Virendranath Chattopadhyaya
Virendranath Chattopadhyaya (Bengali: বীরেন্দ্রনাথ চট্টোপাধ্যায়; 31 October 1880 – 2 September 1937), also known by his pseudonym Chatto, was a prominent Indian revolutionary who worked to overthrow the British Raj in India using armed force. He created alliances with the Germans during World War I, was part of the Berlin Committee organising Indian students in Europe against the British, and explored actions by the Japanese at the time.
Virendranath Chattopadhyay | |
|---|---|
| Born | 31 October 1880 |
| Died | 2 September 1937 (presumed) Believed to be Soviet Union |
| Other names | Chatto |
| Organization(s) | Jugantar, India House, Berlin Committee, League against Imperialism |
| Movement | Indian independence movement, Indo-German Conspiracy, Anti-imperialism |
| Spouse | Liz Reynolds |
| Partner | Agnes Smedley |
| Relatives | Sarojini Naidu (sister) |
He went to Moscow in 1920 to develop support by the Communists for the Indian movement, including among Asians in Moscow who were working on revolutionary movements. He joined the German Communist Party (KPD). He lived in Moscow for several years in the 1930s. Arrested in July 1937 in the Great Purge, Chatto was executed on 2 September 1937. He was the brother of prominent political activist and poet Sarojini Naidu.