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A portrait of Pritilata Waddedar Photo sourced from

Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Pritilata Waddedar

Pritilata Waddedar who was born on 5th May 1911, was an Indian revolutionary nationalist from the Indian subcontinent who was influential in the Indian independence movement. After completing her education in Chittagong and Dhaka, she attended Bethune College in Kolkata.

She graduated in philosophy with distinction and became a school teacher. She is praised as “Bengal’s first woman martyr.” Let’s take a look at some of the most remarkable facts about her;

1.Pritilata was born in a middle-class Vaidya Brahmin family

Pritilata was born in a middle-class Vaidya Brahmin family in Dhalghat village in Patiya upazila of Chittagong (now in Bangladesh). Waddedar was a title conferred to an ancestor of the family who originally had the surname Dasgupta.

Her father Jagabandhu Waddedar was a clerk in the Chittagong Municipality.Her mother Pratibhamayi Devi was a housewife.The couple had six children – Madhusduan, Pritilata, Kanaklata, Shantilata, Ashalata and Santosh. 

2.She attended Dr. Khastagir Government Girls’ School of Chittagong

Photo of the Administration Building, Dr. Khastagir Government Girls’ High School Photo Risadul Islam (Foisal)

Jagabandhu tried to arrange the best possible education for their children. He got Pritilata admitted in Dr. Khastagir Government Girls’ School of Chittagong. Pritilata was a meritorious student. A teacher in the school, whom students affectionately used called Usha Di, used stories of Rani Lakshmibai to inspire nationalism in her students. 

Arts and literature were Pritilata’s favourite subjects.She passed out of Dr. Khastagir Government Girls’ School in 1928 and in 1929, got admitted to the Eden College, Dhaka. In the Intermediate examinations, she stood first among all students who appeared in that year’s examination from the Dhaka Board. 

3.She is a graduate of Calcutta University with a philosophy degree 

To pursue higher education, Pritilata went to Calcutta (now Kolkata) and got admitted to the Bethune College. Two years later, she graduated in Philosophy from the college with a distinction.However, her degree was withheld by the Calcutta University administration.

In 2012, she (and Bina Das) were conferred their certificates of merit posthumously. After completing her education in Calcutta, Pritilata returned to Chittagong. In Chittagong, she took up the job of headmistress at a local English medium secondary school called Nandankanan Aparnacharan School. 

4.Several places named after her and sculptures have been elected in her honor

A sculpture located on the spot where Pritilata Waddedar committed suicide on 23 September 1932 Photo sourced from

A trust named Birkannya Pritilata Trust (Brave lady Pritilata Trust) has been founded in her memory. Pritilata’s birthday is celebrated by the trust in different places of Bangladesh and India every year. The trust considers her to be “a beacon of light for women”.

The last end of Sahid Abdus Sabur Road to Mukunda Ram Hat of Boalkhali upazila in Chittagong has been named as Pritilata Waddedar Road.In 2012, a bronze sculpture of Pritilata Waddedar was erected in front of the Pahartali Railway School, adjacent to the historical European Club

5.She was the first woman to join the Indian independence movement

Pritilata decided to join the Indian independence movement. Surjo Sen had heard about her and wanted her to join their revolutionary group.On 13 June 1932, Pritilata met Surjo Sen and Nirmal Sen in their Dhalghat camp.

A contemporary revolutionary, Binod Bihari Chowdhury, objected that they did not allow women to join their group. However, Pritalata was allowed to join the group because the revolutionaries reasoned that women transporting weapons would not attract as much suspicion as men. She was the first woman to join the group. 

6.Pritilata was an activist in the anti British movement

A photo of Activists at The British Museum Photo by Sangster Beatrice

In her college days, Pritilata was an activist in the anti British movement. All through her life, she dreamt of two things: a society without gender discrimination, and her motherland without British colonial rule.

So she received combat training to fight against the British rule. After being fatally wounded during the attack, Pritilata preferred to sacrifice her life rather than be caught by the British.She was one of strongest women leaders at the age of only 20 which showed her potential. 

7.The spot where she died has since gained popularity

Now in Bangladesh, the spot has gained popularity as it has become a tourist attraction. Chittagong even has a Pritilata Waddedar Road. In 2012, a bronze sculpture of her was erected in front of the school where she taught, adjacent to the historical European Club. Pritilata Waddedar’s sacrifice cannot be ignored.

She was among the initial lot of revolutionaries who picked up arms against the British Raj and was the first woman in Bengal to do so. Having died at the age of 21, her story is fit for a film’s screenplay. 

8.At 21, she led the raid on the Pahartali European Club in Chittagong

Inspired by Surya Sen, the 21-year-old led the raid on the Pahartali European Club in Chittagong.The social club for Europeans had been specifically targeted because of its racist and discriminatory practises towards Indians, especially its use of the signboard that read “Dogs and Indians not allowed”. 

Under Waddedar’s leadership, a group of 10 was trained in the use of arms and taught how to consume potassium cyanide if the need arose. They attacked the club on the night of September 23, 1932.

9.Pamphlets with handwritten on them were discovered tucked in her shirt 

Pamphlets with handwritten on them were discovered tucked in her shirt by police after she died outside the Pahartali European club. The following word were written on it, “Long Live Revolution”. 

“An appeal to sisters… Women today have taken the firm resolution that they will not remain in the background. For the freedom of their motherland, they are willing to stand side by side with their brothers in every action, however hard or fearful it maybe… I declare myself a revolutionary.”

10.She died aged just 21 after deciding to end her life and nit to be arrested by the British 

Several members of the club were injured, while the group was shot at by the police guarding the club. Waddedar sustained a bullet wound that prevented her from escaping with her group. Pritilata, who was sure to be caught by the British, swallowed the cyanide pill and paid the ultimate sacrifice to the cause of the nation. She was just 21 years old.

Her body was recovered and identified by the police the next day.Pritilata is remembered as an inspirational woman who showed no fear in the face of adversity. Despite her valiant sacrifice, her name is hardly recognized by an average school student in India. There are, however, schools and places named after her in India and also in Bangladesh.