Shaheed Diwas: The day that crowns the sacrifice of Martyrs
Bhagat Singh used to sow guns as a child in his family grounds of undivided Punjab in the previously undivided Bharat so that they would grow into firearms’ trees, which could be used in the annihilation of the British empire.
The Trio – Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru were great patriots. They were directly guided by Shri Chandrashekar Azad and indirectly by Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. In fact, HSRA (Hindustan Socialist Republican Association)’s mandatory reading material included ‘The Indian War of Independence 1857’. Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, Shivaram Rajguru, and Chandrashekhar Azad were all members of the HSRA.
It must be remembered that Independence was not attained by non-violence alone. It was not just Gandhiji who fought for independence and got freedom for India. The violent struggles of Rash Behari Bose, Subas Chandra Bose, Veer Damodar Savarkar, Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru were equally helpful in getting freedom for Bharat. Only fools would believe that we got independence only because of the ‘non-violent’ virtues of Jawaharlal Nehru and Gandhiji. Let us never forget that independence was attained because of the contribution of multiple freedom fighters with different ideologies.
Rash Behari Bose (25-05-1886 to 21-01-1945) and Subas Chandra Bose were major freedom fighters. R B Bose fought against the British Sarkar and was the mastermind behind the Delhi conspiracy and the ‘Ghadar’ conspiracy. The Ghadar conspiracy failed and R B Bose was to be arrested by the British but the former intelligently escaped to Japan. He founded the First Indian National Army during World War 2. R B Bose had established himself well in Japan. He married the daughter of a powerful Samurai leader. Subhas arrived in Singapore on 2nd July 1943. He was warmly welcomed by Rash Behari Bose, who appointed Subhas as the leader of the Indian Independence League, which he had created. R B Bose held a Conference of the Indian Independence League on the 4th of July of 1943, wherein he delivered his final presidential address and praised Subhas extensively as a brilliant leader and uncompromising fighter. R B Bose resigned from the Post of President of the Indian Independence League and appointed Subhas as its President. It was because of the humungous contributions of freedom fighters like R B Bose and S C Bose that Bharat got freedom.
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on the 13th of April 1919. It was a horrific incident, which took place in Jallianwala in Punjab where General O’Dyer opened fire on innocent Bharatiya people. A number of people were deeply affected by it. The impact of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre created many freedom fighters in Bharat.
The date 23rd March 1931 is forever etched in the minds of the Bharatiya people. On that day, three young freedom fighters, who were less than twenty-five years old gave up their lives for their motherland. They were hanged by the British imperialists in Punjab. They were supposed to be hanged on the 24th of March of 1931. They were hanged one day, earlier because the imperialists were afraid of an uprising by the Bharatiya people to protect their beloved Sukhdev Thapar, Bhagat Singh, and Shivaram Rajguru.
After hanging Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru, their bodies were burnt using petrol and thrown into the Sutlej river by the cowardly British. However, our Bharatiya people found out about all this and recovered the bodies, which were later given a respectful adieu by our people.
In the days before Bhagat Singh was to be hanged, he told his mother not to cry. For Bhagat Singh, Motherland was greater than mother. It was because of the devotion of such great people as Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru that we were able to enjoy the fruits of our freedom to such a great extent.
The Trio laid down their lives for this country with so much grace. Bhagat Singh was reading a book just before being hanged. Sukhdev was singing songs and S Rajguru was chanting mantras before their time of death. The Trio willingly laid down their lives for their motherland as they wanted to inspire their brethren through their sacrifice.
They all studied together at D.A.V., Lahore. They were all members of Naujawan Bharat Sabha and HSRA – Hindustan Socialist Republican Association.
Shivaram Rajguru studied at Varanasi and was a scholar of Sanskrit. Sukhdev loved playing with danger and had a great memory.
Bhagat Singh was a freedom fighter and hated the British. The illegitimate Simon Commission was opposed by Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Shivaram when it came to India. They were all very angry with the British for lathi charging their role model freedom fighter, Lala Lajpat Rai during the latter’s protest against the Simon Commission.
Chandrashekhar Azad, S Rajguru, and Bhagat Singh were accused in the killing of British Police Officer, Sanders. Soon, Sukhdev, S Rajguru, and Bhagat Singh were caught by the British and they were sentenced to hanging. The trio were great and brave souls. They sacrificed their life in the service of their motherland at a very young age. They were all less than 25 years old when they died for Bharat.
Sukhdev Thapar was an Indian Freedom fighter. He was a member of HSRA – Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. He was executed on the 23rd of March 1931 along with S Rajguru and Bhagat Singh.
Sukhdev Thapar was involved in the Lahore Conspiracy case. He was the Chief of the Punjab unit of HSRA. He was involved in the Assault case in the Lahore Conspiracy case (1929-30). He was involved in the assassination of Assistant Superintendent of Police, J P Saunders on the 17th of December of 1928. Sukhdev Thapar was mentioned as Accused No 1 in the Lahore Conspiracy case’s First Information Report filed by the then Senior Superintendent of Lahore, Hamilton Harding. In the FIR, he was described as ‘Swami’, ‘peasant’, son of Ram Lal, Thapar Khatri caste. Sukhdev and his companions were detained, found guilty, and given death sentence following the bombing of the Central Assembly Hall in New Delhi on the 8th of April, 1929.
Thus, Shivaram Rajguru, Sukhdev Thapar, and Bhagat Singh were all hanged on the 23rd of March 1931 in Lahore Central Jail and their remains were secretly burnt on the banks of the banks of the Sutlej river.
National Martyrs Memorial is now located at Hussainwala where the Trio were cremated.
There is an Amar Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar Inter-State Bus Terminal and the Main Bus Stand of Ludhiana city at the birthplace of Sukhdev. There is also a Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies in Delhi.
Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was a great inspiration to this Trio of Martyrs.
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar became known as ‘Veer’ Vinayak Damodar Savarkar after an incidence of bravery in his childhood. Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was indeed, one of the bravest men in World History and the Greatest Patriot that the world has ever produced. The proof of this has been given by none other than former Poet-Prime Minister, Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In his own words of poetry in Hindi, Shri. Vajpayee ji said –
‘सावरकर माने तेज, सावरकर माने त्याग, सावरकर माने तप।‘
which means, Savarkar means Speed (it denotes the speed of thoughts, feelings, words and actions of Veer Savarkar), Savarkar means Sacrifice and Savarkar means Meditation!
One can understand the paramount significance of Veer Savarkar from the above lines.
Savarkar contributed in multiple ways –
First and foremost, he was a freedom fighter and patriot incomparable. His travails as a freedom fighter cannot be forgotten. His bravery in the face of excessive physical and mental torture should never be underestimated.
Second, he was a grand litterateur. Savarkar was a poet, novelist, short story writer, and playwright. He worked to purify the Marathi language. One of his more famous songs is ‘Sagaraprantalamala’, which was written after his close associate, Madan Lal Dhingra (whom many claim that he had influenced greatly) was sent to the gallows in London after Dhingra murdered Wylie. Dhingra’s death along with other circumstances weakened Savarkar’s overall health. It was during the aftermath of all this that he sang ‘Sagara’. In fact, he being a literary genius sang as he composed the song. The song was immortalized by the emotional music of Hridaynath’s music and sung by the famous Mangeshkar siblings (Usha, Lata, Asha, and Hriday).
In Cellular Jail, Savarkar wrote another poem “Jayostute” (Victory to you) in Marathi.
Savarkar composed his first poem when he was eleven. He wrote ‘Swadeshichaphatka’ at the tender age of 11 when he was still in school. He wrote poems throughout his entire adult life. He wrote hundreds of poems on the walls of his Cell in A&N Islands. It is estimated that he wrote up to 6000 poems on the walls. His famous plays were ‘Usshap’, ‘Sanyastakhadga’ and ‘Uttarkriya’.
His contribution to Marathi literature is immense. He composed pawadas (ballads). One of his famous poems is Raarakaaspahun. His other famous poems include ‘Sagara’ and ‘Jayostute’. He also wrote poems opposing the cruel practice of ‘untouchability’.
Third, he was also a very good Historian, who had read countless Books of History and who had keenly observed the Independence Movement in India. He wrote – Joseph Mazzini, the biography of the Italian revolutionary, 1857 Che Swatantra Samar (First Independence Struggle 1857), Shikhancha Itihas – The History of the Sikhs, Mazi Janmathep ( narrating his ordeals at Kaala Paani), Kale Pani and many others. His other well-known books were Hindu-Pad-Padshaahi on Maratha History and ‘Six Glorious Epochs.’
Fourth, He was also a proponent of Hindutva Philosophy. His book of 1922, ‘The Essence of Hindutva’ revolutionized the Nation. He wrote the book in Ratnagiri jail ‘Hindutva’ as defined by Veer Savarkar is –‘Everyone, who considers this land, from the river Sindhu till the sea as his or her fatherland/motherland and holy land is a Hindu.’ His book, ‘Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?’ is yet another remarkable book.
Fifth, he worked to abolish the evil practice of ‘Untouchability’. He believed that the Caste system should be done away with to bring greater unity among the Hindus.
Sixth, he called for a single unifying language to unite India. He wished that should one common link language in India.
Seventh, he inspired countless freedom fighters like Madan Lal Dhingra, Chandrasekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and S.C. Bose. British Officer, J.P.Saunders was assassinated by Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev and all three freedom fighters were hanged.
Eighth, everyone appreciated the valour and greatness of Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar including the likes of Rash Behari Bose – the founder of the Indian National Army, Subhas Chandra Bose – the successor of R.C.Bose and the Legal Luminary and champion of the Socially Depressed classes, Shri. B.R.Ambedkar.
Ninth, Savarkar helped to design the first Indian National Flag, which Madam Cama unfurled at the World Socialist Conference at Stuttgart, Germany.
Savarkar’s views on Hindu Society
Savarkar said that there were seven shackles that were keeping the Hindu society in chains. They include Vedoktabandi. Vedoktabandi means keeping the Sacred Vedas in chains. Savarkar believed that the knowledge regarding the Vedas was universal. According to Savarkar, this knowledge about the Vedas cannot be restricted to any one caste. He strongly believed that whosoever has the aptitude, discipline and desire should be allowed to study the Vedas. He also believed that there should be no Vyavasaaybandi or no one should be forced to join any profession. In 1922, Gandhi ji had written – ‘hereditary occupation for maintaining societal order cannot be shaken.’ Savarkar believed that a human should be free to choose their profession based on their talent, merit and nature.
Savarkar was also against the evil practice of untouchability. He also believed that Sparshbandi or the practice of untouchability was not right and that it was a sin. Let us understand this ‘deviance’ from the ‘kind and compassionate’ Gandhiji who advised Shudras to move away to maintain peace and ‘brotherhood’, when there was a fight between the Shudra and Savarna community. The ancient practice of not letting Hindus travel overseas was not appreciated by Savarkar. Savarkar also considered Samudrabandi or the practice of not travelling overseas as a backward practice. He believed that Europe’s naval traditions were what made them strong. We must not forget that the Cholas of ancient Tamil Nadu were great naval powers in Ancient Bharat. He also did not like the practice of Shuddibandi. Shuddibandi means the practice of not letting an individual to reconvert back into the mother religion (Gharwapsi). Savarkar believed that everyone should be allowed to return to their root religion or mother religion. He also opposed Rotibandi. In other words, Savarkar favoured inter-caste dining. He was also against Betibandi and believed that there should be inter-caste marriages within the Hindu religion.
Savarkar had to endure much suffering, cruelty, injustice, loss of domestic bliss, development of health issues, and coping mechanisms due to his long years under tortuous conditions in the dreaded Cellular Jail (Kaala Paani) at the Andaman Islands.
Veer Savarkar was illegally captured by the British on French soil and sentenced to two life imprisonments in the dreaded Andaman and Nicobar Cellular Jail (Kaala Paani). The British imperialists were very cunning and cruel rulers. They were those who didn’t like any Indian freedom fighter to survive to return to struggle for India’s independence. Thus, they handed over two life imprisonment sentences (2 * 25 years) amounting to fifty years to Veer Savarkar at the dreaded Kaala Paani (Cellular Jail) in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
During that time at the dreaded Kaala Paani, Savarkar ji {along with other political prisoners (essentially Bharatiya freedom fighters)} were tortured in multiple horrendous ways of morbid physical and mental kinds (the painful description of which is beyond the capability of this sensitive author) over a period of many years. Many political prisoners committed suicide unable to bear the physical and mental torture by the English Jail authorities, who displayed special debased animalistic pleasure in torturing their hapless and weakened Bharatiya freedom fighters in their horrendous prisons.
Meanwhile, Varanasi was a great hub of revolutionaries fighting to free Bharat Mata. The Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) was formed by Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee, Ram Prasad Bismil, Sachindranath Sanyal, and Sachindranath Bakshi in 1924. Chandrashekhar Azad came in contact with HRA through Rajendra Lahiri, Pranavesh Chatterjee, and Manmathnath Gupta. He became an active member and learnt to make bombs.
The revolutionaries were cruelly treated by the Britishers whereas members of the Indian National Congress were rather well treated by the British. This was because the Congresspeople did not really ‘fight’ against the British. The Policy of Ahimsa suited the British. The British administrators, rulers, institutions, and machinery felt safe with the ‘Protests’ of the Congress. The British really became scared only after seeing the bravery of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Veer Damodar Savarkar, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekar Azad, Rash Behar Bose, Subhas Chandra Bose, S. Rajguru, Sukhdev Thapar and other revolutionaries. It is thus, Falsehood to think that Bharat became independent by purely adopting the principle of Ahimsa in its fight against the British.
We all know how Finance, Information, Communication, and Logistics are the lifelines of Organisations. Money was needed to run The Hindustan Socialist Republication Association. Shri. Ram Prasad Bismil, leader and revolutionary of HSRA came up with the idea to loot a train carrying Rs 30,000 of government money. The money was the money of the Bharatiya people only, which had been collected illegitimately by an illegitimate imperialist regime.
This plan was carried out in what later became famous as the Kakori train Conspiracy Case. The revolutionaries, who took part in the famous Kakori Train Conspiracy, which took place on the 9th of August 1925 included Ram Prasad Bismil, Chandrashekhar Azad, Ashfaqullah Khan, Rajendra Lahiri, Keshab Chakravarthy, Sachindra Bakshi, Manmathnath Gupta, and others The ‘8 down’ train carrying the money was travelling from Hardoi to Lucknow (present-day Uttar Pradesh) on the 9th of August of 1925. One of the revolutionaries pulled the Emergency chain in the train as it approached Kakori. They overpowered the train guard and the heist was carried out. Ram Prasad Bismil and others were arrested. Some of those arrested were hung. Rajendra Lahiri, Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, and Roshan Singh were hung for conspiring in the Kakori Conspiracy.
HRA completely broke down after the Kakori incident. Azad escaped and a bounty of Rs 2000 was put on AZAD’S head. There were lookout notices all over. Chandrashekhar Azad kept disguising himself to hide himself from the British-controlled Bharatiya Police. He dressed up as a sage, a labourer, and a chauffeur among others. He kept moving to different places like Jhansi, Lucknow, Delhi, Lahore, and Varanasi amongst others. In Jhansi, he was protected by Master Rudra Narayan Singh. He disguised as a Sadhu – ‘Hari Shankar Brahmachari’. He built a hut near the Hanuman Mandir, there along the banks of the river, Satar. He used to teach young children and revolutionaries in Jhansi. He made some good friends in Jhansi like Sadashivrao Malkapurkar, Vishwanath Vaishampayan, and Bhagawan Das Mahaur. He was also close to Pandit Raghunath Vinayak Dhulekar and Pandit Sitaram Bhaskar Bhagwat. He then went to Orchha to escape from the Police. Chandrashekar Azad used to give the book, ‘The Indian War of Independence 1857’ written by Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar to the revolutionaries to read. The book was mandatory reading material for the Bharatiya revolutionaries. Azad taught the revolutionaries to make bombs.
Chandrashekhar Azad also loved playing games with the Police. He would provoke them and intimidate them often. The Policemen were often scared of Azad. Chandrashekhar Azad promised to himself that he would never be captured alive by them. In fact, during his period ‘in hiding’ and in disguise, he was able to acquire a Driver’s Licence issued by the Police Superintendent, himself. He was a person of great skills and intelligence. The Police Officer could not guess that he was interacting with the freedom fighter, AZAD. In fact, the Superintendent of Police liked the driving skills of AZAD and would often call AZAD to drive his car! AZAD’s skills, bravery, personality, and intelligence were simply astounding!
There are also various recorded instances of Chandrashekhar Azad coming to the rescue of the weak and vulnerable.
Later, AZAD met Bhagat Singh. Bhagat Singh was from Punjab and was the founder of the Revolutionary group, Navjeevan Sabha at Lahore. Punjab had been through the gruesome Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919. Earlier, the unjust Rowlatt Act had been passed by the Imperial Legislative Council in 1919 granted great powers to the Government to repress political activities and allowed for the detention of political prisoners without trial for two years. In March 1919, the Khilafat Committee had been formed. In December 1920, the Indian National Congress had adopted the Non-Cooperation Movement.
The two revolutionaries, Chandrashekhar Azad and Bhagat Singh met at Delhi and soon formed a strong bond of friendship. They along with Sheo Varma, Mahaveer Singh, and Bhagawati Charan Vohra among others decided to give a new form and name to the Hindustan Republican Army in 1928. They called it the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. Chandrashekhar Azad was not present at the first meeting but he was unanimously chosen as the Commander-in-Chief of the HSRA.
Meanwhile, the Simon Commission had arrived in 1927. It was meant to deliver reforms but mainly consisted only of British representation. A lot of protests took place against the Simon Commission asking the Simon Commission to return. Lala Lajpat Rai led people at Lahore to protest against the Simon Commission. He was lathi-charged on the orders of Colonel Scott. Lala ji suffered from multiple injuries. He died after a week on the 17th of November, 1928.
Bhagat Singh and Chandrasekhar were very angry against Colonel Scott for issuing the orders to lathi-charge the protestors. They wanted to kill Scott to avenge the death of Lalaji. Exactly, a month after the demise of Lala Lajpat Rai, the revolutionaries assembled near the office of the Superintendent of Police at Lahore. They were fully armed and wanted to reply to bullets with bullets.
They ended up murdering Police Officer, Saunders, who was the one responsible for killing Lalaji on 17th Dec 1929. Bhagat Singh and Rajguru had fired at Saunders. The Policeman by name, Charan Singh was about to catch Bhagat Singh. Azad shot Charan Singh. Bhagat and Rajguru were able to escape for the time being.
The Police began searching for the revolutionaries. Azad left Lahore disguised as a seer. Bhagat Singh disguised himself as a government officer at the suggestion of AZAD. Rajguru dressed his servant. Revolutionary Durgadevi dressed up as a Government Officer’s wife and they were able to escape Lahore.
The year was 1929. Lord Irwin was the Viceroy of India. Lord Irwin introduced two bills in 1929. The first was the Public Safety Bill and the second was the Trade Disputes Bill. The Bharatiya people were not happy with the high-handedness of the British rulers.
Chandrashekhar Azad came up with the plan to bomb the Central Assembly in Delhi and also to throw hand-outs. Bhagat Singh, the fiery revolutionary from Punjab was the person to bomb the Central Assembly. Bhagat Singh along with Batukeshwar Dutt threw a bomb at the Central Assembly on the 8th of April 1929. The Revolutionaries wanted to make the deaf British rulers hear the painful wailings of the suffering Bharatiya people under the cruel, exploitative, unjust, foreign, and imperialist British rulers.
In October 1929, Lord Irwin made a vague offer of a ‘Dominion Status’ for India. However, our Bharatiya Freedom Fighters were not satisfied. The Congress demanded ‘Purna Swaraj’ or Complete Independence in December 1929. Chandrashekhar Azad was also indirectly involved in the attempt to blow up the Viceroy’s train in December 1929.
Gandhi ji started the Civil Disobedience Movement on the 6th of April, 1930 after he reached Dandi in Gujarat and had made Salt. The Civil Disobedience Movement was called off after the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
Thus, the first major action of the HSRA was the murder of J.P.Saunders to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai and the second was the bombing of the Central Assembly by Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutta to protest against the Public Safety Bill and the Trade Disputes Bill.
AZAD visited Sitapur Jail to meet Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi. Vidyarthi ji had helped the revolutionaries handle the Kakori Conspiracy Case. So, Azad ji felt that he would do the same in the Central Assembly Bombing case and John Saunders assassination case. Vidyarthiji suggested that Chandrashekhar should meet Chacha Nehruji in this regard.
On the 27th of February 1931, Chandrashekhar Azad met Shri. Jawaharlal Nehru at Prayagraj requested help to free Bhagat Singh and others, who were due to be executed on the 23rd of March 1931. Later, he went to Alfred Park to meet a person. Both of them sat talking under a tree inside Alfred Park.
AZAD died the very same day at Alfred Park (now, Chandrashekar Azad Park) after fighting against a large battalion of British forces (more than 80 in number), who had got information about the whereabouts of AZAD through a spy. Shri. Chandrashekar Azad shot himself with the last remaining bullet in his pistol in Alfred Park after killing many policemen. He remained AZAD or FREE till the end. A man who could have enjoyed the pleasures of youth and lived in ease – chose instead to serve our nation, sacrificing his personal life and professional ambitions. He died in the service of Bharat Mata.
It is important to note the impeccable contributions of Bhagat Singh. There are very few people in this world (past, present, and future) who can replicate the greatness of Shri. Bhagat Singh, who lived for a mere 23 years on this mortal plane but whose contributions for the cause of his Motherland will be remembered for eons to come. There are many who live long but contribute very less to their societies but Bhagat was a generous soul. He gave his all for our motherland and was finally martyred on the 23rd of March 1931 in Lahore, when he along with his comrades, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru were hanged within the Lahore Jail premises, secretly by the dirty British Stooges after 7 p.m. in the evening and their bodies burnt with petrol and thrown into the Sutlej River! They were supposed to be hanged on the 24th of March. However, the Hanging was postponed by a day and carried out secretly because the British were afraid of the repercussions of their dastardly act among the Bharatiya people. The extreme cowardice and cruelty of the British was revealed by this tragedy.
Such was his commitment to the causes of the Emancipation of his Motherland, his desire for an Egalitarian and Just Economic and Social Society, a Society with no communalism, his International outlook, and Atheistic Religious Tendencies that he was respected and feared by even his opponents. He left his family and did not even marry. He wholeheartedly served our nation till his last breath along with his beloved comrades and Bharat Mata’s most beloved Children – Shri. Chandrashekar Azad, Shivaram Rajguru, and Sukhdeo Thapar. Bhagat Singh rose above all human barriers and boundaries. He rose above Race and religion. Region and even nationality. It is most likely that had Bhagat Singh lived longer, Bharat might have never been partitioned. Bhagat Singh is revered by both the people of India and Pakistan. He is an Icon for Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and for everyone. Such was the magnificence of his passion for his motherland! He was a leader as popular or even more popular than Mohandas Gandhi. Bhagat Singh wore his heart on his sleeve and was truthful and upright. He never played politics for his personal benefit. He gave his all for our BHARAT motherland.
Bhagat Singh, the great patriot, Socialist Revolutionary, Atheist, and Internationalist was born in the village of Banga, which was part of Lyallpur district in undivided Bharat (now in Faisalabad district, Pakistan) on the 27th of September 1907. His family members were passionately involved in the freedom struggle for Bharat. His parents were Vidyavati Kaur and Sardar Kishan Singh. Some of his relatives had been arrested or imprisoned by the contemptuous British rulers. Bhagat Singh belonged to the Sikh community and his family was economically rich. Bhagat Singh displayed a tremendous passion for patriotism from a young age.
The main events, which changed the course of the life of Bhagat Singh leading to his early martyrdom at the age of 23 were the following –the Rowlatt Act, the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, the Non-Cooperation Movement, the event at Chauri-Chaura, the Kakori Train Conspiracy, the killing of Officer Saunders and the Central Assembly bombing at Delhi.
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre of April 13th, 1919 had a deep impact on him. He was a 12-year-old child at that time. The Massacre was a fallout of the draconian Rowlatt Act and the cruelty of Evil British General O’Dyer. Thousands of people died in the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in Amritsar in Punjab. On the day of the Festival of Baisakhi, a large number of people had assembled inside the Jallianwala garden to protest against the Rowlatt Act and the arrest of some leaders. They were brutally massacred. Bhagat was shaken by the Brutality of the Illegitimate British Masters. His entire life was against Imperialism and Pro-revolution. His endearing and unchanging slogans were ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ and ‘Samrajyavad Murdabad’ (‘Long Live Revolution’ and ‘Down with Imperialism’).
Bhagat was always a courageous and intellectual person from a young age. He studied at Dayanand Anglo-Vedic School and later at National College at Lahore and not in any British-run school or college. Bhagat Singh was always loyal to his country and was not one of those people, who licked the feet of the British master and who were greedy and afraid of the British. Bhagat Singh was a patriot above everything else. He would also become an internationalist and a Social Revolutionary inspired by Karl Marx and the Russian Bolshevik revolutionary, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.
Bhagat Singh was an Atheist by belief in spite of having been born in an orthodox Sikh family and a Socialist in his ideological leanings. He was never ever a Communist.
Bhagat was also a voracious reader and he was an extensive reader, who read on different topics. He read a lot of books on Polity, Economy, Social life, and Culture.
Bhagat Singh was an enthusiastic participant in the Non-Cooperation movement, which began in 1919. He was very unhappy when the Freedom Fighter, Shri. Lala Lajpat Rai was lathi-charged on 30th October 1928. He along with many other patriots felt devastated when the revered Lalaji succumbed to the head injuries on 17th November, 1928. For, the first time, doubts entered Bhagat’s mind regarding the ability of Gandhiji and whether Gandhi’s Ahimsa Policy would lead to the emancipation of Bharat. Truth be told, all Bharatiya people know now it was not merely Gandhiji’s method of ahimsa, which got freedom for Bharat but also the Himsa or Violence policy followed by Bhagat Singh and other revolutionary freedom fighters like Chandrashekhar Azad, who were inspired Veer Damodar Savarkar’s book, ‘First war of Indian Independence in 1857’ and the travails of Savarkar. Later, SC Bose would take the Cudgels against the British inspired by the revolutionary freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh and Savarkar.
Bhagat Singh was very unhappy when Gandhiji called off the non-cooperation movement after the incident at Chauri-Chaura.
On 4th February 1922 at Chauri-Chaura, an angry Bharatiya mob set fire to a Police Station. 3 Civilians and 22 policemen died in the Chauri-Chaura incident. The uncomfortable truth that Gandhiji comfortably forgot was that the mob had only retaliated to the continuous persecution of innocent indigenous Bharatiya people by an illegitimate, dastardly British imperialism, who were controlling the people and resources of Bharat over which they had no rights whatsoever. The traders from thousands of kilometres from the Indian sub-continent were pretending to be legitimate rulers. The truth was that the Police had opened fire upon a large group of protestors participating in the Non-Cooperation Movement. The burning down of the police station was only an act of retaliation. Bhagat understood that Bharat would never be able to get independence through non-violence. He understood that Bharat would need to adopt a multi-pronged strategy to get independence. To put it simply, Bhagat Singh was disillusioned by Gandhi’s appeasement tactics and non-violent principles.
Bhagat Singh met his fellow revolutionaries like Sukhdev Thapar and Bhagawati Charan during his college days at National College in Lahore. He also made other life-long friends like Chandrashekhar Azad and Shivaram Hari Rajguru. It would take the efforts of Stalwarts like Veer Savarkar, Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, and Shivaram Rajguru along with countless other revolutionaries like Veer Savarkar, Rash Behari Bose, and Subhash Chandra Bose along with efforts by persons like Gandhi to win independence for Bharat.
Bhagat joined the Kirthi Kisan Party in 1926 in Lahore. He started writing for ‘Kirthi’ and wrote against the atrocities of the British. He was a very good writer and a voracious reader. He also started the Naujawan Bharat Sabha in 1926. The main aim behind the formation of the Naujawan Bharat Sabha was to bring the soldiers and farmers of Bharat, together and to unite people from all religions with the final aim of freeing Bharat from British rule and to bring about Socialism in Bharat. Bhagat wanted the British to leave Bharat and he also wanted Bharat to be ruled by a government, which would provide both social and economic justice to its people. Towards this goal, Bhagat paid a huge personal price.
His refusal to marry caused much sorrow and consternation among his parents and relatives but Bhagat stood his ground and did not yield to emotional blackmailing of any kind. He was determined to serve his motherland. He left his parental home in Punjab and went to Kanpur in present-day Uttar Pradesh. Bhagat Singh’s revolutionary career got a fillip after he went to Kanpur. It was in present-day Uttar Pradesh where he met the revolutionary stalwarts, Chandrashekhar Azad, Shivaram Rajguru, and others.
In 1927, the Kakori train conspiracy was carried out by the HRA – Hindustan Republican Association. Ram Prasad Bismil and 4 other revolutionaries were hanged and 16 were given life imprisonment.
In the same year, 1927, The Simon Commission came to India. Protests were carried out. Lala Lajpat Rai was one of the protesters. He was lathi-charged by the Police of the British imperialist Raj. Lala Lajpat Rai died soon after succumbing to the grievous injuries. Before he died in the hospital, he said that his death would be the last nail in the Britishers’ coffin.
Bhagat Singh and other revolutionaries became very angry seeing all this injustice and planned for revenge for Lala ji’s death. The revenge was planned by the revolutionaries especially by Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, and Jai Gopal. They all decided to part in the assassination of Police Officer, James Scott, who had ordered the lathi-charge on Lalaji. Revolutionary Jai Gopal was designated with the duty to identify the officer. Unfortunately, on the day of the assassination on 17th December 1928, Jai Gopal wrongly identified his assistant, Officer Saunders as Officer Scott. Bhagat Singh and Shivaram Rajguru mistakenly killed Officer Saunders in Lahore. This revolutionary act led by Chandrashekara Azad was indirectly inspired by revolutionaries like Ram Prasad Bismil and Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. They would be forerunners of the revolutionaries, Rash Behari Bose and Subhas Chandra Bose. Thus, there was a constant rising of revolutionaries. The first round of revolutionaries included Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The second and third rounds of revolutionaries included members of HRA and then HSRA led by Azad, Bhagat, and others. RB Bose and SC Bose were the other great revolutionaries. Thus, it would be a horrible fallacy to think that only Gandhi and a handful of leaders got freedom for India. Nothing can be further from the Truth. Credit should be given where it is due.
In fact, it was Bhagat who initially brought back the idea of Vasudeva Kutumbakam or ‘The World is One Family’. Swami Vivekananda too, believed in this and the present central dispensation, too follows this motto.
After the death of Saunders, the Police searched for the perpetrators everywhere but were not successful. Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, etc were masters of deception and evaded the Police by disguising themselves well.
There was a need to rebuild HRA. Soon, Bhagat met Shri. Chandrashekhar Azad. The two stalwart freedom fighters decided to merge the Naujawan Bharat Sabha and the Hindustan Republican Association. In September 1928, there was a secret meeting at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi and the merged entity was born- the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. The word ‘Socialist’ had been added.
The tyrannical, evil, and cunning British Imperialists were unable to catch Bhagat or his comrades on their own. Finally, it was Bhagat Singh and Bhatukeshwar Dutt, who after their bombing of the Central Assembly in Delhi in 1929, voluntarily surrendered themselves before the Police. This was to show their opposition to the draconian and anti-proletariat bills – the Trade Disputes Bill and the Public Safety Bill. The Trade Disputes Bill was against the rights of the workers and the Public Safety Bill was anti-people.
A lot of people have tried to portray Bhagat Singh as a Communist. However, it is contrary to the truth. While it is true that Bhagat Singh had socialistic tendencies, it is untrue and unfair to say that he was a Communist.
Another researcher, Kama Maclean in his book, ‘A Revolutionary History of Interwar India’ wrote about the relationship between the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association and the Mainstream National Movement.
There were many revolutionaries, who contributed to Bharat’s freedom struggle – Vasudev Balwant Phadke, Chapekar brothers – Damodar and Balkrishna, Khudiram Bose, Madan Lal Dhingra, Prafulla Chaki, Kartar Singh Sarabha (THE IDOL OF BHAGAT SINGH), Basant Kumar Viswas, Ramprasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla khan alongside the fearsome foursome, Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Shivram Rajguru and Sukhdeo Thapar.
The Leftists have always tried to project Bhagat Singh as a Leftist, which is nothing but setting a false narrative. Although Bhagat was pro-socialist, he was not a Marxist. Both the C.P.I. and the C.P.I.(M) have tried to appropriate the legacy of Bhagat Singh but have not been successful so far. Bhagat Singh never advocated Communism.
According to Swami Sumedhanand Saraswati, the Arya Samaj played an important role in shaping Bhagat Singh. According to him, Bhagat Singh was influenced by the ideals of the Arya Samaj. Schooling at DAV, Lahore must have influenced young Bhagat in multiple ways.
Bhagat Singh was a person with special traits and abilities. He was a bibliophile and a good writer. He was popular with all groups of people. It is quite possible that the History of India might have been different had Bhagat Singh lived longer. He rose above many barriers and served his motherland with the greatest sense of devotion and sacrifice! Long Live Bhagat Singh! Long live Chandrashekhar Azad! Long live Shivaram Rajguru! Long Live Sukhdev Thapar! Long Live Revolution!
23rd March is Celebrated every year as Martyrs Day in India.
Shivram Hari Rajguru was born on the 24th of August of 1908 in Khed in what is present-day Pune district on the banks of the river, Bheema in the land of the great Marathas, Maharashtra in Bharat. His parents were Parvati Devi and Harinarayan Rajguru. He was born in a Marathi Deshastha Brahmin Hindu family. His parents were pious and simple souls. Patriotism ran in in his blood.
Shri. Rajguru obtained his primary education at Khed. He studied at New English High School at Pune. He was patriotic since childhood. He did not approve of Bharat being ruled by an alien imperialistic regime.
He was a member of Seva Dal. He attended a Training Camp by Dr. M.S. Hardikar at Ghatprabha. He became a revolutionary after joining HSRA. HSRA was the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. It was a revolutionary group of freedom fighters founded by Sachindra Sanyal, Ram Prasad Bismil, and others. He became close to the other revolutionaries in HSRA like Bhagat Singh and Sukhdeo Thapar. Shivaram Rajguru was greatly inspired by the inimitable Chandrashekhar Azad, who was a great freedom fighter.
Bhagat Singh, the daring revolutionary from Punjab was inspired by Kartar Singh Sarabha, the founder of the Ghadar Party. Shivaram Rajguru, Bhagat Singh, and Sukhdeo Thapar were the beloved associates of Chandrashekhar Azad. Chandrashekhar Azad often led the Trio into strong actions against the British.
Bhagat Singh and Shivaram Rajguru were both members of the HSRA -Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. In December 1928, they plotted the assassination of the Superintendent of Police, James Scott in Lahore to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai. Lala Lajpat Rai had died after being hit by police while on a march in Lahore protesting against the Simon Commission. However, they ended up killing Assistant Superintendent of Police, John Saunders on the 17 of December 1928.
They were convicted on the charges of the murders of John Saunders and were sentenced to death.
There was an escape plan after the assassination of John Saunders. Bhagat Singh disguised himself as a senior government officer. Bhabhi Durga ji, wife of freedom fighter, Bhagawati Charan disguised herself as the officer’s wife. Shivaram Rajguru disguised as their servant. They escaped for some time but were later caught by the cruel and illegitimate imperialists.
23rd March of 1931 was indeed an extremely sad day for Bharat Mata, who lost three of her most precious children. Bhagat Singh, Sukhdeo Thapar, and S Rajguru were hanged on that day at Lahore Central Jail. In fact, they were hanged one day, earlier than planned – another conspiracy by the British authorities because the latter were very afraid of ‘The Trio’, who were very popular Freedom Fighters because their willingness to die for the motherland had earned the immense respect and love from the Bharatiya masses.
They were cremated at Hussainiwala on the banks of the Sutlej River in Ferozepur in Punjab. There are tens of thousands of people, who throng the Memorial in Hussainiwala to pay homage to these great truly martyred freedom fighters.
Hence, the Trio of S. Rajguru, Bhagat Singh, and Sukhdeo made the supreme sacrifice on the 23rd of March 1931. They were to be hanged on the 24th of March of 1931 but were instead hanged a day earlier as the ALIEN GOVERNMENT was afraid of the repercussions of the hanging and did not want the Bharatiya people to side with the Freedom Fighters. The other Martyrs’ Day in Bharat is marked on the 30th of January when Gandhi ji was assassinated. Nothing could be more ironic in this world than the way, Martyrdom is understood or interpreted.
The sacrifice of Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev Thapar is more important now in the context of the Amrit Mahotsav or completion of 75 years of Independence, wherein we Bharatiya people need to recall the sacrifice of our freedom fighters. Did the freedom fighters die in vain to witness this extreme rise in human population, falling standards of culture and morality, extreme levels of pollution and corruption, degeneration of the environment, rising crime rates, rise in the use of intoxicants and bad habits, lack of humanity, courtesy and kindness etcetera?
Khed has been renamed as Rajgurunagar. In April 2023, the Maharashtra government told a large panel of 30 members headed by the Pune Divisional Commissioner to submit a fresh plan for the redevelopment of Shivaram Hari’s ancestral home at Rajgurunagar, 45 kms from Pune City.
The state government of Maharashtra has already committed Rs.150 crores for the redevelopment plan and has sanctioned Rs. 30 lakhs for carrying out repairs of the House of Rajguru, which will be converted into a Memorial. Shri. Rajguru’s Memorial is to be developed in the heart of Rajguru Nagar. The Entrance Gate to the Memorial is complete and work is on to complete the rest of the Memorial on time.
The Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri. Narendra Damodardas Modi ji has appreciated the contributions of our great freedom fighters and has poured encomiums on Chandrashekhar Azad, Shivaram Rajguru, Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev Thapar on various occasions. There is a memorial dedicated to S Rajguru spread over 2,788 square metres of land. There is also a college named after S Rajguru. It is known as Shaheed Rajguru College of Applied Sciences for Women. It is situated in Delhi and is affiliated to Delhi University. The legacy of Shivaram Rajguru is illustrious and lasting.
Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
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She has an abiding passion for English literature. She wrote her first poem when she was seven years old.She is the author of seven books including four collections of poetry -‘Great Heights’, ‘The Glittering Galaxy’, ‘Galaxy’ and ‘New Poems’, a novel –‘The Fiery Women’ and two collections of short stories -‘Fragments’ and ‘Surreal Stories’. She has been included in the landmark book, ‘A Critical Survey of Indo- English Poetry’ (2016) and is also one of the fifty women poets writing in English in India, who have been covered in the colossal work, ‘History of Contemporary Indian English Poetry’ (2019). She is also an associate editor of the poetry anthology, ‘Muse of Now Paradigm- An Entry into Poepro’, published in India in 2020. She is also the founder of ‘IndLit Camerata’, a Whatsapp group of Indian litterateurs. In addition, she has been a part of multiple collaborative poetry books like ‘Confluence Volume 2’, ‘Confluence Volume 3’, ‘Confluence Volume 4’ and ‘Madras Hues, Myriad Views’.Her poetry has been published in India, U.K., U.S.A. and South Korea. In addition to poems, short stories and a novel, she has written essays, general articles, critical articles, research articles, book reviews and forewords.
She was the chief guest of 'Poets League', a poetry initiative organised by the post-graduate department of English of Kristu Jayanthi College, Bangalore in 2020.
She has received two letters of appreciation for her poetry from 'THE MISSILE MAN', Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam.
Thus, Dr.S.Padmapriya has a multifaceted personality and has established herself as a fine Author, Educator, Orator and Thinker.
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