Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday commemorated the 101st anniversary of the Kakori Train Action at a centenary function held in Lucknow, unveiling two booklets based on official records and paying respects to the families of those who took part in the 1925 incident.
Booklets released, families honoured
At the event, two publications titled Vande Mataram and Kakori Train Action were released. According to the state administration, the booklet Vande Mataram showcases children’s paintings, while Kakori Train Action draws on official records and documents relating to the martyrs associated with the episode.
- Vande Mataram – a compilation based on children’s paintings, released at the commemoration.
- Kakori Train Action – a booklet compiled from official records detailing the martyrs and the incident.
- Families of the revolutionaries were felicitated at the Lucknow function.
“On the sacred 101st year of the golden chapter of valour, self-respect, and patriotism, the ‘Kakori Train Action,’ I had the privilege today of participating in the centenary celebration held in Lucknow, where I paid homage to the memories of Mother India’s great sons,” Yogi Adityanath said.
Adityanath used the occasion to emphasise national symbols and patriotic practices ahead of Independence Day, urging that the Tricolour should fly in every home and that Vande Mataram be sung in institutions on August 15. He described the revolutionaries as having been singularly devoted to the cause of securing India’s freedom and criticised those who, in his view, had distanced younger generations from that history.
Context and significance for Lucknow
The Kakori Train Action — an armed robbery carried out in 1925 against the British government treasury train near Kakori in present-day Uttar Pradesh — holds a prominent place in the state’s and region’s freedom-movement history. The centenary observance in the state capital, attended by the Chief Minister, underscores the continuing political and cultural salience of such historical anniversaries in UP ahead of national celebrations.
Officials said the event tied into broader Independence Day preparations and outreach, with the publications intended to reinforce public awareness of local revolutionary heritage, including among schoolchildren through the children’s-art themed booklet.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | 101st anniversary centenary celebration of Kakori Train Action, Lucknow |
| Chief Guest | Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh |
| Publications released | Vande Mataram; Kakori Train Action |
| Honours | Families of revolutionaries and martyrs associated with Kakori |
While the release of commemorative material and felicitation of families are customary on such anniversaries, the Chief Minister’s remarks framing the observance as a means to rekindle patriotic sentiment add a political dimension ahead of national festivities. State leaders often use August commemorations to project narratives about history and identity, which can shape public programming in schools and cultural institutions across Lucknow and the wider state in the days leading up to Independence Day.
Authorities in Lucknow organised the event as part of a schedule of preparatory functions in the run-up to August 15. The state administration described the booklets as grounded in official records and as intended to foster a connection between younger citizens and the freedom movement’s local episodes. No additional details on distribution plans for the booklets were provided at the function.
The centenary observance in Lucknow brought the story of the Kakori action back into public focus in the state capital and reaffirmed its role in Uttar Pradesh’s commemorative calendar as the nation marks another Independence Day.
