Preeti Lata Waddadar (1911-32)
Preetilata was born on 5 May 1911 in, the Dholaghat village of Chittagong. Her father’s name was Jagabandhu Wadddadar, the head clerk of Chittagong Municipality. Her mother Protibha Waddadar was a patron of the local innovative and a supporter of Swadeshi movement. In 1927 Preetilata obtained her SSC in first division from Dr Khastogir Girls’ College. Then she moved to Dhaka for her HSC studies and enrolled in Eden College. As a student of Eden Girls’ College, Preetilata joined the Deepali Sangha, a Dhaka based women’s innovative organization. In 1929 Preetilata topped among the female students in HSC exam. Due to her outstanding result Preetilata was awarded Tk (Rs.) 20.00 monthly scholarship from the board of education. The financial support enabled Preetilata to pursue her higher studies in Kolkata, the then center of culture and education of united Bangla. In Kolkata, Preetilata succeeded in enrolling in the important Bethune College. As a member of the Revolutionary party Preetilata instantly formed a student front of the revolutionary party with a couple of her generation. Her group raised money to support the Chittagong based revolutionaries and organized a reader’ forum to promote patriotic spirit among the college students. On the direction of the party high command Preetilata bought explosive implements from secretive factories in Kolkata and took the explosives to Chittagong. Her mates at Bethune College, Kalpana Datta, Sarojini Pal, Kumudini Rakkhit, Renuka Ray, and Kamala Mukherjee helped Preetilata in her mission. In 1930 Preetilata, instead of seating for BA (hons), sat for BA (pass) exam and passed BA with distinction. On her go back to Chittagong Preetilata started her teaching career and joined as the principal of a newly recognized English medium school, Aparna Charan Girls High School. Preetilata was a member of Jugantar-a secret revolutionary organization.
The death of comrade Ardhendu Dastidar in the Jalalabad hill war on 22 April 1930 spurred her commitment to revolutionary causes. On 13 June 1932 Preetilata secretly met Mastarda Surya Sen, the legendary Bangalee revolutionary, at the residence of Sabitri Debi of Dholaghat. In the meeting Preetilata command that girls should be given equal prospect in armed revolutionary activities. She argued that many young people have previously given their lives for the freedom of the motherland, now it was the time for the girls to embrace the same fate of honor.
The task for attacking the European Club in Chittagong was firstly assigned to rebel Shaileshwar Chakraborty which he failed to carry out twice for different reasons. In September 1932 Surya Sen came to South Kattali village to discuss the strategy and tactics for attacking the European Club. On the education from the party high command Preetilata and Kalpana Datta, wearing man’s clothes in order to escape the British spies, headed for the secret meeting called by Surya Sen. Unfortunately Kalpana was arrested at Pahartali but Preetilata managed to skip the British spies. In the meeting Surya Sen told Preetilata that she was nominated to lead the attack on the European Club on 23 September 1932 and the other members of her team were: 1. Shanti Chakraborty (Kattali) 2. Kali Dey (Gosail Danga) 3. Sushil Dey (Dharala) 4. Prafulla Das (Kattali) 5. Mahendra Chaudhury (Mohra).
At 2145 hrs on 23 September Surya Sen, with one of his body guards, came to Kattali to wish luck to his comrades for the success of the operation. At 2200 hrs Preetilata and her comrade, all tiring military uniforms, took farewell from the commander and marched off to carry out the operation. Soon they reached the European Club and took position in the bush near the club. They were carrying rifles rob from the British armories, pistols and macerates in their waists and bombs in their haversacks. The British colonial officers were having a immense time inside the club while Preetilata’s team was preparing the attack. The gate of the club was protected by armed guards. On receiving Morse coded signal from the chef of the club kitchen Preetilata stormed the club firing shots on the armed guards at the gate and uproar “Charge”. Her comrades joined her and kept shooting on the club. Preetilata lead the attack and threw a bomb through the main gate as soon as she reached the gate. The Britons were bewildered at the sudden armed attack and ran their heads off to save their asses. An Englishman tried to play James Bond and threw goblets to the rebels. Preetilata shot him and sent his soul to merry old England.
But soon the military reinforcement from the nearby cantonment came for rescue. Under-prepared to fight the military Preetilata signaled her comrades to move away. They followed her command and retreated. A few minutes later Preetilata went back to make sure that all her comrades were OK. The group of partisans soon reach the rail line near the club covered by the team leader who followed them to make sure a safe retreat. They were heading for Pahartali bazaar because Kattali village is very close to the bazaar. As the rebels were heading to the bazaar a young Englishman, who hid in the gutter to escape the attack, shot at Preetilata. The bullet hit Preetilata on her trunk and she drop on the road bleeding freely. But Preetilata was a born rebel and was determined not to surrender to the British colonists so the valiant rebel took out the cyanide pill and swallowed it.
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