Understanding the 1908 Muzzafarpur Bombing

The question asks about a significant event in India's freedom struggle that occurred in 1908. This event involved a bombing targeting a specific British official.

In 1908, two young revolutionaries attempted to assassinate Douglas Kingsford, the Chief Presidency Magistrate of Calcutta, who was known for handing down severe punishments to nationalist protestors. Kingsford had been transferred to Muzzafarpur.

The plan was executed in Muzzafarpur. Two individuals were involved in throwing a bomb at a carriage believed to be carrying Kingsford.

• One of the revolutionaries was Prafulla Chaki.
• The other individual, as mentioned in the question, is the person whose name is missing.

Historical records confirm that the person who was with Prafulla Chaki during the Muzzafarpur bombing attempt in 1908, targeting judge Kingsford, was Khudiram Bose.

Unfortunately, Kingsford was not in the carriage that was targeted. Instead, two innocent British women, Mrs. Kennedy and her daughter, were killed.

Following the incident:

• Prafulla Chaki shot himself to avoid arrest.
• Khudiram Bose was arrested and subsequently tried and hanged at a very young age, becoming a martyr for the independence movement.

Analyzing the Options

Let's look at why Khudiram Bose is the correct answer and why the others are not.

• Bhagat Singh: Bhagat Singh was a prominent revolutionary, but his major activities and the Lahore Conspiracy Case came much later than 1908. He was born in 1907, so he would have been too young to participate in the 1908 Muzzafarpur bombing.
• Khudiram Bose: Khudiram Bose was a key figure in the Anushilan Samiti and actively involved in revolutionary activities in the early 20th century. He was indeed Prafulla Chaki's companion in the 1908 Muzzafarpur bombing incident targeting Kingsford.
• Rajguru: Shivaram Rajguru was another revolutionary, known for his association with Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev. Like Bhagat Singh, his major contributions were in the later phase of the independence movement, not in 1908.
• Jatindranath Bose: While there were several revolutionaries named Jatindranath (e.g., Jatindranath Mukherjee or Bagha Jatin), none of them were involved in the 1908 Muzzafarpur bombing alongside Prafulla Chaki. The name "Jatindranath Bose" is not historically associated with this specific event.

Therefore, based on historical facts regarding the 1908 Muzzafarpur bombing attempt on judge Kingsford, the correct individual who accompanied Prafulla Chaki was Khudiram Bose.

Revision Table: Key Facts about the Muzzafarpur Incident 1908

Additional Information: Early Revolutionary Activities

The 1908 Muzzafarpur bombing was part of a wave of revolutionary activities that intensified in the early 20th century, particularly in Bengal. Groups like the Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar played a significant role in organizing such acts of defiance against British rule.

• These groups believed that armed struggle was necessary to achieve independence.
• They often targeted unpopular British officials as a form of protest and retaliation against repressive policies.
• The bravery and sacrifice of young revolutionaries like Khudiram Bose inspired many others to join the freedom struggle, even though their actions sometimes had tragic unintended consequences.
• The Alipore Bomb Case, which followed shortly after the Muzzafarpur incident, involved several prominent revolutionaries, including Barindra Kumar Ghosh and Aurobindo Ghosh, and was linked to the investigation into these revolutionary activities.

Understanding events like the 1908 Muzzafarpur bombing helps us appreciate the diverse strategies and sacrifices made during India's fight for independence.