Prem Krishna Khanna Biography 
Prem Krishna Khanna was a freedom fighter and revolutionary associated with revolutionary group - Hindustan Republican Association from Shahjahanpur. He is best known for his association with Bismil and Ashfaqulla Khan who successfully executed the notorious Kakori conspiracy of 9 August 1925. He was one among the nine associates under the leadership of Bismil who robbed government treasury which was transported in the 8-Down Saharanpur - Lucknow passenger train by British. The other associates include - Rajendra Lahiri and Manmath Nath Gupta from Varanasi, Sachindra Nath Bakshi and Keshab Chakravorthy from Bengal, Chandra Shekhar Azad from Unnao, Banwari Lal from Rai Bareli, Mukundi Lal from Etawah and Murari Lal from Shahjahanpur. Majority of the members were caught and sentenced to death by British including Lahiri, Bismil and Khan. Manmath Nath Gupta was sentenced to life imprisonment as he was a juvenile and he was the oldest survivor of the group.
He was born in Lahore in 1894 as a single child to his parents in a rich family. His father worked as the Chief Divisional Engineer of Indian Railways Shahjahanpur. Khanna also maintained good relations with the British Authorities. Prem was grown up in different places and since childhood he was passionate to reading. After studies he did contract work of the railways and got the license of the Mauser pistol for security purposes. Later Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil, who was in search of weapons for his revolutionary activities came to contact with Khanna. Khanna purchased cartridges in his license for Bismil occasionally and thus a relationship was developed between two.
Khanna was one among those who helped in the formation of revolutionary group following withdrew of the non-cooperation movement after Chauri Chaura incident. Thus Khanna became a main figure for providing arms and ammunition to this new party. After his associates were caught for Kakori Conspiracy Case, though Police tried to use Khanna as a witness against Bismil he denied it. Khanna was prosecuted 5 years rigorous imprisonment in the Kakori Conspiracy Case. Later he was active in politics and congress.
Published: N/A
Updated: July 21, 2014
