89 years ago, one of India’s greatest revolutionary freedom fighters, Bhagat Singh, was given the death penalty by the British colonisers. And though he died young, only 23 years of age, his actions inspired the youth of the nation to fight for the nation’s freedom. His execution spurred many to take up the revolutionary path, playing an important role in India’s freedom struggle.
Bhagat Singh was born on 28 September 1907. He was also known as Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh. He is one of the youngest freedom fighters who was hanged at a young age. In this article, we are presenting some unknown facts about Bhagat Singh and his revolutionary life which not only inspires but also influences others. Bhagat Singh is considered one of the most powerful revolutionaries of Indian Independence movement. He inspired thousands to take up the cause of the freedom movement. He was a brave freedom fighter. His feelings of patriotism were not only restricted against British rule but also towards the division of India on communal lines. He was genius, mature, and always attracted to socialism.
He was attracted to anarchist and Marxist ideologies which further bring revolutionary ideas to his mind. He was a bright student, a reader, and always actively participated in extra-curricular activities.
He was born on 28 September, 1907 in Punjab, India (now Pakistan), to a Sikh family. He was involved with several revolutionary organizations and set an example of patriotism in the country.
He quit school at thirteen to devote his life to Indian Independence and died at a very young age of 23. Popularly he is known as Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh. He was found guilty of killing a British police officer and hanged on March 23, 1931. Here, we are presenting some inspiring and unknown facts about Bhagat Singh.
Here’s what you should know about him!
Bhagat Singh left home for Kanpur when his parents tried to get him married, saying that if he married in slave India, “my bride shall only be death” and joined Hindustan Socialist Republican Association.
He along with Sukhdev planned to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai and plotted to kill the Superintendent of Police James Scott in Lahore. However, in a case of mistaken identity, John Saunders, the Assistant Superintendent of Police was shot.
Although a Sikh by birth, he shaved his beard and cut his hair to avoid being recognised and arrested for the killing. He managed to escape from Lahore to Calcutta.
A year later, he and Batukeshwar Dutt threw bombs in the Central Assembly Hall in Delhi, and shouted “Inquilab Zindabad!” He did not resist his arrest at this point.
During interrogation, the British came to know about his involvement in the death of John Saunders a year earlier.
At the time of his trial, he didn’t offer any defence, rather used the occasion to propagate the idea of India’s freedom.
Bhagat Singh was so much disturbed by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre that he bunked the school to visit the site of the bloodbath. In college, he was a great actor and played several roles in plays like ‘Rana Pratap’ and ‘Bharat-Durdasha’.
hagat Singh in his childhood always spoke about guns. He wanted to grow guns in the fields using which he can fight with the British. When he was 8 years old, instead of talking about toys or games he always speaks about driving out British from India.
Bhagat Singh had told the British that “instead of hanging they should shoot him” but the British did not consider it. He mentioned this in his last letter. Bhagat Singh wrote in this letter, “Since I was arrested during the war. Therefore, I cannot be punished for hanging. Let me be thrown into the mouth of a cannon. “This shows his braveness and the feeling for the nation.
Bhagat Singh coined a powerful slogan ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ which became the slogan of India’s armed struggle.
He was hanged an hour ahead of the official time on March 23, 1931. It is said that Bhagat Singh was smiling when he was hanged. In fact, this was done with a fearlessness to “lowered British imperialism”.
When his mother had come to visit him in jail, Bhagat Singh was laughing loudly. Seeing this, the jail officials were shocked to see how this person is who is laughing openly despite being so close to death.
His legacy will continue to live in the hearts of many.
“They may kill me, but they cannot kill my ideas. They can crush my body, but they will not be able to crush my spirit”
British ruled over India for almost 200 years. India witnessed an array of events before attaining independence in the year 1947. The freedom struggle not only liberated us but also proved to be a significant step in the making of the nation. The Indian freedom struggle was beautified by the sweat and blood of various freedom fighters.
East India Company started dominating India in the 18th and 19th centuries. East India Company entered into India as a trading company but gradually it started influencing the political affairs of India as the East India Company got itself involved in the politics. It marked the beginning of the British Raj in India.
First War of Independence
The First War of Independence is also known as the Revolt of 1857 or Sepoy Mutiny. It all started in Barrackpore when sepoys were asked to bite the cover of the cartridges from their rifles to remove it. They realized that the cover was greased with beef and pork. One person who stood out of the crowd during the revolt of 1857 was Mangal Pandey who shot his sergeant. Later on, when he was arrested and hanged, the soldiers boycotted the new rifles and marched towards Delhi. They declared the then Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar II, the true emperor of India.
The Domino Effect of the Movement
Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, fought against the British because they didn’t allow her to proclaim her adopted son, Damodar Rao as the heir of the kingdom and wanted to seize the state of Jhansi. The Britishers refused to accept him as the heir under the Doctrine of Lapse which stated that an adopted son could not be declared as the heir to the throne.
Tantia Tope helped Rani Lakshmi Bai to run away to Gwalior where she died while fighting and Tantia Tope was also hanged eventually.
Kuwar Singh led the revolt in Bihar and died eventually.
Begum Hazrat Mahal also led the revolt but ran away to Nepal later on.
Effects of Revolt of 1857
The rule of the East India Company ended in India and India was put under the direct rule of the British crown.
Indian National Congress was formed by A.O. Hume in and Womesh Chandra Banerjee was declared the first president of INC.
The biggest province of British India, Bengal, was portioned by Lord Curzon in 1905. It was done to apply the formula of divide and rule and create a rift between Hindus and Muslims.
A lot of other freedom fighters started participating in the freedom struggle – Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Ajit Singh, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, to name a few. All of them played a vital role in the freedom struggle. Swami Dayanand Saraswasti formed the Arya Samaj.
Moderates and Extremists – There were moderates and extremists. Moderates wanted nominal British rule. They wanted the British people to understand the plight of the Indian mass and consider Indian people and work in favor of the local people. The Extremists on the other hand wanted complete independence. They demanded ‘Purna Swaraj’ and opted for methods such as the boycott of foreign goods. Their approach was more radical.
Moderates comprised of people like Dadabai Naorojia and Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bipin Chandra were together known as ‘Lal-Bal-Pal’ and they were the extremists.
Formation of the Muslim League – Muslims demanded a separate platform and hence, Muslim League was formed in 1906 at Dacca.
The Lucknow Pact – Congress and the Muslim League signed the Lucknow Pact in December 1916 to work together for Indian Independence.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
British introduced the Rowlatt Act that curbed the basic fundamental rights of the Indian people and allowed the police to use their strengths devilishly. On April 13, 1919, thousands of people gathered in the Jalliawalan Bagh at Amritsar. It was a peaceful gathering to oppose this law.
British troops and General Dyer marched to the park. General Dyer commanded the troops to open fire on thousands of innocent people gathered at the park that included women and children too. There was no way for them to escape and many of them jumped into the well.
This whole incident made the Indian citizens furious and gave birth to the Non-cooperation movement, also called the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Non-Cooperation Movement, 1920
Non-Cooperation Movement was introduced in 1920. During this movement, the foreign cloth was burnt and honorary titles given by the British were surrendered. Several students left government colleges and schools and lawyers also stopped their practices. People boycotted elections.
In February 1922, at Chauri Chaura, Uttar Pradesh, twenty-two policemen were killed when the enraged peasants burned off a police station. The non-cooperation movement was called off after the Chauri Chaura Incident.
Simon Commission
In 1927, a commission was sent to India by the British Government in England to bring about some political reforms. It was headed by John Simon and all the members of the commission were British. It had no Indian representative. This enraged the Indian Citizens and created a widespread revolt. The commission was met with the slogans like “Simon, Go back” on their arrival.
HSRA
Hindustan Socialist Republican Association was founded in 1928 at Ferozshah Kotla in Delhi. It was founded by Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekar Azad, Sukhdev, and other people who wanted to end British rule.
On 17 December 1928, Bhagat Singh, Azad, and Rajguru killed the police officer who was responsible for the lathi charge that resulted in the death of Lala Lajpat Rai.
On 8 April 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly. The bomb was harmless because they did not intend to hurt anyone but “to make the deaf hear”.
Their slogan ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ became very famous. Unfortunately, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru were hanged to death on 23rd March 1931.
Dandi March
To break the Salt Law, Gandhiji started a salt march of 375 Km from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi.
It was utterly wrong to tax salt since it is the most basic and essential ingredient of our food. This march took 26 days and Gandhiji broke the salt law at the end of this march by collecting and boiling the salt found on the seashore of Dandi.
Gandhi Irwin Pact of March 1931
An agreement was made between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin. The terms of the agreement included the release of political prisoners except for those who were involved in violent acts, permission to collect and manufacture salt and return the confiscated lands and properties.
Government of India Act, 1935
In August 1935, The Government of India Act was passed for the establishment of an all-Indian federation where it was allowed to make relatively independent decisions while remaining within a federation.
The government was allowed to conduct elections for the provisional legislatures and these elections were held in 11 provinces. Congress won the elections of 7 out of 11 provinces.
Bose and INA – Subas Chandra Bose, played a major in the Indian freedom struggle. He raised the Azad Hind Fauj, also popular by the name of the Indian National Army. This army aimed to free India from colonial rule. He also tried to get the support of Adolf Hitler but died under mysterious circumstances.
The Quit India Movement
In 1942, The Quit India Movement was launched at the Bombay session of the All India National Congress. Gandhiji asked people to ‘Do or Die’ to end the British Raj in India. He said, “We shall either free India or die in the attempt. We shall not live to see the perpetuation f our slavery”.
The British responded repressively and all the prominent leaders were arrested. But the rebellion brought the British rule to an end.
Muslim League was adamant about wanting a separate nation from the Hindus as they feared that Muslims might go unrepresented. Hence, they announced 16th August 1947 as ‘Direct Action Day’. This resulted in riots. Thousands of people were killed in these riots. The partition caused violence and many people were forced to leave their homes and run for their lives.
Partition took place and a new nation was born – Pakistan. We got independence. Our nation was finally free and the British rule had ended.
This historic event will always remain bittersweet for us. Yes, we got freedom and that is why this struggle was important. A lot of sacrifices were made. People suffered, people left their homes and some even watched their close ones leaving them behind. We celebrate Independence Day on 15th August every year. We fly kites and celebrate the freedom we are entitled to today. We also remember those sacrifices and feel proud.
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