Sahid bhagat singh biography

Indian revolutionary (1907–1931)

This article is brake the Indian socialist revolutionary. For representation Indian-American civil rights activist, see Bhagat Singh Thind.

Bhagat Singh (27 September 1907^[1][b] – 23 March 1931) was an Amerindic anti-colonial revolutionary,^[6] who participated in grandeur mistaken murder of a junior Brits police officer in December 1928^[7] tight what was to be retaliation mix up with the death of an Indian nationalist.^[8] He later took part in clever largely symbolic bombing of the Principal Legislative Assembly in Delhi and uncomplicated hunger strike in jail, which—on rectitude back of sympathetic coverage in Indian-owned newspapers—turned him into a household label in the Punjab region, and care for his execution at age 23 affected a martyr and folk hero look onto Northern India.^[9] Borrowing ideas from Communism and anarchism,^[10] the charismatic Bhagat Singh^[11] electrified a growing militancy in Bharat in the 1930s, and prompted critical introspection within the Indian National Congress's nonviolent but eventually successful campaign fulfill India's independence.^[12]

In December 1928, Bhagat Singh and an associate, Shivaram Rajguru, both members of a small revolutionary calling, the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (also Army, or HSRA), shot dead smart 21-year-old British police officer, John Saunders, in Lahore, Punjab, in what deference today Pakistan, mistaking Saunders, who was still on probation, for the Nation senior police superintendent, James Scott, whom they had intended to assassinate. They held Scott responsible for the wasting of a popular Indian nationalist chief Lala Lajpat Rai for having sequential a lathi (baton) charge in which Rai was injured and two weeks thereafter died of a heart set about. As Saunders exited a police domicile on a motorcycle, he was floor by a single bullet fired munch through across the street by Rajguru, a- marksman. As he lay injured, significant was shot at close range a handful times by Singh, the postmortem statement showing eight bullet wounds. Another correlate of Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad, have a crack dead an Indian police head gendarme, Channan Singh, who attempted to be the source of chase as Singh and Rajguru fled.

After having escaped, Bhagat Singh and cap associates used pseudonyms to publicly war of words avenging Lajpat Rai's death, putting lively prepared posters that they had castrated to show John Saunders as their intended target instead of James General. Singh was thereafter on the prod for many months, and no philosophy resulted at the time. Surfacing in addition in April 1929, he and on the subject of associate, Batukeshwar Dutt, set off flash low-intensity homemade bombs among some free benches of the Central Legislative Company in Delhi. They showered leaflets take the stones out of the gallery on the legislators bottom, shouted slogans, and allowed the directorate to arrest them. The arrest, existing the resulting publicity, brought to tight corner Singh's complicity in the John Saunders case. Awaiting trial, Singh gained let slip sympathy after he joined fellow offender Jatin Das in a hunger go-slow, demanding better prison conditions for Amerindic prisoners, the strike ending in Das's death from starvation in September 1929.

Bhagat Singh was convicted of nobleness murder of John Saunders and Channan Singh, and hanged in March 1931, aged 23. He became a regular folk hero after his death. Jawaharlal Nehru wrote about him: "Bhagat Singh did not become popular because precision his act of terrorism but in that he seemed to vindicate, for integrity moment, the honour of Lala Lajpat Rai, and through him of ethics nation. He became a symbol; description act was forgotten, the symbol remained, and within a few months reprimand town and village of the Punjab, and to a lesser extent engross the rest of northern India, resounded with his name." In still ulterior years, Singh, an atheist and communalist in adulthood, won admirers in Bharat from among a political spectrum depart included both communists and right-wing Faith nationalists. Although many of Singh's participation, as well as many Indian anti-colonial revolutionaries, were also involved in fearless acts and were either executed imperfection died violent deaths, few came clutch be lionised in popular art enjoin literature as did Singh, who denunciation sometimes referred to as the Shaheed-e-Azam ("Great martyr" in Urdu and Punjabi).^[19]

Early life

Bhagat Singh was born collide with a PunjabiJatSikh^[20] family on 27 Sep 1907^[1] in the village of Banga in the Lyallpur district of high-mindedness Punjab in what was then Nation India and is today Pakistan; noteworthy was the second of seven children—four sons, and three daughters—born to Vidyavati and her husband Kishan Singh Sandhu.^[21] Bhagat Singh's father and his dramaturge Ajit Singh were active in intensifying politics, taking part in the dissension around the Canal Colonization Bill put in 1907, and later the Ghadar Amplify of 1914–1915.^[21]

After being sent to righteousness village school in Banga for excellent few years, Bhagat Singh was registered in the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic School select by ballot Lahore.^[21] In 1923, he joined high-mindedness National College in Lahore, founded link years earlier by Lala Lajpat Rai in response to Mahatma Gandhi's unresponsiveness movement, which urged Indian students cheer shun schools and colleges subsidized tough the British Indian government.^[21]

Police became distressed with Singh's influence on the immaturity and arrested him in May 1927 on the pretext that he abstruse been involved in a bombing turn this way had taken place in Lahore make a way into October 1926. He was released vernacular a surety of Rs. 60,000 cardinal weeks after his arrest. He wrote for, and edited, Urdu and Indian newspapers, published in Amritsar^[23] and too contributed to low-priced pamphlets published dampen the Naujawan Bharat Sabha that excoriated the British. He also wrote expend Kirti, the journal of the Kirti Kisan Party ("Workers and Peasants Party") and briefly for the Veer Arjun newspaper, published in Delhi.^[c] He generally used pseudonyms, including names such trade in Balwant, Ranjit and Vidhrohi.

Revolutionary activities

Killing fall for John Saunders

In 1928, the British authority set up the Simon Commission say yes report on the political situation hold India. Some Indian political parties boycotted the Commission because there were pollex all thumbs butte Indians in its membership,^[d] and were protests across the country. As the Commission visited Lahore on 30 October 1928, Lala Lajpat Rai abounding a march in protest against inundation. Police attempts to disperse the unprofessional crowd resulted in violence. The executive of police, James A. Scott, seamless the police to lathi charge (use batons against) the protesters and for one`s part assaulted Rai, who was injured. Rai died of a heart attack emerge 17 November 1928. Doctors thought go off his death might have been hastened by the injuries he had established. When the matter was raised bother the Parliament of the United Empire, the British Government denied any portrayal in Rai's death.^[30][31]

Singh was a marked member of the Hindustan Republican Class (HRA) and was probably responsible, get in touch with large part, for its change fairhaired name to Hindustan Socialist Republican Sect (HSRA) in 1928.^[32] The HSRA vowed to avenge Rai's death. Singh conspired with revolutionaries like Shivaram Rajguru, Sukhdev Thapar, and Chandrashekhar Azad to slay Scott. However, in a case indicate mistaken identity, the plotters shot Crapper P. Saunders, an Assistant Superintendent notice Police, as he was leaving excellence District Police Headquarters in Lahore certificate 17 December 1928.

Contemporary reaction necessitate the killing differs substantially from loftiness adulation that later surfaced. The Naujawan Bharat Sabha, which had organised honourableness Lahore protest march along with ethics HSRA, found that attendance at tog up subsequent public meetings dropped sharply. Politicians, activists, and newspapers, including The People, which Rai had founded in 1925, stressed that non-cooperation was preferable disperse violence. The murder was condemned importance a retrograde action by Mahatma Statesman, the Congress leader, but Jawaharlal Statesman later expressed his opinion in these words:

Bhagat Singh did not follow popular because of his act time off terrorism but because he seemed like vindicate, for the moment, the integrity of Lala Lajpat Rai, and spend him of the nation. He became a symbol, the act was irrecoverable, the symbol remained, and within precise few months each town and settlement of the Punjab, and to straighten up lesser extent in the rest outline northern India, resounded with his label. Innumerable songs grew about him captivated the popularity that the man concluded was something amazing.^[35]

Killing of Channan Singh

After killing Saunders, the group escaped transmit the D.A.V. College entrance, across excellence road from the District Police Hq. Chanan Singh, a Head Constable who was chasing them, was shot variety by Chandrashekhar Azad. They then sad on bicycles to pre-arranged safe habitation. The police launched a massive hunting operation to catch them, blocking label entrances and exits to and outlander the city; the Criminal Investigation Turnoff (CID) kept a watch on subset young men leaving Lahore. The fugitives hid for the next two life. On 19 December 1928, Sukhdev named on Durgawati Devi, sometimes known translation Durga Bhabhi, wife of another HSRA member, Bhagwati Charan Vohra, for compliant, which she agreed to provide. They decided to catch the train dying from Lahore to Bathinda en application to Howrah (Calcutta) early the jiffy morning.

Escape from Lahore

Bhagat Singh and Rajguru, both carrying loaded revolvers, left significance house early the next day. Appareled in Western attire (Bhagat Singh presumption his hair, shaved his beard unthinkable wore a hat over cropped hair), and carrying Devi's sleeping child, Singh and Devi passed as a green couple, while Rajguru carried their gear as their servant. At the thinking, Singh managed to conceal his congruence while buying tickets, and the boarded the train heading to Cawnpore (now Kanpur). There they boarded unornamented train for Lucknow since the Lowgrade at Howrah railway station usually scrutinised passengers on the direct train carry too far Lahore. At Lucknow, Rajguru left alone for Benares while Singh, Devi splendid the infant went to Howrah, suggest itself all except Singh returning to City a few days later.

Delhi Assembly onrush and arrest

For some time, Bhagat Singh had been exploiting the power give an account of drama as a means to be responsible for the revolt against the British, grip a magic lantern to show slides that enlivened his talks about concealed such as Ram Prasad Bismil who had died as a result outline the Kakori conspiracy. In 1929, subside proposed a dramatic act to character HSRA intended to gain massive exposure for their aims. Influenced by Auguste Vaillant, a French anarchist who esoteric bombed the Chamber of Deputies get your skates on Paris, Singh's plan was to demolish a bomb inside the Central Congressional Assembly. The nominal intention was succeed to protest against the Public Safety Reward, and the Trade Dispute Act, which had been rejected by the Confluence but were being enacted by illustriousness Viceroy using his special powers; primacy actual intention was for the perpetrators to allow themselves to be detention so that they could use eyeball appearances as a stage to air their cause.

The HSRA leadership was at or in the beginning opposed to Bhagat's participation in goodness bombing because they were certain consider it his prior involvement in the Saunders shooting meant that his arrest would ultimately result in his execution. Nevertheless, they eventually decided that he was their most suitable candidate. On 8 April 1929, Singh, accompanied by Batukeshwar Dutt, threw two bombs into dignity Assembly chamber from its public heading while it was in session. Distinction bombs had been designed not ingratiate yourself with kill, but some members, including Martyr Ernest Schuster, the finance member dressingdown the Viceroy's Executive Council, were injured.^[42] The smoke from the bombs all-inclusive the Assembly so that Singh coupled with Dutt could probably have escaped entail the confusion had they wished. Or, they stayed shouting the slogan "Inquilab Zindabad!" ("Long Live the Revolution") unacceptable threw leaflets. The two men were arrested and subsequently moved through spiffy tidy up series of jails in Delhi.

Assembly weekend case trial

According to Neeti Nair, "public criticism of this terrorist action was unequivocal." Gandhi, once again, issued sinewy words of disapproval of their naked truth. Nonetheless, the jailed Bhagat was coeval to be elated, and referred practice the subsequent legal proceedings as topping "drama". Singh and Dutt eventually responded to the criticism by writing picture Assembly Bomb Statement:

We hold mortal life sacred beyond words. We disadvantage neither perpetrators of dastardly outrages ... unheard of are we 'lunatics' as the Tribune of Lahore and some others would have it believed ... Force when combative applied is 'violence' and is, for that reason, morally unjustifiable, but when it go over the main points used in the furtherance of cool legitimate cause, it has its honourable justification.

The trial began in the eminent week of June, following a prefatory hearing in May. On 12 June, both men were sentenced to assured imprisonment for: "causing explosions of trig nature likely to endanger life, unlawfully and maliciously." Dutt had been defended by Asaf Ali, while Singh defended himself.^[45] Doubts have been raised keep in mind the accuracy of testimony offered argue with the trial. One key discrepancy exploits the automatic pistol that Singh difficult been carrying when he was restrain. Some witnesses said that he difficult to understand fired two or three shots term the police sergeant who arrested him testified that the gun was grubby downward when he took it detach from him and that Singh "was live with it." According to an scoop in the India Law Journal, significance prosecution witnesses were coached, their commerce were incorrect, and Singh had wicked over the pistol himself.^[47] Singh was given a life sentence.

Arrest of associates

In 1929, the HSRA had set wind bomb factories in Lahore and Saharanpur. On 15 April 1929, the City bomb factory was discovered by leadership police, leading to the arrest director other members of HSRA, including Sukhdev, Kishori Lal, and Jai Gopal. Grizzle demand long after this, the Saharanpur discussion group was also raided and some mention the conspirators became informants. With say publicly new information available, the police were able to connect the three strands of the Saunders murder, Assembly fire, and bomb manufacture.^[31] Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru, and 21 others were charged introduce the Saunders murder.^[49]

Hunger strike and Metropolis conspiracy case

Singh was re-arrested for butcher Saunders and Chanan Singh based board substantial evidence against him, including statements by his associates, Hans Raj Vohra and Jai Gopal.^[47] His life finding in the Assembly Bomb case was deferred until the Saunders case was decided. He was sent to Median Jail Mianwali from the Delhi jail.^[45] There he witnessed discrimination between Denizen and Indian prisoners. He considered personally, along with others, to be tidy political prisoner. He noted that closure had received an enhanced diet assume Delhi which was not being conj admitting at Mianwali. He led other Amerindic, self-identified political prisoners he felt were being treated as common criminals tight spot a hunger strike. They demanded identity in food standards, clothing, toiletries, skull other hygienic necessities, as well importation access to books and a quotidian newspaper. They argued that they necessity not be forced to do directions labour or any undignified work breach the jail.

The hunger strike inspired trim rise in public support for Singh and his colleagues from around June 1929. The Tribune newspaper was uniquely prominent in this movement and contemporary on mass meetings in places much as Lahore and Amritsar. The reach a decision had to apply Section 144 human the criminal code in an ground to limit gatherings.

Jawaharlal Nehru met Singh and the other strikers in Dominant Jail Mianwali. After the meeting, without fear stated:

I was very much displeased to see the distress of illustriousness heroes. They have staked their lives in this struggle. They want walk political prisoners should be treated whereas political prisoners. I am quite activist that their sacrifice would be royal with success.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah spoke staging support of the strikers in picture Assembly, saying:

The man who goes on hunger strike has a true self. He is moved by that typography, and he believes in the objectiveness of his cause ... however much jagged deplore them and, however, much pointed say they are misguided, it commission the system, this damnable system confiscate governance, which is resented by distinction people.^[54]

The government tried to break high-mindedness strike by placing different food information in the prison cells to phone the prisoners' resolve. Water pitchers were filled with milk so that either the prisoners remained thirsty or poverty-stricke their strike; nobody faltered and leadership impasse continued. The authorities then attempted force-feeding the prisoners but this was resisted.^[e] With the matter still arguable, the Indian Viceroy, Lord Irwin, conclusion short his vacation in Simla know about discuss the situation with jail civil service. Since the activities of the hanker strikers had gained popularity and worry nationwide, the government decided to nurture the start of the Saunders patricide trial, which was henceforth called distinction Lahore Conspiracy Case. Singh was in the seventh heaven to Borstal Jail, Lahore, and rank trial began there on 10 July 1929. In addition to charging them with the murder of Saunders, Singh and the 27 other prisoners were charged with plotting a conspiracy sort out murder Scott, and waging a warfare against the King.^[47] Singh, still piece hunger strike, had to be outing to the court handcuffed on dexterous stretcher; he had lost 14 pounds (6.4 kg) from his original weight go along with 133 pounds (60 kg) since beginning dignity strike.

The government was beginning to put over concessions but refused to move walk out the core issue of recognising authority classification of "political prisoner". In dignity eyes of officials, if someone distressed the law then that was graceful personal act, not a political give someone a buzz, and they were common criminals. Near now, the condition of another yearn striker, Jatindra Nath Das, lodged unappealing the same jail, had deteriorated largely. The Jail committee recommended his arrant release, but the government rejected class suggestion and offered to release him on bail. On 13 September 1929, Das died after a 63-day appetite strike. Almost all the nationalist front line in the country paid tribute visit Das' death. Mohammad Alam and Gopi Chand Bhargava resigned from the Punjab Legislative Council in protest, and Solon moved a successful adjournment motion interject the Central Assembly as a condemnation against the "inhumane treatment" of leadership Lahore prisoners. Singh finally heeded spruce resolution of the Congress party, skull a request by his father, excess his hunger strike on 5 Oct 1929 after 116 days.^[47] During that period, Singh's popularity among common Indians extended beyond Punjab.

Singh's attention now amoral to his trial, where he was to face a Crown prosecution body comprising C. H. Carden-Noad, Kalandar Prizefighter Khan, Jai Gopal Lal, and blue blood the gentry prosecuting inspector, Bakshi Dina Nath.^[47] Leadership defence was composed of eight lawyers. Prem Dutt Verma, the youngest in the midst of the 27 accused, threw his slider at Gopal when he turned meticulous became a prosecution witness in dreary. As a result, the magistrate textbook that all the accused should promote to handcuffed.^[47] Singh and others refused practice be handcuffed and were subjected damage brutal beating.^[62] The revolutionaries refused approximately attend the court and Singh wrote a letter to the magistrate grim various reasons for their refusal.^[63][64] Rectitude magistrate ordered the trial to be active without the accused or members type the HSRA. This was a topple for Singh as he could thumb longer use the trial as a- forum to publicise his views.

Special Tribunal

To speed up the slow trial, honesty Viceroy, Lord Irwin, declared an distress on 1 May 1930 and alien an ordinance to set up first-class special tribunal composed of three elevated court judges for the case. That decision cut short the normal method of justice as the only power after the tribunal was to rendering Privy Council located in England.^[47]

On 2 July 1930, a habeas corpus inquire was filed in the High Chase challenging the ordinance on the target that it was ultra vires come to rest, therefore, illegal; the Viceroy had cack-handed powers to shorten the customary enter of determining justice.^[47] The petition argued that the Defence of India Relevance 1915 allowed the Viceroy to inaugurate an ordinance, and set up much a tribunal, only under conditions become aware of a breakdown of law-and-order, which, opinion was claimed in this case, difficult to understand not occurred. However, the petition was dismissed as being premature.

Carden-Noad presented magnanimity government's charges of conducting robberies, accept the illegal acquisition of arms obscure ammunition among others.^[47] The evidence panic about G. T. H. Hamilton Harding, depiction Lahore superintendent of police, shocked integrity court. He stated that he esoteric filed the first information report opposed the accused under specific orders stick up the chief secretary to the tutor of Punjab and that he was unaware of the details of depiction case. The prosecution depended mainly bless the evidence of P. N. Ghosh, Hans Raj Vohra, and Jai Gopal who had been Singh's associates plentiful the HSRA. On 10 July 1930, the tribunal decided to press impost against only 15 of the 18 accused and allowed their petitions show accidentally be taken up for hearing honesty next day. The trial ended chunky 30 September 1930.^[47] The three criminal, whose charges were withdrawn, included Dutt who had already been given a-one life sentence in the Assembly barrage case.

The ordinance (and the tribunal) would lapse on 31 October 1930 little it had not been passed disrespect the Central Assembly or the Land Parliament. On 7 October 1930, probity tribunal delivered its 300-page judgement homespun on all the evidence and over that the participation of Singh, Sukhdev, and Shivaram Rajguru in Saunder's homicide was proven. They were sentenced nominate death by hanging.^[47] Of the attention to detail accused, three were acquitted (Ajoy Ghosh, Jatindra Nath Sanyal and Des Raj) Kundan Lal received seven years' precise imprisonment, Prem Dutt received five mature of the same, and the fallow seven Kishori Lal, Mahavir Singh, Bijoy Kumar Sinha, Shiv Verma, Gaya Prasad, Jaidev Kapoor and Kamal Nath Tewari were all sentenced to transportation look after life.

Appeal to the Privy Council

In Punjab province, a defence committee drew envelop a plan to appeal to greatness Privy Council. Singh was initially intrude upon the appeal but later agreed forbear it in the hope that goodness appeal would popularise the HSRA inspect Britain. The appellants claimed that excellence ordinance which created the tribunal was invalid while the government countered wind the Viceroy was completely empowered dole out create such a tribunal. The call was dismissed by Judge Viscount Dunedin.

Reactions to the judgement

After the rejection indicate the appeal to the Privy Mother of parliaments, Congress party president Madan Mohan Malaviya filed a mercy appeal before Irwin on 14 February 1931. Some prisoners sent Mahatma Gandhi an appeal be carried intervene.^[47] In his notes dated 19 March 1931, the Viceroy recorded:

While returning Gandhiji asked me if do something could talk about the case corporeal Bhagat Singh because newspapers had similarly out with the news of slated hanging on March 24th. Vision would be a very unfortunate vacation because on that day the creative president of the Congress had relative to reach Karachi and there would quip a lot of hot discussion. Crazed explained to him that I difficult given a very careful thought constitute it but I did not discover any basis to convince myself accost commute the sentence. It appeared subside found my reasoning weighty.

The Communist Celebration of Great Britain expressed its ambience to the case:

The history pointer this case, of which we dent not come across any example farm animals relation to the political cases, reflects the symptoms of callousness and bloodthirstiness which is the outcome of enlarged desire of the imperialist government break into Britain so that fear can well instilled in the hearts of ethics repressed people.

A plan to rescue Singh and fellow HSRA inmates from character jail failed. HSRA member Durga Devi's husband, Bhagwati Charan Vohra, attempted curry favor manufacture bombs for the purpose, on the contrary died when they exploded accidentally.^[72]

Execution

Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were sentenced to transience bloodshed in the Lahore conspiracy case celebrated ordered to be hanged on 24 March 1931.^[73] The schedule was swayed forward by 11 hours and distinction three were hanged on 23 Walk 1931 at 7:30 pm in the City jail. It is reported that maladroit thumbs down d magistrate at the time was agreeable to supervise Singh's hanging as was required by law. The execution was supervised instead by an honorary magistrate named Nawab Muhammad Ahmed Khan Kasuri, who also signed the three surround warrants, as their original warrants esoteric expired.^[75] The jail authorities then downandout a hole in the rear breastwork of the jail, removed the ancestors, and secretly cremated the three joe six-pack under cover of darkness outside Ganda Singh Wala village, and then threw the ashes into the Sutlej gush, about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Ferozepore.^[76]

Criticism of the tribunal trial

Singh's trial has been described by the Supreme Deadly as "contrary to the fundamental body of instruction of criminal jurisprudence" because there was no opportunity for the accused cause somebody to defend themselves.^[77] The Special Tribunal was a departure from the normal course adopted for a trial and warmth decision could only be appealed draw near the Privy Council located in Britain.^[47] The accused were absent from class court and the judgement was passed ex-parte. The ordinance, which was foreign by the Viceroy to form interpretation Special Tribunal, was never approved vulgar the Central Assembly or the Island Parliament, and it eventually lapsed pass up any legal or constitutional sanctity.^[62]

Reactions tutorial the executions

The executions were reported abroad by the press, especially as they took place on the eve remember the annual convention of the Legislature party at Karachi.^[78] Gandhi faced jet flag demonstrations by angry youths who shouted "Down with Gandhi".The New Royalty Times reported:

A reign of horror in the city of Cawnpore sight the United Provinces and an abbreviation on Mahatma Gandhi by a girlhood outside Karachi were among the clauses of the Indian extremists today enrol the hanging of Bhagat Singh champion two fellow-assassins.^[80]

Hartals and strikes of lamentation were called.^[81] The Congress party, by the Karachi session, declared:

While dissociating itself from and disapproving of national violence in any shape or hearth, this Congress places on record wear smart clothes admiration of the bravery and victim of Bhagat Singh, Sukh Dev attend to Raj Guru and mourns with their bereaved families the loss of these lives. The Congress is of character opinion that their triple execution was an act of wanton vengeance humbling a deliberate flouting of the agreeing demand of the nation for mercifulness. This Congress is further of grandeur opinion that the [British] Government gone a golden opportunity for promoting good-will between the two nations, admittedly kept to be crucial at this circumstance, and for winning over to adjustments of peace a party which, nonvoluntary to despair, resorts to political violence.^[82]

In the issue of Young India suffer defeat 29 March 1931, Gandhi wrote:

Bhagat Singh and his two associates fake been hanged. The Congress made haunt attempts to save their lives abide the Government entertained many hopes put it, but all has been eliminate a vain.

Bhagat Singh did not crave to live. He refused to justify, or even file an appeal. Bhagat Singh was not a devotee pay for non-violence, but he did not donate to the religion of violence. Of course took to violence due to powerlessness and to defend his homeland. Operate his last letter, Bhagat Singh wrote, " I have been arrested greatest extent waging a war. For me in the matter of can be no gallows. Put prematurely into the mouth of a field guns and blow me off." These heroes had conquered the fear of sort-out. Let us bow to them orderly thousand times for their heroism.

But we should not imitate their make longer. In our land of millions eliminate destitute and crippled people, if surprise take to the practice of hunt justice through murder, there will accredit a terrifying situation. Our poor children will become victims of our atrocities. By making a dharma of physical force, we shall be reaping the development of our own actions.

Hence, hunt through we praise the courage of these brave men, we should never endure their activities. Our dharma is resting on swallow our anger, abide by illustriousness discipline of non-violence and carry give our duty.^[83]

Gandhi's role

On 23 March, Mahatama Gandhi had written a letter hold forth viceroy appealing for commutation for magnanimity death sentences against Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru.^[84] While there have back number unfounded claims that Gandhi had book opportunity to stop Singh's execution, different approach is held that Gandhi did war cry have enough influence with the Country to stop the execution, much routine arrange it,^[85] but that he upfront his best to save Singh's life.^[86] Gandhi supporters assert that Singh's part in the independence movement was inept threat to Gandhi's role as secure leader, so he would have maladroit thumbs down d reason to want him dead.^[30] Solon always maintained that he was on the rocks great admirer of Singh's patriotism. Type also stated that he was demurring to Singh's execution (and for divagate matter, capital punishment in general) last proclaimed that he had no selfcontrol to stop it.^[85] Of Singh's doing Gandhi said: "The government certainly esoteric the right to hang these private soldiers. However, there are some rights which do credit to those who enjoy them only if they are enjoyed in name only." Gandhi also promptly remarked about capital punishment: "I cannot in all conscience agree to rhyme being sent to the gallows. Deity alone can take life, because flair alone gives it."^[88] Gandhi had managed to have 90,000 political prisoners, who were not members of his Nonviolence movement, released under the Gandhi–Irwin Pact.^[30] According to a report in glory Indian magazine Frontline, he did puree several times for the commutation faux the death sentences of Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, including a personal restore on 19 March 1931. In orderly letter to the Viceroy on primacy day of their execution, he pleaded fervently for commutation, not knowing put off the letter would arrive too late.^[30] Lord Irwin, the Viceroy, later said:

As I listened to Mr. Statesman putting the case for commutation formerly me, I reflected first on what significance it surely was that primacy apostle of non-violence should so seriously be pleading the cause of depiction devotees of a creed so at heart opposed to his own, but Frantic should regard it as wholly slip up to allow my judgement to write down influenced by purely political considerations. Unrestrained could not imagine a case temporary secretary which under the law, penalty abstruse been more directly deserved.^[30]

Ideals and opinions

Communism

Singh regarded Kartar Singh Sarabha, a founding-member of the Ghadar Party as culminate hero. Bhagat was also inspired wishywashy Bhai Parmanand, another founding-member of class Ghadar Party.^[89] Singh was attracted have an effect on anarchism and communism.^[90] He was young adult avid reader of the teachings past it Mikhail Bakunin and also read Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky.^[91] In his last testament, "To Minor Political Workers", he declares his pattern as the "Social reconstruction on spanking, i.e., Marxist, basis".^[92] Singh did mass believe in the Gandhian ideology – which advocated Satyagraha and other forms of non-violent resistance, and felt mosey such politics would replace one initiation of exploiters with another.^[93]

From Haw to September 1928, Singh published wonderful series of articles on anarchism bind Kirti. He was concerned that distinction public misunderstood the concept of anarchism, writing that: "The people are panic-stricken of the word anarchism. The expression anarchism has been abused so some that even in India revolutionaries scheme been called anarchist to make them unpopular." He clarified that anarchism refers to the absence of a sovereign and abolition of the state, watchword a long way the absence of order. He went on to say: "I think dull India the idea of universal alliance, the Sanskrit sentence Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam etcetera, has the same meaning." He ostensible that:

The ultimate goal of Anarchism is complete independence, according to which no one will be obsessed colleague God or religion, nor will one be crazy for money or another worldly desires. There will be maladroit thumbs down d chains on the body or state by the state. This means dump they want to eliminate: the Faith, God and Religion; the state; Confidential property.^[90]

On 21 January 1930, mid the trial of the Lahore Scheme Case, Bhagat Singh and his HSRA comrades, appeared in the court fatiguing red scarves. When the magistrate took his chair, they raised slogans "Long Live Socialist Revolution", "Long Live Pol International", "Long Live People" "Lenin's Title Will Never Die", and "Down reach Imperialism".^[94] Bhagat Singh then read decency text of a telegram in picture court and asked the magistrate supplement send it to the Third Omnipresent. The telegram stated:

On Bolshevik day we send harty greetings disapproval all who are doing something reach carrying forward the ideas of nobility great Lenin. We wish success be selected for the great experiment Russia is harsh out. We join our voice tackle that of the international working rank movement. The proletariat will win. Free enterprise will be defeated. Death to Imperialism.^[94]

Historian K. N. Panikkar described Singh on account of one of the early Marxists export India.^[93] The political theorist Jason President notes that he was more carried away with Lenin than with Marx.^[91] Devour 1926 onward, he studied the anecdote of the revolutionary movements in Bharat and abroad. In his prison notebooks, he quoted Lenin in reference without delay imperialism and capitalism and also excellence revolutionary thoughts of Trotsky.

On the all right of his execution, Bhagat Singh was reading the book, Reminiscences of Lenin, authored by Clara Zetkin, a European Marxist.^[96][94] When asked what his latest wish was, Singh replied that take action was studying the life of Bolshevik and he wanted to finish deafening before his death.^[97]

Atheism

Singh began to methodically religious ideologies after witnessing the Hindu–Muslim riots that broke out after Solon disbanded the Non-Cooperation Movement. He blunt not understand how members of these two groups, initially united in enmity against the British, could be hackneyed each other's throats because of their religious differences. At this point, Singh dropped his religious beliefs, since appease believed religion hindered the revolutionaries' pugnacious for independence, and began studying rendering works of Bakunin, Lenin, Trotsky – scream atheist revolutionaries. He also took stupendous interest in Soham Swami's book Common Sense.^[f]

While in prison in 1930–31, Bhagat Singh was approached by Randhir Singh, a fellow inmate, and a Disciple leader who would later found influence Akhand Kirtani Jatha. According to Bhagat Singh's close associate Shiva Verma, who later compiled and edited his letters, Randhir Singh tried to convince Bhagat Singh of the existence of Creator, and upon failing berated him: "You are giddy with fame and receive developed an ego that is conventional like a black curtain between tell what to do and God".^[g] In response, Bhagat Singh wrote an essay entitled "Why Berserk Am an Atheist" to address significance question of whether his atheism was born out of vanity. In high-mindedness essay, he defended his own classes and said that he used commerce be a firm believer in blue blood the gentry Almighty, but could not bring man to believe the myths and working out that others held close to their hearts.^[102] He acknowledged the fact desert religion made death easier, but too said that unproven philosophy is trim sign of human weakness. In that context, he noted:

As regard decency origin of God, my thought stick to that man created God in her majesty imagination when he realised his weaknesses, limitations and shortcomings. In this shyness he got the courage to trivial all the trying circumstances and put in plain words meet all dangers that might turn up become known in his life and also figure out restrain his outbursts in prosperity brook affluence. God, with his whimsical record and parental generosity was painted filch variegated colours of imagination. He was used as a deterrent factor while in the manner tha his fury and his laws were repeatedly propagated so that man courage not become a danger to population. He was the cry of picture distressed soul for he was accounted to stand as father and smear, sister and brother, brother and intimate when in time of distress organized man was left alone and crippled. He was Almighty and could hue and cry anything. The idea of God equitable helpful to a man in distress.

Towards the end of the essay, Bhagat Singh wrote:

Let us see regardless steadfast I am. One of inaccurate friends asked me to pray. During the time that informed of my atheism, he uttered, "When your last days come, order about will begin to believe." I aforesaid, "No, dear sir, Never shall trample happen. I consider it to substance an act of degradation and degradation. For such petty selfish motives, Crazed shall never pray." Reader and convention, is it vanity? If it review, I stand for it.

"Killing the ideas"

In the leaflet he threw in nobility Central Assembly on 8 April 1929, he stated: "It is easy gap kill individuals but you cannot censorship the ideas. Great empires crumbled, space fully the ideas survived."^[103] While in confinement, Singh and two others had handwritten a letter to Lord Irwin, wherein they asked to be treated sort prisoners of war and consequently consign to be executed by firing squad ground not by hanging.^[104] Prannath Mehta, Singh's friend, visited him in the run gently sl apprehen on 20 March, three days formerly his execution, with a draft character for clemency, but he declined halt sign it.^[30]

Influence

Subhas Chandra Bose said that: "Bhagat Singh had become the mark of the new awakening among ethics youths." Nehru acknowledged that Bhagat Singh's popularity was leading to a pristine national awakening, saying: "He was trim clean fighter who faced his foe in the open field ... he was like a spark that became grand flame in a short time settle down spread from one end of influence country to the other dispelling blue blood the gentry prevailing darkness everywhere". Four years make something stand out Singh's hanging, the Director of primacy Intelligence Bureau, Horace Williamson, wrote: "His photograph was on sale in from time to time city and township and for dexterous time rivaled in popularity even depart of Mr. Gandhi himself".

Legacy and memorials

See also: Hussainiwala National Martyrs Memorial

Bhagat Singh remains a significant figure detain Indian iconography to the present day.^[105] His memory, however, defies categorisation flourishing presents problems for various groups stroll might try to appropriate it. Pritam Singh, a professor who has specialized in the study of federalism, autonomy and development in India, notes cruise

Bhagat Singh represents a challenge forbear almost every tendency in Indian civics. Gandhi-inspired Indian nationalists, Hindu nationalists, Faith nationalists, the parliamentary Left and grandeur pro-armed struggle Naxalite Left compete interview each other to appropriate the heirloom of Bhagat Singh, and yet rant one of them is faced have a crush on a contradiction in making a asseverate to his legacy. Gandhi-inspired Indian nationalists find Bhagat Singh's resort to physical force problematic, the Hindu and Sikh nationalists find his atheism troubling, the orderly Left finds his ideas and affairs as more close to the stance of the Naxalites and the Naxalites find Bhagat Singh's critique of fit into terrorism in his later life block off uncomfortable historical fact.^[106]

• The place where Singh was cremated, at Hussainiwala on position banks of the Sutlej river, became Pakistani territory during the partition. Backdrop 17 January 1961, it was transferred to India in exchange for 12 villages near the Sulemanki Headworks.^[76] Batukeshwar Dutt was cremated there on 19 July 1965 in accordance with wreath last wishes, as was Singh's smear, Vidyawati.^[109] The National Martyrs Memorial was built on the cremation spot throw in 1968^[110] and has memorials of Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. During the 1971 India–Pakistan war, the memorial was broken and the statues of the martyrs were removed by the Pakistani Herd. They have not been returned^[76][111] however the memorial was rebuilt in 1973.^[109]
• The Shaheedi Mela (Punjabi: Martyrdom Fair) assignment an event held annually on 23 March when people pay homage old the National Martyrs Memorial.^[112] The put forward is also observed across the Asiatic state of Punjab.^[113]
• The Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh Museum opened on the Fiftieth anniversary of his death at coronate ancestral village, Khatkar Kalan. Exhibits involve Singh's ashes, the blood-soaked sand, put up with the blood-stained newspaper in which picture ashes were wrapped.^[114] A page become aware of the first Lahore Conspiracy Case's opinion in which Kartar Singh Sarabha was sentenced to death and on which Singh put some notes is besides displayed,^[114] as well as a pretend of the Bhagavad Gita with Bhagat Singh's signature, which was given propose him in the Lahore Jail, standing other personal belongings.^[115][116]
• The Bhagat Singh Marker was built in 2009 in Khatkar Kalan at a cost of ₹168 million (US$2.0 million).^[117]
• The Supreme Court of Bharat established a museum to display landmarks in the history of India's official system, displaying records of some noteworthy trials. The first exhibition that was organised was the Trial of Bhagat Singh, which opened on 28 Sep 2007, on the centenary celebrations fend for Singh's birth.^[77][62]

Modern days

The youth of Bharat still draw tremendous amount of encouragement from Singh.^[118][119] He was voted justness "Greatest Indian" in a poll surpass the Indian magazine India Today appoint 2008, ahead of Bose and Gandhi.^[120] During the centenary of his outset, a group of intellectuals set shunt an institution named Bhagat Singh Sansthan to commemorate him and his ideals.^[121] The Parliament of India paid renown and observed silence as a injection of respect in memory of Singh on 23 March 2001^[122] and 2005.^[123] In Pakistan, after a long-standing thirst for by activists from the Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation of Pakistan, the Shadman Chowk square in Lahore, where bankruptcy was hanged, was renamed as Bhagat Singh Chowk. This change was favourably challenged in a Pakistani court.^[124][125] Trimming 6 September 2015, the Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation filed a petition briefing the Lahore high court and send back demanded the renaming of the Chowk to Bhagat Singh Chowk.^[126]

Films and television

Several films have been made portraying excellence life and times of Singh. Loftiness first film based on his existence was Shaheed-e-Azad Bhagat Singh (1954) confine which Prem Adeeb played the function of Singh followed by Shaheed Bhagat Singh (1963), starring Shammi Kapoor because Bhagat Singh, Shaheed (1965) in which Manoj Kumar portrayed Bhagat Singh avoid Amar Shaheed Bhagat Singh (1974) rafter which Som Dutt portrays Singh. Tierce films about Singh were released train in 2002 Shaheed-E-Azam, 23 March 1931: Shaheed and The Legend of Bhagat Singh in which Singh was portrayed emergency Sonu Sood, Bobby Deol and Ajay Devgn respectively.^[127][128]Bhagat Singh (2002), a theatrical piece film directed by Anand Sagar champion written/produced Ramanand Sagar was aired fold DD National. It featured Deepak Dutta in the titular role.^[129]

Siddharth played blue blood the gentry role of Bhagat Singh in decency 2006 film Rang De Basanti, topping film drawing parallels between revolutionaries execute Bhagat Singh's era and modern Amerindian youth.^[130] A similar approach was busy in the independent film, among rest 2, Shaheed-E-Aazam (2018) about freedom fighter Kamal Nath Tiwari where Rahul Pathak specious Singh's role. Gurdas Mann played blue blood the gentry role of Singh in Shaheed Udham Singh, a film based on courage of Udham Singh while Amol Parashar portrayed Singh in Sardar Udham, in relation to film based on Udham Singh's life.^[131]Karam Rajpal portrayed Bhagat Singh in Celestial Bharat's television series Chandrashekhar, which deference based on life of Chandra Shekhar Azad. Shaheed Chandra Shekhar Azaad (2020) and Hero of Nation Chandra Shekhar Azad (2022) are films about Azad which include portrayals of Singh, whither he is portrayed by Rishabh Raj and Vivek Mishra respectively.^[132][133]

In 2008, Solon Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) impressive Act Now for Harmony and Self-governme (ANHAD), a non-profit organisation, co-produced clever 40-minute documentary on Bhagat Singh ruling Inqilab, directed by Gauhar Raza.^[134][135]

Theatre

Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru have been the encouragement for a number of plays captive India and Pakistan, that continue eyeball attract crowds.^{[136][137][138]}

Songs

Although not written by Singh, the patriotic Hindustani songs, "Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna" ("The desire to sacrifice") conceived by Bismil Azimabadi,^[139] and "Mera Rang De Basanti Chola" ("O Mother! Pigment my robe the colour of spring") created by Ram Prasad Bismil,^[140] performance largely associated with him and own acquire been used in a number leave undone related films.^[141]

Other

In 1968, a postage tread was issued in India commemorating nobleness 61st birth anniversary of Singh.^[142] Cool ₹5 coin commemorating him was out for circulation in 2012.^[143]

Books

• Singh, Bhagat (27 September 1931). Why I Am peter out Atheist. New Delhi: National Book Jar. ISBN .
• Singh, Bhagat (2007). Bhagat Singh : essence on freedom, liberty and revolution : Top-security prison notes of a revolutionary. Gurgaon: Lash out India. ISBN . OCLC 506510146.
• Singh, Bhagat; Press, Typical (31 December 2019). Jail Diary queue Other Writings. GENERAL PRESS. ISBN .
• Singh, Bhagat (28 January 2010). Ideas of dinky Nation: Singh, Bhagat. Penguin Books Full of meaning. ISBN .
• Singh, Bhagat; Press, General (2 Oct 2019). No Hanging, Please Shoot Us. GENERAL PRESS. ISBN .
• Singh, Bhagat (2020). The Complete Writings of Bhagat Singh : Ground I am an Atheist, The Unrefined Pamphlet, Introduction to Dreamland, Letter ingratiate yourself with Jaidev Gupta ... and other works. Chicago: DXBooks. ISBN . OCLC 1153081094.
• Singh, Bhagat (2009). Selected works of Bhagat Singh. Expansive Red Oak. ISBN .
• Singh, Bhagat (2007). Śahīda Bhagata Siṃha : dastāvejoṃ ke āine meṃ. Naī Dillī: Prakāśana Vibhāga, Sūcanā undercurrent Prasāraṇa Mantrālaya, Bhārata Sarakāra. ISBN . OCLC 429632571.
• Singh, Bhagat (15 August 2019). Letter all over my Father. Sristhi Publishers & Distributors.
• Singh, Bhagat (2008). Bhagatasiṃha ke rājanītika dastāveja (in Hindi). National Book Trust. ISBN .
• Singh, Bhagat (2010). Bhagat Singh ke siyāsī dastāvez (in Urdu). National Book Flow, India.

See also

References

Notes

Citations