Birendranath Sasmal: The barrister who bravely defended Chittagong’s patriots without a fee – GetBengal story
Not every freedom fighter needs armour—some carried law books and spoke with courage inside the courtroom. Birendranath Sasmal is one of the courtroom warriors, also known as the “Uncrowned King of Midnapore”. He leveraged his legal skills to fight against British rule and stand by the Indian revolutionaries.
Born on 26 October 1881 in Chandiveti village of East Midnapore, Birendranath came from a learned family. He flew to England to pursue law and earn a degree of Barrister from the Middle Temple of England. Later, he served as a lawyer in both the Calcutta High Court and the Midnapore Court. Over time, he became a renowned and the most respected lawyer of Bengal.
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He was actively involved in the Swadeshi Movement in 1905, but officially joined politics in 1921. He always followed the path of justice, equality, and freedom from British rule.
One of his most vital roles came during the historic Chittagong Armoury Raid in 1930, when a group of young revolutionaries, led by Master Da Surya Sen, tried to take over British armouries in Chittagong. Even after 78 years of Independence, Indians still remember that bold plan to break free from British rule. Many of them, like Ananta Singha, Ganesh Ghosh, Loknath Bal, and Ambika Chakraborty, were later arrested.
Very few lawyers were ready to defend these young men. But Birendranath Sasmal stepped forward without charging any fee. He rushed to Chittagong and fought for them in court. He believed that even under British rule, justice should not die. His strong voice inside the courtroom gave hope to many.
In 1932, he once again boldly defended freedom fighters in the remarkable Douglas Murder Case.
Outside the courtroom, Sasmal was also a strong political leader. He protested against the Bengal Village Self-Government Act because it harmed the rights of local people. He once walked barefoot as a sign of protest and refused to stop until the act was withdrawn, and it finally was, in 1921.
Because of his leadership, scientist Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray called him the “Mukutheen Raja” (the king without a crown).
Birendranath Sasmal lived with pride and died with pride. In his will, he said he never bowed his head in life and didn’t want to in death either. So, when he died on 24 November 1934, he was cremated standing up, his head facing the sky. This was a rare and brave request—just like the man himself.
Birendranath Sasmal may not be a household name today, but he was a true hero, a freedom fighter in a black coat, who fought battles not with weapons, but with words, law, and courage.
