoirs highlight his deep ideological commitment to socialism and national liberation.
  

Prelims Practice Question

Consider the following statements about Batukeshwar Dutt:

1. He was associated with the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association.
   
2. He and Bhagat Singh carried out the Central Assembly bombing in 1929.
   
3. Dutt was executed in the Lahore Conspiracy Case.
   

How many statements are correct?
A. Only one B. Only two 

C. All three D. None

Answer: B (Statements 1 and 2 are correct; 3 is incorrect — he was not executed but sentenced to life imprisonment.)