Thread by @kavita_tewari

Pritilata Waddedar, the 21-year-old who chose to die than be caught by the British. Born to Jagadbandhu Waddedar and Pratibhamayi Devi in Chittagong (presently, in Bangladesh) on 5th May 1911, one of their six children, from an early age, Pritilata was a meritorious student.👇1

She came to Calcutta for higher education & enrolled as a student of Philosophy at Bethune College under d University of Calcutta. In d city, she was introduced to Surya Sen, affectionately called Master da’ by associates. Inspired by Sen she soon joined his underground group👇2

During d Chittagong Armory Raid of April 1930, 20-year-old Waddedar, along wd Surya Sen & many freedom fighters devised plans to raid the armoury of the British forces & destroy telegraph & telephone lines. Although d group dint manage to locate d armory, they succeeded in 👇3

ruining d telegraph & telephone lines. While some members of d group were arrested, Waddedar & a few others managed to escape & regroup over d next few months. In 1932, d group, following Surya Sen’s original plans to attack d Pahartali European Club in Chittagong, 👇4

assigned Waddedar as the leader for this assignment. The social club for Europeans had been specifically targeted because of its racist and discriminatory practises towards Indians, especially its use of the signboard that read “Dogs and Indians not allowed”.👇5

Under her leadership, a group of 10 was trained in d use of arms & taught how to consume potassium cyanide if d need arose.They attacked d club on d night of September 23, 1932. Several members of d club were injured, while d group was shot at by d police guarding the club. 👇6

Waddedar sustained a bullet wound that prevented her from escaping with her group. In those circumstances, she consumed potassium cyanide to evade arrest and ended her life. Waddedar was only 21.