The All Bengal Student Association (ABSA) was one of the first student organizations, founded during anti-colonial struggle of India in 1928.

Preparatory Committee

This initiative to organize students was born out of the all-Bengal student strike of 3 February 1928, centered around the movement against the

Simon Commission The Indian Statutory Commission, also known as the Simon Commission, was a group of seven members of the British Parliament under the chairmanship of John Simon. The commission arrived in the Indian subcontinent in 1928 to study constitutional ...

. Some student leaders were assaulted by the police while picketing in front of Presidency College and

Scottish Church College Scottish Church College is a college affiliated by Calcutta University, India. It offers selective co-educational undergraduate and postgraduate studies and is the oldest continuously running Christian liberal arts and sciences college in Asia. ...

in Calcutta. On February 17, 1928, a meeting was convened at the Albert Hall in Calcutta on account of those struggling students, from where another meeting was called on March 6. An organizing committee was formed there. They took the initiative to create a student organization throughout Bengal by holding a provincial student conference. The organizing committee consisted of Pramod Ghoshal, Birendranath Dasgupta (engineering student of Jadavpur University), Sachindranath Mitra (Scottish Church) and Rebati Barman.

1st Conference (Formation)

In September 1928, at the end of a four-day conference chaired by

Jawaharlal Nehru Jawaharlal Nehru (14 November 1889 – 27 May 1964) was an Indian anti-colonial nationalist, secular humanist, social democrat, and statesman who was a central figure in India during the middle of the 20th century. Nehru was a pr ...

, the ''All Bengal Students' Association'' was established. 22nd to 25th, the conference held at Sradhhananda Park. Student delegates from different parts of Bengal came to the conference. Acting Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University Dr. Arkohat inaugurated the event. Among the guests of honor were

Subhash Chandra Bose Subhas Chandra Bose (23 January 1897 – 18 August 1945) was an Indian independence movement, Indian nationalist whose defiance of British raj, British authority in India made him a hero among many Indians, but his wartime alliances with ...

and many prominent academics. National leaders along with top student leaders, Pramod Ghoshal, Biren Dasgupta, Sachin Mitra etc. on stage. Nehru, in his inaugural speech, addressed: “The youth should be pioneer in building a new society, destroying the old... Youth will be able to create a new world only if they are driven by the ideals of anti-imperialism, social justice, social liberation, socialism and internationalism. In the conference, Pramod Ghoshal was elected as president, Biren Dasgupta as secretary and Sachin Mitra as vice-president.

2nd Conference (ABSA-BPSA split)

It was decided to hold the second session in Mymensingh. This city was the stronghold of Jugantar Dal. Rebati Barman was the president of the reception committee. His inaugural speech contained strong references to

Marxism–Leninism Marxism–Leninism () is a communist ideology that became the largest faction of the History of communism, communist movement in the world in the years following the October Revolution. It was the predominant ideology of most communist gov ...

. In the President's speech, Dr. Alam paid tribute to

Jatin Das Jatindra Nath Das (; 27 October 1904 – 13 September 1929), better known as Jatin Das, was an Indian independence activist and revolutionary who worked to make India independent from the British Raj and was a member of the Hindustan Social ...

in an emotional speech and urged the students of Bengal to prepare for the coming struggle. His speech reflected a sharp attack on communalism. The association included many non-partisan student activists and leaders, in addition to the workers Anushilan and Yugantar Dal. Most of the members of the executive committee were not members of any party and cannot be called supporters of any particular party. The All Bengal Student Association became the center of conflict between Anushilan Samiti and the Yugantar Party. At this conference it took an extreme form. On the second day, the organization split up. All Bengal Students Association (ABSA) on one side and Bengal Provincial Students Association (BPSA) on the other. The new organization was in control of

Jugantar Jugantar or Yugantar ( ''Jugantor''; lit. ''New Era'' or ''Transition of an Epoch'') was one of the two main secret revolutionary trends operating in Bengal for Indian independence. This association, like Anushilan Samiti, started in the g ...

. Almost all independents remained in the ABSA.

Suppression and Succession

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References

Student organisations in India Student organizations established in 1928 Revolutionary movement for Indian independence