The Chronicle Of A Legendary Indian Patriot (Bhagat Singh)

Revolution is an inalienable right of mankind.Freedom is an imperishable birh right of all-Bhagat Singh

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On March 23 1931, three young patriots sacrificed their precious lives at the altar of motherland, the rashtrasevaks-Bhagat Singh, Shivram Rajguru and Sukhdev- had died with the mantra of 'Vandemataram' on their lips in their valiant struggle against British imperialism. It is easy to talk but very difficult to serve the country.

Those who have ventured to serve the motherland have had to pass through acerbic experiences. The painful lives of these patriots are inexplicable. Sometimes we may not find the stories of these dedicated rashtrasevaks in our history textbooks penned by pseudo historians.

Bhagat Singh gave a new dimension to the revolutionary movement in the independence struggle of India. Some historians pointed out that his popularity was more than that of Gandhiji in the time of his execution. Bhagat Singh was born on September 27 1907, to Sardar Kishan Singh and Vidyavati, at the village of Khatkarkalan near Banga in Lyallpur, Punjab. He had born into a family of freedom fighters. His grandfather Arjun was an activist of Arya Samaj and his father Kishan Singh and Uncle Ajith Singh were members of Ghadar party, founded in US intended to throw out the British rule in Bharat.

The death sentence of audacious freedom fighter and Ghadar party activist Kartar Singh Sarabha, at the age of 19, by the British made a deep impression on young Bhagat's mind.

Bhagat was brought up in a politically tensed state of Punjab, the bystander of the brutal Jallian Walla Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919. As a child of 12, Bhagat went to the Jallian Walla Park and collect the soil from the spot in his lunch box and subsequent to that he avowed a pledge to devote his life for Bharatmaa.

Bhagat studied in Dayanand Anglo Vedic School and later in the National College of Lahore. Lala Lajpat Rai and Bhai Parmanand had set up the National College for those who had been left their institution to join the national movement.

There Bhagat came into contact with highly persevering teachers like Prof Jayachandra Vidyalankar, Prof P C Mehta and C R Gupta etc. The nationalist thoughts of these Professors in the National College in particular, Prof Jayachandra Vidyalankar, had profound influence on Bhagat Singh.

Prof Vidyalankar introduced Bhagat to Scheendranath Sanyal, a great revolutionary leader and founder of HRA (Hindustan Republican Association). Bhagat encultured the primary lessons of politics through Sacheendra Sanyal and also found his political role model in him. Bhagat turned out to be a member of HRA in 1924 and that conferred him the opportunity to socialize with revolutionary patriots like Pandit Ramaprasad Bismil (An Arya Samaj activist and a pracharak of Hindu Rashtra), Chandra Shekar Azad, Mohammed Ashfaqullah Khan and Rajendra Lahiri.

The purpose of HRA was to create a Federative Republic of Indian States rooted in the ideology of Sanathan Dharma. Afterward the organization was renamed as HSRA (Hindustan Socialist Republican Association) under the leadership of Bhagat Singh and Azad in order to unify the revolutionary movements all over the country.

In 1926 Bhagat formed another revolutionary organization, Naujawan Bharat Sabha (in Lahore), to attract the youth of Punjab to join the national movement

The non-violent protest of national leaders against the Simon Commission on October 30, 1928 was viciously suppressed by the British police and resulted in the death of Lala Lajpat Rai. This embarrassed Bhagat and on December 7 1928, with the help of Azad and Jaigopal, Bhagat and Rajguru assassinated police official J P Saunders to avenge the death of Lalaji.

The British Government quelled the revolutionary movement with black laws and a policy of oppression. The common men were under the clutches of inhuman laws of the Englishmen. HSRA strong-willed to throw bombs in the Central Assembly while the presentation of two inhuman bills (the public safety bill and the trade dispute bill). 0n April 8 1929, Bhagat and Batkeshwar Dutt threw a bomb on to the corridors of the assembly by raising the slogan long live revolution; down with imperialism.

The police had nabbed Bhagat and Dutt and the court sentenced them to transportation for life. While in Jail he underwent a 64-day fast, demanding equal rights for Indian and British political prisoners. The strike ended with the British succumbing to the demands of Bhagat. Subsequently the British came to know about the role of Bhagat Singh in Saunders murder case (the case was known as Lahore conspiracy case). Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were sentenced to Capital punishment for Lahore Conspiracy Case.

On March 23 1931, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged in Lahore jail and their bodies were cremated at Hussainiwala on the banks of river Sutlej.

Bhagat Singh was a revolutionary ahead of his times. By revolution he means the present order of things, which is based on manifest injustice, must change. Bhagat's concept was firmly rooted in the ancient culture and tradition of Bharat. But unfortunately Bhagat’s ideals are misinterpreted by some groups to achieve their vested interests.

Bhagat Singh influenced generations in a short lifespan of 23 years. For him death for the country was bliss. The incredible story of this extraordinary patriot is an unfailing source of inspiration to all.