On the night of 24-25 June 1975, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a National Emergency across India. What followed was one of the most consequential periods in the history of the world’s largest democracy.
For twenty-one months, from June 1975 until March 1977, constitutional freedoms were severely curtailed. Political opponents were imprisoned without trial, censorship was imposed on the press, civil liberties were suspended, and democratic institutions were subjected to unprecedented executive control. Thousands of political workers, journalists, students, trade unionists, social activists, and ordinary citizens were detained under preventive detention laws such as the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA).
Among the organisations that played a major role in this resistance was the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The RSS had been banned shortly after the proclamation of the Emergency, and thousands of its volunteers participated in underground organisational work, dissemination of uncensored information, public protests, and acts of civil resistance. A large number were arrested and imprisoned.
This archival document is based on material compiled in The People Versus Emergency – Saga of Emergency by Manik Chandra Vajpayee and Sridhar Paradkar, one of the early efforts to document the human cost of the struggle against authoritarian rule during the Emergency period.
The compilation records the names and brief details of individuals associated with the resistance movement who lost their lives during the Emergency or as a consequence of imprisonment, custodial mistreatment, denial of medical care, underground resistance activities, or related hardships. While many of those listed were RSS volunteers, the record also includes individuals from other political and social traditions who participated in the broader democratic movement.
The original compilers noted that the list was incomplete. Contemporary investigations, including inquiries before the Shah Commission of Inquiry, were unable to gather comprehensive information from every region of the country. Consequently, the names preserved here should be understood not as a final or exhaustive register, but as part of an ongoing effort to document a chapter of democratic resistance whose full human cost may never be completely known.
Source: The People Versus Emergency – Saga of Emergency, by Manik Chandra Vajpayee and Sridhar Paradkar. Suruchi Prakashan(2022)
Editorial Note: The biographical details reproduced in this archive reflect the information available in the original compilation. Researchers are encouraged to consult additional primary and secondary sources where available, as further documentation continues to emerge regarding the Emergency period and the democratic resistance movement.
A list of over a hundred martyrs from Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(RSS) who sacrificed their lives at the altar of freedom in the fight against dictatorship during the Emergency (patriots who succumbed to atrocities) has become available. The real figure is certainly much higher than this. The Shah Commission had also investigated this matter, but information about martyrs in all States could not reach it. The available information is as follows :
According to the compilation available to the authors, the recorded cases were distributed across several regions of India: Assam (2), Gujarat (8), Haryana (3), Himachal Pradesh (1), Karnataka (3), Kerala (2), Madhya Pradesh (13), Maharashtra (11), Punjab (2), Uttar Pradesh (30), West Bengal (11), and Chandigarh (1), bringing the documented total to 87 individuals. The compilers, however, noted that this figure was not exhaustive and that the actual number of those who lost their lives as a consequence of imprisonment, custodial abuse, denial of medical treatment, underground resistance activities, and other Emergency-related hardships was likely significantly higher. Information from many parts of the country did not reach investigators or later commissions of inquiry, leaving portions of this history undocumented.
Assam
(1) Rajkumar Ketuki Singh
60-year-old eminent citizen of Manipur State. 16 months in Imphal jail. Old heart patient. Death due to absence of proper treatment.
(2) Rabin Kalita
Resident of Sanwalkuchi Anchal (Purvanchal). Handcuffed till the end. Death due to police atrocities.
(Eastern) Uttar Pradesh
(3) Dr. Satya Vrat Sinha
Well-known author, Secretary of Hindustan Academy and District RSS Karyavaha. 51-year-old. Death in Allahabad Hospital as MISA detenu. Parole given on day of death.
(4) Girija Shankar Pathak
Swayamsevak, MISA detenu. Did not know till the end why he was arrested.
(5) Kallu Baba
Satyagrahi from Mirzapur. Died in jail due to ill-health.
(6) Vishwa Nath Gupta
Resident of Kanpur. Leader of underground activities throughout the Emergency.
(7) Ram Sagar Mishra
Worker of Lucknow district RSS.
(8) Vamsa Raj Yadav
40-year-old farmer. Resident of Balrampur (Gonda). Worker of RSS. Ill in jail. Died in Gonda jail on the night of March 7-8.
(9) Daulat Ram
80-year-old resident of Atroli (Aligarh). Pillar of strength for Sangh work in Aligarh district. Beaten and tortured by the police. Died on reaching jail.
(10) Ramanujacharya Maharaj
55-year old head of Totadri Math, Ayodhya. Sangh Chalak of Ayodhya RSS. Ill in Faizabad jail. Released due to ill-health. Death on release.
(Western) Uttar Pradesh
(11) Lala Bishan Lal Mittal
First time in jail in 1948. Satyagraha in December 1948, second jail term. ‘Save Kashmir’ agitation in 1952 — third time in jail. Fourth jail term in cow protection movement in 1967. Fifth on July 4, 1976. 71-year-old Sangh Chalak of Saharanpur district RSS. Death in jail on July 17, 1975.
(12) Dr. Indrajit Singh
74-year-old dentist. Bulandshahar district RSS Karyavaha. In jail for 6 months in 1948. MISA Detenu. Was Tehsil Sangh Chalak when died on July 31, 1975 due to lack of proper medical treatment in jail.
(13) Natthimal
Socialist. Went to jail in the 1952 ‘civil disobedience’ movement, in the 1957 ‘break locks’ movement and in the 1961 ‘Roti or jail’ movement. 57 year-old. Rural dress. Distributed leaflets. Arrested on Aug. 14, 1975. Death in jail in mysterious circumstances.
(14) Kanti Prakash Garg
40-year-old Swayamsevak of Anupshahar (Bulandshahar district). Municipal member for 15 years. District Jana Sangh Secretary. A friend of all. MISA detenu. Conducted Satyagraha on Dec. 25, 1975. Police lathi blows caused stroke. Death on Dec. 26, 1975.
(15) Hari Singh
Unmarried resident of Syana (Bulandshahar). MISA prisoner. Death on March 22, 1977 due to lack of proper medical attention and treatment.
(16) Chetram Lodhi Rajput
49-year-old farmer. Swayamsevak of Kali Bari (Bareilly district). Went to jail many times. Offered Satyagraha. Fatally wounded by inhuman police lathi-blows. Died on Dec. 12, 1975. Quietly cremated by police.
(17) Bouli Singh
61-year-old Swayamsevak of Bhadauli (Aligarh district). Offered Satyagraha. Victim of inhuman police beating. Got deep wound in stomach because of being kicked. Died on the morning of Dec. 26, 1975.
(18) Babu Singh
45-year-old resident of Ladhola (Shahjahanpur). Jana Sangh Organising Secretary. Died on 17-12-75 in collision between taxi and truck during underground travel.
(19) Ramanand
Swayamsevak of Rasuia (Bareilly). Conducted primary school and girls’ school in Faridpur. Gifted orchard land for Satsang-Bhajan. Tahsil Secretary of Jana Sangh and Vishwa Hindu Parishad. MISA prisoner, Died in Jail on July 24, 1975.
(20) Rajendra Pal
Unmarried 25-year-old youth of Visauli (Badayun district). Pracharak of RSS. Underground. Died of snake-bite in September 1976 while going for a meeting on a dark night during the monsoon.
(21) Bhagwan Swarup
Resident of Kareli (Shahjahanpur). Head-master of Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Pilibhit. RSS worker. Underground. Arrested on Nov. 2, 1975. Released on bail. Again active in underground work. Death due to snake-bite.
(22) Raj Narayan Gupta
47-year-old Sangh Pracharak. Was head-master of many Shishu Mandirs. MISA detenu. Released on bail in October 1975. Died of heart failure at Allahabad railway station on March 17, 1976 during underground travel.
(23) Dharmendra Gupta
43-year-old resident of Hathras. Lecturer in Varshneya College, Aligarh. MISA detenu. Heart attack. Died in jail hospital on third heart attack.
(24) Ramjilal Sharma
50-year-old shop-keeper and RSS worker of Ganj Dundwara (Etah). Offered Satyagraha. Died of heart failure while engaged in underground work.
(25) Bhupal Singh
Resident of Nagla Sitaram (Mathura district). Offered Satyagraha on 23.12.75. Released in March 1976. Engaged in underground distribution of news-bulletins. Death was set back for underground work in rural areas.
(26) Ramdas
13-year-old student, Swayamsevak. Satyagrahi. After release engaged in underground work. Climbed an electric pole for pasting a poster of Lok Sangharsh Samiti. Could not climb down. Died of electric shock.
(27) Dr. Satyapal Purang
50-year old younger brother of Dr. Rameshwar Dayal Purang, Western UP RSS Sangh Chalak. Resident of Vever (Mainpuri). Jana Sangh Worker. Underground. Suffering from mental tension. Died of brain haemorrhage.
(28) Smt. Yash Rani
50-year old. Offered Satyagraha on Jan. 3, 1976. Stroke on right side on Jan. 8, 1976 due to excessive blood pressure. Death on Sept. 2, 1976.
Karnataka
(29) Kullappa (Nagraj)
25-year-old Swayamsevak of Arrekal (Bangalore district). Offered Satyagrah. Died of illness on 27.1.76.
(30) Smt. Snehlata Reddy
Worker of Bangalore Socialist party. Died in jail of illness on 20.1.77.
(31) J. R. Narayan Reddy
Swayamsevak of Jigani (Bangalore district). Fell seriously ill in jail. Died on release.
(32) Basavraj Kalburgi
Gokak (Belgaum district) Sangh Chalak. Heart patient. Was produced in jail in handcuffs. Death on release.
(33) Mahabal Rao
Resident of Charan Kudige (Shringeri Taluka). Committed suicide when saw on release from jail that his farm etc. had been confiscated by Government and his family had nothing to live on.
(34) Prakash Shanbag
Bright student and RSS worker of Yellapur. MISA detenu. Suicide on release.
(35) B. Kashi Rao
Secretary of State Jana Sangh Office, Bangalore. MISA warrant. Was always on the move. Died on the street.
(36) Raghavendra M. Nagori
Resident of Mangalore. Editor of ‘Divya Vani’ and ‘Kranti’. 100 days in jail. Released on 12.3.76. Wrote fiery editorials. Killed in his office on 2.9.77 while engaged in worship.
Kerala
(37) M. Abdullah
CITU worker. Died on 16.7.76.
(38) Ramakrishnan
70-year-old resident of Cheru Vannen (Calicut district). Homeopath, Swayamsevak. Open opposition to Government.
(39) K. Raghavan
Leading Marxist of Thirichelly. Death on 5.6.70 due to assault by Youth Congress Goondas.
(40) Murlidharan
17-year-old Swayamsevak of Vadkancherry. Died of electric shock on 26.4.76 while making arrangements for mass fasting and prayer.
(41) Rajan
Student of Calicut Engineering College. Arrested from hostel on March 1, 1976 and taken to the torture chamber of Crime Branch. Never returned.
(42) Vijayan Nair
Arrested on March 5, 1976 at Verkala East Fort bus stand and kept in infamous torture chamber of Crime Branch. Never returned.
Gujarat
(43) Bherumal Gehani
46-year-old resident of Barwa (Junagarh). City RSS Karyavaha. Patient of hypertension and diabetes. Death on 29.9.76.
(44) Harivadan Bhatt
60-year-old Jana Sangh worker of Surat. Jaundice patient in Sabarmati jail. Died on 13.4.76 in Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad.
Chandigarh
(45) Chamanlal Lakhanpal
Lawyer of Chandigarh. President, Punjab Congress-O and head of Punjab. Haryana Bar Association. MISA detenu. Death in jail on 24.7.76 due to Hypertension and diabetes.
Jammu & Kashmir
(46) Ishwardas Mehangi
90-year-old father of Om Prakash, Jammu Bhag Sangh Chalak. Social Worker. Died during Emergency.
(47) Smt. Tara Chand
35 year-old. Gave shelter to underground workers. Died of Cancer.
Tamilnadu
(48) P. Balakrishnan
55-year-old resident of Sattur (Ramnathpuram), DMK Secretary, MISA prisoner. Died in jail on 3.2.76.
Delhi
(49) Baij Nath Kapil
56-year-old Vaidya. Eminent social worker. Swayamsevak. MISA detenu. In bad physical condition in jail. Adequate medical attention not available in jail. Died on 6.2.76.
(50) Ravi Shankar Goyal
50-year-old resident of Bhogal Jungpura, Delhi. Swayamsevak from childhood. Householder. Death while underground.
(51) Tilak Raj Narula
Municipal Corporator, MISA prisoner. Stomach ailment, absence of proper treatment. Refusal of parole. Death in jail in March 1976.
(52) Manoharlal Jatav
Swayamsevak, MISA detenu, Vice-President of Delhi BLD, heart patient. Died in C.I.D. interrogation chamber due to mental torture.
Punjab
(53) Sardar Prem Singh
Akali Dal worker of Amritsar. Died in jail.
(54) Vidhi Chandra
32-year-old resident of Budlada (Bhatinda district). City RSS Karyavaha. Great pain in stomach. Released on parole but died the very next day in September 1975.
(55) Lala Jairam Das
60-year-old businessman of Amritsar, Head of Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Vice-President of Durgayan Mandir Samiti. Death after release from jail.
(56) Sardar Watan Singh
57-year-old Sangh Chalak of Jalandhar. Security Chief of Jalandhar at time of partition. Pracharak for 5-6 years. Underground. Death due to heart failure on 24.10.75.
(57) Lajpat Rai
45-year-old resident of Dhuri (Jalandhar district). Former prominent worker of RSS. Died in jail of Asthma on 15.9.75.
(58) Mulchand Saraf
60-year-old resident of Sukhwale. Death in April 1976 due to heart failure.
Bihar
(59) Vinod Kumar Singh
College student to Bihar (Begusarai). Student leader. Killed on the evening of 14.3.77 by powerful bomb of Communists.
(60) Bindeswari Singh
Resident of Bihar, Killed with Vinod Kumar.
(61) Ras Bihari Singh
23-year-old resident of Navkothi (Begusarai). Shot dead by Communists on 16.3.77.
(62) Phanishwar Nath ‘Renu’
55-year-old author, awarded Padmashri. Death due to faulty medical treatment. Returned award and the financial grant with it to Government on 18.11.75 to protest against dictatorship.
(63) Bhaiji
Swayamsevak from childhood. Established Shishu Shiksha Sadan. In 1975 Chief of RSS O.T.C. at Hazaribagh. MISA detenu. Published narrative on jail life. No attention while lying ill in Prison Ward of Patna Hospital. Removed to All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi on 24.4.77, but died there on 18.5.77.
(64) Prof. Dr. Ramchandra Prasad Shahi
Resident of Chandoli (Sitamarhi), MISA detenu. Fell ill. No treatment. Died in jail.
(65) Birju Sah
72-year-old freedom-fighter of Kamaldaha (Sitamarhi). Offered Satyagraha. Died in Darbhanga jail.
(66) Vaidyanath Chaudhary
Sarvodaya leader, freedom fighter. Fell ill in jail. Released on death-bed. Died on 14.8.76 in Kashi.
(67) Dina Nath Choubey
Resident of Saithu (Bhojpur). Newly married. Fell ill in Buxar jail. Death due to inefficiency in hospital.
(68) Nathuni Sharma
Elderly farm labourer of village Babhni (Bhojpur). Offered Satyagraha. Ill in Buxar jail. Death due to lack of proper treatment.
(69) Habibullah Saheb
72-year-old Maulana. MISA prisoner. Mercilessly beaten by Warder on 25.11.76 and left to die. Died on reaching home.
(70) Akshay Lal Sahni
Resident of Bajkhala (Muzaffarpur). Peaceful and affectionate temper. Offered Satyagraha. Fell ill suddenly and died.
(71) Niranjan Lal Goyal
Elderly Sarvodaya and social worker. MISA prisoner. Death in February 1977 due to medical treatment not being available in time.
(72) Ayodhya Das
BLD member of Nathnagar. MISA prisoner. Died in Bhagalpur Central Jail due to lack of medical treatment.
(73) Shukdev Muni
BLD member, MISA detenu. Death due to fasting in Sadar Hospital.
Madhya Pradesh
(74) Prabhakar Raje
Social worker of Katangi (M.P.), Died in jail due to lack of medical treatment.
(75) Parshuram Rajak
45-year-old Bidi Mazdoor of Karanji (Jabalpur district). RSS and Jana Sangh worker. MISA prisoner. Ill in jail. Death due to negligence of authorities.
(76) Somnath Hedau
20-year-old Swayamsevak in Sivni jail under MISA. Suffered stroke. No attention paid. Died in jail on 6.4.76.
(77) Hashmat Warsi
21-year-old. Powerful speaker. Organising Secretary of Bhopal Jana Sangh. MISA prisoner. TB patient. Death due to absence of proper medical treatment in hospital, blood vomits, bad food and mental tension.
(88) Bhairav Bharati
50-year-old Marxist leader of Nagda (Ujjain district). MISA prisoner. Died on 18.9.75 due to no treatment of jaundice.
(79) Nanaji Bhai
Vanvasi leader and Gram Panchayat member of Narela (Jhabua district). Patient of diabetes and jaundice. No proper treatment. Released from Indore District Jail while near death. Died while walking along street (September 75).
(80) Manik Chand Masand
RSS worker of Khandwa. MISA detenu. Death on parole due to kidney failure.
(81) Hari Ram Garg
Resident of Jaura (Morena district). Former District President of Jana Sangh. Under house arrest. Diabetes and fever. No treatment. Died on 30.9.75.
(82) Mulchand Pehalwan
Well-known wrestler of Maheswar (Khargon district). No proper treatment in Barwani jail. Cancer of the throat and mouth. Released at last stage but died because forced to walk for miles with his belongings on his head.
(83) Ghisalal Goyal
60-year-old resident of Nalkheda (Shajapur). MISA detenu. Fearless journalist. Cancer of the throat. Released when near death. Died at home a week later in January 1976.
(84) Shaligram Adivasi
Vanvasi leader of Barwa (Khargon). Got TB in Barwani jail. Released when became serious, but died four days later.
(85) Amar Singh
Resident of Bhutia (Dewas district). Offered Satyagraha. Fell ill due to inhuman police brutality and extreme hardship and died.
(86) Thakurlal Jethwani
District Jana Sangh Secretary. Former Sangh Pracharak. Resident of Ujjain. 50 year-old. Offered Satyagraha. Died of heart failure in jail.
(87) Sardar Mal Bhansali
60-year-old businessman of Jaura. Former city worker. Resident of Ratlam. Died in jail of heart failure.
(88) Morubhaiya Gadre
Resident of Indore. Passed LL.B. but became Sangh Pracharak. Jana Sangh Organising Secretary. Underground. Remarkable memory. During Emergency continuous travel all over State. Became ill in travel. Admitted to Mission Hospital. Arrested under MISA. Died on the night of 14.1.77.
(89) Gopalrao Badgade
Resident of Indore. Was in good health when went to jail. Came out like a living corpse — could neither talk nor walk. Died a few days later.
Maharashtra
(90) Kakasaheb Patwardhan
Tehsil Sangh Chalak of Uran (Colaba district). Died of heart failure in Thane jail in Feburary 1976.
(91) Mukund Dhondo Gulavni
53-year-old Swayamsevak. Dentist of Vita (Sangli district). Died on 31.5.76 because of inadequate medical treatment in Yeravada jail.
(92) Gopal Krishna Deshpande
34-year old Sangh Pracharak of Pune. Diabetic. Became seriously ill due to inadequate medical treatment and released on parole from Yeravada jail. Died on 24.12.76.
(93) Sangram (Vikram) Shankar Joshi
Tenth-standard student of Dharangaon (Jalgaon district). Died in accident while carrying Satyagraha leaflets.
(94) Digambar Pandurang (Babanrao) Kulkarni
45-year-old resident of Mulund, Bombay. Burmah Shell employee. Jana Sangh Secretary. Died of heat failure.
(95) Padmakar Dongre
Died immediately on being released from Ichalkaranji (Kolhapur district) jail.
(96) Dattaji Bhale
Was Vibhag Pracharak of Khadki (Aurangabad). Died of heart failure caused by extreme physical exertion during underground work.
Rajasthan
(97) Bhairulal Lakhara
25-year-old resident of Kankroli (Udaipur district). RSS worker. Bangle shop. Stomach pain in Uadaipur jail. No diagnosis. Died in Ahmedabad hospital in lift on Jan. 14, 1976.
(98) Yuvraj Pratap Singh
38-year-old prince of Alwar. Sudden death on 27.3.76 in mysterious circumstances.
Vidarbha/Nagpur
(99) Dr. Shankarrao V. Bobde
67-year-old Katol (Vidarbha) city Sangh Chalak. MISA detenu. Died in jail hospital of acute heart ailment on 30.1.76.
(100) Keshavrao (Bhausaheb) Kulkarni
73-year-old lawyer of gondia (Vidarbha). Gondia district Sangh Chalak. MISA prisoner. Released on parole before death.
(101) Madhukar Bobde
43-year-old Swayamsevak of Balapur (Akola). Teacher, municipal employee. MISA detenu. Arrested under MISA on July 4, 1975. Was released 15 days before death.
(102) Abhay Digambar Ranade
23-year-old Student, Swayamsevak of Amaravati. Offered Satyagraha. Sentenced to 3 months. Died in jail on 23.3.76.
(103) Ramesh Bhajipale
22-year-old student Satyagrahi of Lakhani (Bhandara district). Died of dropsy on 24.9.76 in Nagpur Medical College Hospital.
(104) Pandurangpant Kshirsagar
58-year-old resident of Nagpur. All-India treasurer of RSS. Sangh Pracharak for 34 years. Death due to heart failure in Thane jail on 23.9.76.
(105) Prabhakar Sharma
65-year-old Sarvodaya worker. Rural service for 31 years. Accepted martyrdom by self-immolation on 1.10.76 at Surgaon (two miles from Pavnar in Wardha district) as a protest against Mrs. Gandhi’s dictatorship.
Himachal Pradesh
(106) Vidya Sagar Joshi
52-year-old music teacher. MISA prisoner in Dharmashala jail. Heart patient. Was made to walk to the ward. Arrested through Kashmiri Lal Joshi, MLA. Died on 12.8.76.
(107) Bishan Das Sood
58-year-old Swayamsevak of Paprevala (Kangra). Newspaper agent. Patient of chronic Asthma. MISA detenu. Death on 7.6.76.
(This document has been compiled by Madhu Jha. She is a graduate in political science)