THE LEGEND OF BHAGAT SINGH !!!

‘Long live Revolution, down with the Imperialism. Inquilab Zindabad, Samrajyabaad Murdabad.’ ‘Inquilab ek ladai hain jurm aur na-insaafi ke khilaf. Inquilab ek hatiyaar hain aadmi par aadmi ka soshan rokne ke liye. Inquilab ek ayelaan hain desh ke naujawaan o ko ekjuth karne ke liye. Inquilab ek chetavni hain ish barbar sarkar ko hosiyaar karne ke liye. Inquilab ek pukaar hain soye huye awaam ko uthane ke liye. Inquilab ek awaaz hain dabey huye zameer ko jagaane ke liye.’ ‘Azaadi sirf pehla kadam hain comrades; maksat hain watan banaana. Hum sab ko milke banaana hain ek samajwaadi watan.’ ‘Main chahta hoon ke main haste huye faanshi pe char jaaoon, taa ki mere maut desh ke naujawan o ke liye misaal ban saake aur woh sab bhi bina darrey jung-e-azaadi mein tut pare. Agar aisa hua na dost, to ush azaad bharat ka sapna joh humne dekha hain woh jaroor poora hoga.’ Hai! Hai! Gandhi! Hai! Hai! Gandhi! Sukhdev, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru; aap chahte toh usse bacha sakte teh, lekin aapne unhe bachaya nahi. Kyon? Itihaas aapse yeh sawaal hamesha karega.’ The Indian Congress Party always used to coin those freedom fighters as terrorists who used to protest against the cruel British rulers in violent manner. Why the Indians were shouting the slogan, ‘Long live Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru’?

Bhagat Singh, since his childhood days saw the cruelty of the British people on the Indians. That’s why; Bhagat Singh used to hate the British people. On 13^th April, 1919 at Jalianwala Bagh of Amritsar, the British Policemen killed more than 1000 Indians. The Jalianwala Bagh Massacre of 1919 fuelled the fire of hatred in Bhagat Singh’s mind. On 20^th November, 1920 at Calcutta, Mahatma Gandhi started the non co-operation movement against the British Government. The little Bhagat also joined the non co-operation movement. In Chauri Chaura, more than 20 British cops were killed by the Indian people. Due to that violent incident in Chauri Chaura, Mahatma Gandhi withdrew the non co-operation movement and declared that the Indians are not ready at this juncture to get freedom from the British rule in India. Bhagat Singh, being a student of National College of Lahore danced in his college function while singing a patriotic song, ‘Paagri sambhal...sambhal oye...tera lutna jaaye...todh gulaami ki zanjeere, badal deh tu apni taqdeere...kar deh inki balle balle.’ Inside a cinema hall, it was written at one corner, ‘Dogs and Indians are not allowed.’ A poor Indian who had no idea about these things became a victim of racism. Some British people started beating that poor Indian. The very next day, those British people got some special treatment. The Professor suggested them to join Hindusthan Republican Association (HRA). ‘Awaam apne aap mein itna taaqatwar hota hain ki agar usse sahi disha dee jaaye toh woh badi se badi satta ko ukhad ke phek sakti hain.’

Kishan Singh, the father of Bhagat Singh wanted Bhagat to get married with Manavali.  Bhagat was surprised as his father never ever asked about it to Bhagat. ‘Oye tere daadi ne tere baap ko kabhi pucha tha joh tere baap tujhse poochega.’  Did Bhagat Singh marry Manavali? Bhagat Singh joined HRA at Cawnpore as a new comrade under Ramprasad Bismil. Train dacoity was conducted at Kakori by the HRA comrades to loot the treasuries and money of British Government. Those who were involved in that Kakori dacoity incident got arrested except Chandrasekhar Azad who managed to escape again. Panditji was impressed on Bhagat Singh. ‘Kuch khatam nahi hua Panditji, sarir ko qayed kiya ja sakta hain, bichaar ko nahi. Dushman aadmi ko maar sakta hain, unke adarsh o ko nahi; aur jab tak adarsh zinda hain, party zinda hain. Hamara party ka makshat hain inquilab aur hum ush inquilab ko awaam tak le jayenge.’ Hence, the ‘Naujawan Bharat Sabha’ got formed. The young and patriotic Indian hearts started singing, ‘Desh mere desh mere, meri jaan hain tu; desh mere desh mere, meri shaan hain tu. Mitaane se nahi mit teh, daraane se nahi darr teh, watan ke naam pe, hum sarh kataane se nahi darte.’ India is a land of several religions. So, it became necessary to unite the Indians of all religions, otherwise, freedom movement would fail. ‘Agar tum ish tarah apas mein ladte rahoge, toh angrezo se kaise ladoge, chalo gale milo.’ The young Indians shouted the slogan, ‘Qami ektaa zindabad. Hum sab ek hain.’

‘Arrest him. He is a dangerous man. Arrest him immediately.’ Kishan Singh bailed out Bhagat Singh. Manavali fell in love with a freedom fighter. ‘Mahi ve, mahi ve...chaaoon mein tujhe subho shaam. Yeh bindiya tujhko pukaare har pal, yeh kangna kahe mujhe thaam ke chal.’ Rajguru came to Mozang House to deliver a secret letter of Chandrasekhar Azad to Bhagat Singh. ‘Main aaya hoon Maratha desh se, veer Maratha Shivaji ka baccha.’ After the meeting at Kotla, HRA became HSRA (Hindusthan Socialist Republican Association). On 30^th October, 1928, HSRA comrades under the leadership of Lala Lajpat Rai protested against Simon Commission outside the Lahore Railway Station. ‘Simon go back; Simon wapas jaao.’ British Policemen started the lathicharge. The ‘Punjab Kesari’ was badly injured and later on succumbed to death on 17^th November 1928. The comrades planned to murder Scott, but, on 17^th December 1928, who got murdered? ‘Yeh Scott nahi, Saunders hain.’ Those comrades escaped from Lahore in disguise and reached Calcutta. The Indian Congress Party as well as the British Government started coining those HSRA comrades as terrorists. But, actually these comrades were freedom fighters and they wanted to associate more common people in this freedom struggle movement. ‘Sach toh yeh hain ki, hum ab tak awaam tak jurh nahi paaye.’

Jatin Das, the renowned chemistry professor of Bengal knew the art of preparing bombs. Jatin Das became the new comrade of HSRA. They started preparing bombs in Agra. The British Government started harassing and abusing the labour workers of India both physically and financially. But, the Indian Congress Party never ever came forward to help the Indian labour workers in times of danger. The British Government planned to pass ‘Trade Dispute Bill’ and ‘Public Safety Bill’ in the National Assembly to further weaken the labour workers of India. The basic motive of the British Government was to make rich richer and poor poorer. The more the economic gap, the more it is easier to implement the Divide and Rule policy. ‘Goron ki jaath bhairi hain aur bhairo ko sunane ke liye dhamake ki jaroorat hain.’ Sukhdev Singh wanted Bhagat Singh to lead from the front. Despite some hiccups, Chandrasekhar Azad agreed to it. On 8^th April, 1929, a bomb blast took place inside the National Assembly House of Delhi. Bhagat Singh and Batukeswar Dutta got arrested and were produced in the Sessions Court on 6^th June, 1929. The statements of Bhagat Singh in the Court Trial Room got published in the newspapers. All the labour workers of India started supporting the view points of the revolutionary comrades of HSRA. Indian Congress Party members were feeling frustrated and jealous as the non violent revolutionaries were gaining much support than it was actually expected. ‘Bapu ko gaali dena fashion ho gaya hain aajkaal.’

All the HSRA comrades were put behind the bars, except Chandrasekhar Azad again. British Government got an advantage as some of the Indian revolutionaries of HSRA acted as traitors. Racism existed even inside the jail also. Indian prisoners were treated like animals whereas European prisoners were given much better and comfortable facilities. British Government refused to improve the facilities for the Indian prisoners. Bhagat Singh and Batukeswar Dutta started the hunger strike. The news got spread like a fire. The Indians started supporting the hunger strike of Bhagat Singh and their hearts started igniting with the patriotic song, ‘Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamare dil mein hain, dekhna hain zor kitna wajoo e qatil mein hain...zaalim o se chinh lenge yeh zameen yeh aasmaan.’ The HSRA comrades utilized the court room to send messages to the young Indians. The traitor Phanindranath Ghosh said that to create bombs, one requires Gun Cotton, Gauge Wire, Ammonium Carbonate, Sulphur, Red Phosphorus, Lead Sulphide, Carbolic Acid, Nitric Acid, Sulphuric Acid, Red Paper and Iron pieces. The very next day, the article got published in all the newspapers about how to create bombs. ‘Ladko ne kamaal kar diya, ab toh desh ka har baccha apne ghar mein bomb banayega.’ British Government failed to break the hunger strike. The comrades succeeded in achieving their demands against the British Government through hunger strikes. The hunger strike ended but Jatin Das expired in Lahore Central Jail on 13^th September 1929. ‘Bola tha na Bhagat, aakhir tak saath chaloonga.’

Indian Congress Party demanded for Dominion Status. But, the Indian freedom fighters started demanding for Total Independence or Sampoorna Swaraj after getting motivated by the revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh and others. On 26^th January, 1930, the Indian Congress Party also supported the Sampoorna Swaraj movement to retain their party members. The British Government understood that Bhagat Singh is becoming a virus for them. To kill the virus, they planned to finish the Saunders Murder case as early as possible. On 7^th October, 1930, in the final hearing of the Saunders Murder Case, the Judge declared that Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru to be hanged till death. On 27^th February, 1931, Veerbhadra acted as a traitor like Mir Zafar and as a result, the British Policemen started the encounter against Chandrasekhar Azad at Alfred Park of Allahabad. Chandrasekhar Azad did not surrender till the end and died as Mr. Azad after firing a bullet at his own head. ‘Kshama karna meri maa, baas itni hee seva kar sakaa. Vande Mataram.’ Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose ignited the campaign, ‘Save Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru’. Millions of request letters came to the Viceroy to withdraw the execution order of three comrades. Mahatma Gandhi acted as the puppet in the hands of British Government by signing the Gandhi-Irwin pact without even trying hard to save the lives of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru. The capital punishment of three comrades took place on 23^rd March, 1931 i.e. 1 day before the ordered date. ‘Mera rang de basanti chola mahe rang de.’ The executions of 3 freedom fighters were completed and even their dead bodies were not returned to the Indians. The patriotic Indians still remember and respect “THE LEGEND OF BHAGAT SINGH.”