The plan to move to Allahabad was okayed after a discussion between Ramprasad Bismil and his three close associates namely Rajaram, Devnarain and Ganga Singh. All the four went to Allahabad and put up in a Dharamshala.
The four discussed the ways to reorganise the outfit and strengthen it in the room where they stayed for a couple of days.
During the discussion an associate revealed, “There is a very weak minded person in our secret organisation. He knows all our secrets. He is an insider. If he falls into the hands of the police our secrets will be out in no time. The organsiation will get busted by the police and we will surely be dead. He is a live danger to all our plans.”
Ramprasad looked deeply into his eyes and spoke, “If there is such a person amongst us reveal his identity and suggest what we should do with him.”
The associate said, “I will reveal his identity only when we agree on the point as to what we are going to do with him. I think we must kill him.”
“Killing an associate will be very unsavoury act. I am not for it,” Ramprasad opined.
“A man who is a danger to an organisation deserves nothing but death,” the associate firmly said.
He appeared against any compromise.
Ramprasad Bismil still opposed the idea which smelled of the same cruelty and injustice British were practising against Indians. The debate dragged on. The three associates of Bismil stood their ground that the traitor should be eliminated physically. They declared that they would do the needful next day irrespective of the protest of Bismil.
Ramprasad Bismil fell silent. His associates appeared determined to do away with the so called betrayer. Their minds were made up. Bismil thought that his friends were acting on mere suspicion.
In the afternoon the four went to see ancient Jhoosi fort. They returned by evening. By crossing Ganga river they reached the bank of Yamuna river. After answering the nature’s call Ramprasad Bismil sat down on a sand dune for his evening meditation a little away from the water.
One of the friends called out, “Sit near the water, friend.’’
Bismil ignored the call. The three of his friends- cum-associates went to him and sat down nearby. Ramprasad Bismil sat on with his eyes closed in meditative posture. Something was making him feel uneasy. His sixth sense was ringing warning bells.
Then, he heard a clicking sound. Some one nearby was doing something. A shot rang and a bullet zipped by his ear making a sharp whistling sound.
Bismil realised that he had been fired upon. In a lightning move he jumped up trying to whip out his revolver and raced forward. Upon looking back he found that one of his associates was aiming his gun at him. The other two stood behind him.
It was the same associate who had revealed the existence of a weakling among their ranks and who wanted to eliminate that one. Were they attacking him because he didn’t agree with their suggestion?
Bismil prepared for the gunbattle. The other three panicked. They fired two more shots without finding the target. The three ran away before Bismil could fire back. As the revolver was in the upholster it had taken some time for him to dig out the weapon.
Ramprasad did not go in pursuit of the betrayers. In fact he was puzzled at his own escape considering the fact that he was fired upon from a mere two yard distance with a deadly mauzer while he was sitting like a duck in meditation.
It was nothing short of a miracle.
What actually happened will never be known. Ramprasad Bismil prayed to God for his merciful divine intervention to save his life. He became so emotional while praying to God that he passed out. The revolver and the upholster fell off his hands. In that helpless state anyone could have killed him easily.
Luckily no enemy was around.
He came back after a minute when he heard a voice calling him to rise up. He looked around and found no one.
He rose on unsteady legs. Bismil picked up his revolver but forgot to retrieve the holster. He was somewhat in a dizzy frame of mind.
The incident occurred on 22nd January, 1918. The betrayal by the close associates hurt him deeply. Who could he trust? Even the friends were turning out to be wolves in sheep’s clothing. At that time he was wearing only an overcoat and a lungi beneath. The betrayers had thrown away his shoes into the river. So, he had to walk barefoot. Ramprasad reached Lucknow from Allahabad by train.
His heart was asking him to teach a lesson to the traitors but his mind said that he must not act rashly. Useless bloodshed would do no good, it reasoned. So he desperately wanted to get in touch with his confidants and true well wishers to discuss the matter before deciding upon the course of action.
He got his hair cut and bought shoes and a loin. Then, he proceeded towards the jungle. His mind was being crowded with thoughts. Ramprasad was feeling disenchanted with the world.
He wanted to become an ascetic or monk.
Meanwhile the traitors Rajaram, Devnarain and Ganga were now really frightened. They though that if Ramprasad Bismil had survived the attack he might come after them to take his revenge. They had fired in panicky state of mind and run away. They knew not the fate of Bismil. The three were hoping him to be dead. But they were not sure. That is why the three were meeting friends, associates and surviving party members to learn about the fate of Ramprasad Bismil.
The three went to a close friend of Bismil named Tiwari to ferret out news about him. Tiwari told them that he had heard no word form Ramprasad Bismil.
It encouraged the three.
The traitors went back to Yamuna bank to trace out some tell tale signs of the fate of Bismil. They found no evidence or clue there. And there was no dead body of Bismil or an injured one. One of them hopefully predicted that bullet hit Bismil might had staggered into the river and drowned or got carried away. But the worrying fact was that there was no trace of blood.
So, what had happened? The trio reached Shahjahanpur speculating over the puzzle. They went to Bismil’s parental house to learn that he had not gone to his home. The family was told by them that Ramprasad Bismil was dead in all probabilities.
The news of the death of Bismil plunged the family in grief. The family performed all the posthumous rites of Ramprasad Bismil taking him for dead. For all practical purpose Bismil was dead. The education of his sisters was stopped. Because they had to be married off quickly as their brother was no more there to take care of their future.
Meanwhile Bismil roamed the forests in disenchanted mood. One day he stumbled into his home town, Shahjahanpur. To the utter delight of the family he materialised at the door of his home. He told the family his travails. The house became a hub of joyous celebrations.
All the members of the family were not there. Some of them were in Gwalior arranging for the marriage of one of the sisters of Bismil. He too went to Gwalior along with other members. It was a very memorable and emotional union of the entire family. Every one was ecstatic and shed tears of joy.
Bismil too was tearful. His tears did not dry up because they were not all shed for joy. There was some sadness. The family members asked for the reason.
He revealed that he wanted his sister to have continued her studies and married into a high family.
She had to give up her studies and was getting married to an ordinary person. But now it was too late for doing anything about it.
And Bismil had not yet forgotten the betrayal by his friends. It kept wrenching his heart that cried for revenge. His mind felt like a hollow cave in which the thoughts of settling score kept echoing. But he was getting no chance. This exercise told upon his health. Bismil’s agony showed up in the form of physical malady. He ran fever.
In the feverish state he would keep muttering something or cursing. His mother asked him what was happening to him. She wanted to know the truth. Ramprasad Bismil had to reveal the story of the betrayal by his friends on the bank of Yamuna.
The mother advised him to forget the matter and get on with the life in a normal way. Bismil admitted that he could not do that. The incident had deeply affected him and his mind.
The mother said, “Son, forget about revenge thing. It will do no good. You will make more enemies.”
“No ma. I can’t forget it.”
“You will have to for my sake, son.” She said in demanding voice. “You must because I want it and wish it to be obeyed as mother’s order to her son.”
“Asked anything of me, ma. But not this one.” Bismil groaned.
“No son,’’ the mother was firm and she added, “It will be in your own favour. The desire for the revenge is ruining your health. You are losing your mind. Let God be the judge. He will punish them in some way for their misdeeds.”
Bismil shook his head. ‘‘I have taken a vow to take revenge upon them, ma. If I don’t our organisation will disintegrate as it will breed indiscipline,’’ he spoke.
“Listen to me, son. You are not in a state to take rational decision. You are feverish. Forget the incident. First get well then take a decision with a cool mind.”
“No ma.”
The mother challenged the principles of her son by saying, “Alright, you say you are wedded to ideals of Arya Samaj. Samaj says that a son has to pay mother’s debt by being obedient to her. I am claiming that debt…”
“But, ma…” Bismil cried.
“You shall not cause any physical harm to those three who betrayed you. Forget the incident and the betrayal. There is a chance that others in your organisation may not take your word for the truth. You might become a suspect in the eyes of your associates if you insist on revenge. Don’t jeopardise you position in the organisation. Accept my advice,’’ the mother insisted.
That set Ramprasad Bismil thinking. He indeed had not conclusive proof against the three betrayers except his own suspicion. So, he weakly said, “Alright ma, if you think so and want so. I will not sully my hands with their dirty blood.”
The mother smiled and put her hand benevolently on the head of her son to bless. For a long time they remained frozen in that state. The mother and the son had emotionally forged the same close bond as they had physically when Ramprasad was still in the womb.
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