Lucknow – The centenary of the historic Kakori Train Action was marked in the state capital with a captivating storytelling session, Dastaan-e-Sarfaroshi, presented by renowned dastango Himanshu Bajpai at the prestigious Saraka Hotel.
The event, organized by The Lost Library as part of an ongoing exhibition of rare and historic newspapers curated by Vandana Sehgal from the collection of Suboor Usmani, transported audiences back to one of India’s most iconic freedom struggle moments.
Coordinator Bhupendra Asthana highlighted Bajpai’s mastery in the medieval art of oral storytelling. In Dastaan-e-Sarfaroshi, Bajpai wove a narrative rich in patriotism, recounting the camaraderie between Ashfaqulla Khan and Ram Prasad Bismil, underscoring the secular and humanistic spirit of the freedom movement. From sharing meals in the same plate to protecting each other’s beliefs, his vivid portrayals drew heartfelt applause from the audience.
This performance, also known as Dastaan-e-Tamanna-e-Sarfaroshi, chronicles the Kakori Train Action of August 9, 1925—from its historical backdrop and meticulous planning to the action itself, the personal lives of revolutionaries, their arrests, trials, imprisonment, punishments, and enduring legacy. Bajpai’s three years of intensive research drew on first-person accounts, expert writings, and interviews with families of the revolutionaries, notably guided by Uday Khatri, son of revolutionary Ramkrishna Khatri.
Since its debut in 2019, Bajpai has performed this dastaan over 100 times across India and internationally in Dubai, Singapore, and Turkey. In 2020, he was specially honored by then-President Ram Nath Kovind after performing it at Rashtrapati Bhavan during the President’s House Day celebrations.
The event saw the presence of eminent personalities including Prasar Bharati Chairman Navneet Sehgal, Minister Asim Arun, Sudhanshu Srivastava, Dr. Deepak Agarwal, Shahzada Naseem Zia (Kakori Sufi Saint), and several other dignitaries.
