Jogendra Nath Mochery and Freedom Movement in Kumargram Book: Tale of A Subaltern Leader

One of the most isolated blocks in West Bengal, Kumargramduar, is located on the border of Assam and Bhutan. During the Quit India Movement in 1942, this outlying settlement became the epicenter of the struggle for freedom. Under the direction of Magha Dewani, preparations to attack and seize Kumargram police station started on September 26, 1942. The well-armed and well-organized freedom fighters crowded in groups navigating dangerous and isolated forested terrains and deep water of the Raydak river. However, anti-British protest in this area gained impetus with the inception of Gandhian freedom movement. The leaders from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities led the anti-British campaign, which was organized by the local leader with the few resources available. In the Kumargram area, Rajbanshi activist Mogha Dewani assumed the leading position. Jogendra Nath Mochery joined as a compatriot of Mogha Dewani when he attempted to seize the Kumargram police station. One of the groups was under the leadership of Jogendra Nath Mochery. He belonged to the Mech community, a Mangoloid tribe. However, this part of history, woven by the subalterns, has never been recognized in mainstream history or other types of literature. However, the comprehensive history of Indian Freedom Fighting will remain unfinished if the contributions of the tribal leaders to Indian Freedom movements are left out. In order to shed light on the hidden and unhonored story of the contributions and bravery of indigenous leaders from the remote Kumargram Block, this article has attempted to forge an account of the contribution of Jogendra Nath Mochery to Indian freedom fighting, his political career, and social work.