द इण्डियन स्ट्रगल / भारतीय स्वाधीनता संग्राम (नेताजी सुभाष चन्द्र बोस - ऐतिहासिक विश्लेषण)

120 THE INDIAN STRUGGLE
extremely popular and there was a warm response from every
corner of the province.¹
In May, 1924, the annual conference of Bengal Congress-
men, called the Provincial Conference, was held at a place
called Sirajganj. Prior to this the Deshbandhu had drawn up
an agreement between Hindus and Moslems, covering
religious as well as political questions, but it had been rejected
by the Coconada Congress in December 1923, on the ground
that it conceded too much to the Moslems. This agreement,
known as the Bengal Pact—was placed before the Sirajganj
Conference for ratification. There was a stormy debate and
the political opponents of the Deshbandhu, joined by some
reactionary Hindus, put up a formidable opposition. Never-
theless, the passionate eloquence of the leader carried the
day and the Bengal Pact was adopted by a large majority.
After this, another resolution was discussed and passed which
was to stir up a hornet's nest in the days to come. This was
the Gopinath Saha resolution. Some months earlier, a young
student, named Gopinath Saha, had attempted to assassinate
the Commissioner of Police of Calcutta, Sir Charles
Tegart. Through mistaken identity, he shot at and killed
another Englishman, Mr. Day. At the trial before the High
Court of Calcutta, Saha made a statement which created a
sensation at the time. He stated in effect that he really had
intended to murder the Police Commissioner and expressed
his sincere sorrow for having killed the wrong person. He
was glad to pay with his life and hoped that every drop of his
blood would sow the seeds of freedom in every Indian home.
Saha was sentenced to death by the High Court and duly
hanged. But, after his death, resolutions were passed in
several meetings in Bengal appreciating his courage and
spirit of sacrifice, while condemning his action. A similar
¹ The Satyagraha Campaign went on for several months. The Mohunt
ultimately was forced to come to a compromise with Deshbandhu C. R.
Das and an agreement was drawn up whereby the temple and the major
portion of the property was to be handed over to a public committee.
This agreement had to be placed before a court of law but at this stage a
third party, under the name of the Brahman Sabha, raised objections. While
the whole matter was under consideration, the Deshbandhu died. After
his unfortunate death, the agreement was set at nought and the result
of the Satyagraha Campaign was nullified,