81) Inspirations from Indian
History: Shaheed
(Martyr) Bhagat Singh:
(Martyr) Bhagat Singh:
Commemorating his Birth
Centenary 1997 – 2007:( 27.09.1907 –
23.03.1931)
Bhagat Singh was born on 27.09.1907
in a Sikh family at Chak No. 105, GB, Banga Village, Jaranwala Tehsil, in
Lyallpur District, Punjab (in undivided
India) when India was under British Rule. His family originally came from
Khatkar Kalan in Nawanshahr district (now called Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar).
His grandfather Arjan Singh, his father Kishan
Singh and uncles Ajit Singh and Swaran Singh were prominent Revolutionaries in
their own right (both uncles were members of the “Gadar Party” (meaning the “Revolution
Party” or “Party advocating Revolution”), fighting for the cause of Indian’s
Freedom struggle from the British Raj and his family had also, served in the
Army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
He was named Bhagat (meaning “devotee”) and was
nicknamed “Bhaganwala” (meaning “one bringing luck” or “the lucky one”),
because his uncle who was held in Mandalay prison in Burma and his grandfather who
was held in Lahore prison, were released from both prisons at the time of his
birth. Ajit Singh later had to flee to Persia to escape British harassment, while
Swaran Singh passed away due to ill-health.
Bhagat Singh is
considered to be one of the foremost and most influential revolutionaries of
the Indian Freedom Movement.
Grooming as a “Revolutionary” in India’s
Freedom/Independence struggle against British Rule:
As his grandfather was a
follower of the “Dharam Samaj” (a Hindu Reformist Movement), he admitted his
grandson Bhagat to the DAV College in Lahore (presently in Pakistan – 23 km
from the present India – Pakistan border).
While studying at the D.A.V. College, which
was a hub of Revolutionary activities, Bhagat Singh came in touch with several
Revolutionaries, in particular, Bhagwati Charan and Sukhdev among others.
In 1919, he visited the
Jallianwala Bagh, where the recent murder/massacre
of several innocent, unarmed and peacefully gathered patriots ( men, women and
children) who fired upon by an armed force under British command without
warning to disperse, had left an everlasting impression on him.
In 1920, Bhagat Singh
participated in Gandhiji’s Non-Cooperation Movement and burnt his school books
in open defiance of British Authorities.
In 1921, he welcomed
several persons in his village who were protesting against the Gurudwara
Nankana Sahib unprovoked firing on 21.02.1921 on unarmed persons by British
Authorities, which had resulted in the loss of several lives.
After this incident, he
became disillusioned with Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence
particularly after Gandhi called off the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Meanwhile, as a
retaliation for the police action in killing 3 villagers at Chauri Chaura, in
the United Provinces (present day state of Uttar Pradesh) 3 policemen were
killed by the Revolutionaries, which action helped make up his mind to join the
Young Revolutionary Movement and he now, whole-heartedly subscribed to adopting
armed means of protest to overthrow the British yoke.
In 1923, he joined the
National College in Lahore, where he showed all-round excellence in studies and
extra-curricular activities including Dramatics, Essay writing fluency in
several languages etc.
As a teenager, he studied
European Revolutionary Movements and was attracted to Anarchist and Marxist
schools of thought .By Anarchism, he stood for the absence of ruler and
abolition of State and not the absence of order. He believed in the philosophy
“Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (All the World is one Family). He was influenced by
Marxism and in his later life became an Atheist. He read the works of
Rabindranath Tagore, Charles Dickens, Karl Marx and Maxim Gorky.
Influenced by the
Revolutionary activities at DAV College, he became an active member of the “Naujawan
Bharat Sabha” (Youth Society of India)
and “Hindustan Republican Association” formed by the Revolutionaries of
Uttar Pradesh, which was later renamed as the “Hindustan Socialist Republican
Association”.
He went to Cawnpore
(present day Kanpur) to attempt freeing the Kakori train freedom fighters who
were in the custody of the British Authorities but aborted the mission because
the prison was heavily guarded.
He was arrested in a
bombing case in Lahore and released on bail.
He wrote several articles
steeped in Revolutionary philosophy, in Urdu and Punjabi newspapers published
from Amritsar. He subscribed to
Anarchism and on this subject he wrote several articles in 1928 in the Punjabi
Periodical “Kirti”.
Also, in 1928, he became the
Secretary of the “Kirti Kisan Party” (Workers and Farmers Party) and later rose
to be its leader.
Incidents that brought Bhagat Singh into National
Prominence:
In 1928:the Simon Commission studying
the current political situation in India, was boycotted by all Indians and
there were all-round protests throughout India. When the Commission
visited Lahore on 30.10.1928, Lala Lajpat Rai, leading a non-violent protest,
the Superintendent of Police James A. Scott personally led a “lathi-charge”
which resulted in grievous injuries to Lala Lajpat Rai and he was martyred on
17.11.1928. When the British Government denied any role/hand in Lala Lajpat
Rai’s death, Bhagat Singh joined a group of revolutionaries to kill Scott.
In a case of mistaken
identity when the person who was to identify Scott, instead indicated to
J.P.Saunders an Asst. of Police, Shivaram Rajguru and Bhagat Singh shot him
dead on 17.12.1928 at the Police Headquarters in Lahore. Later, while being
chased by a Head Constable, Chandrashekhar Azad, another prominent
Revolutionary, shot him dead and they made good their escape on bicycles and
later successfully eluded police efforts to arrest them by disguising
themselves.
In 1929:
Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw two bombs inside the “Central
Legislative Assembly” by rushing into the Assembly Hall from the Visitor’s
Gallery. As smoke filled the Hall, they shouted slogans of “Inquilab Zindabad”
(meaning “Long live the Revolution”) and also showered leaflets mentioning that
this was done in protest against the Trade Disputes and Public Safety bill
being presented in the Central Assembly and the death of Lala Lajpat Rai. A few
minor injuries were reported and both Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt were
arrested.
Ensuing trial on the Assembly Bomb Case:
In a stage-managed trial
several witnesses testified that Bhagat Singh had fired with the gun he was
carrying before it was snatched away from him, but the overwhelming consensus
is that the gun was actually handed over by Bhagat Singh himself to the
arresting police officials, and he had not used it as he had succeeded in his
main objectives of highlighting the salient features of his protest without
causing serious/fatal injuries.
Also,
the impact of the two small bombs was blown out of proportion by the witnesses.
As a result, while Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt were sentenced to 14 years
life imprisonment, the witnesses were rewarded by the British with
honours/promotions.
Trail for the Saunders case:
The British authorities
uncovered a “bomb making unit” at Lahore and seven of the arrested persons who
turned informers, testified against Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev at a
trial for the killing of Saunders, who were made the main accused in the case.
Meanwhile, Bhagat Singh
used the trial as a platform to gain maximum publicity to their Revolutionaries
cause. While in prison, he underwent a 116 days fast along with several Indian
prisoners demanding rights for Indian prisoners at par with the European
prisoners. Matters came to a head when despite the British Authorities efforts
to get the Revolutionaries to break their fast, one prisoner Jatindra Nath Das
breathed his last after a 63 day’s hunger strike.
Bhagat Singh only broke his fast when the
Central Assembly passed a Resolution censuring the “inhuman treatment” of the
Lahore prisoners, but stopped short of granting equal benefits to Indian
prisoners.
Bhagat Singh’s popularity
all over India grew and all Indians approved and lauded his efforts to
highlight the cause of the Revolutionaries’ Freedom struggle and the plight of
Indian prisoners in British Administered Jails, except for the pacifists like
Gandhi and the Indian National Congress who were drawn into grudgingly
admitting “solidarity” to the young Revolutionaries on popular public demand,
although subscribing to a policy diametrically opposed to that of the
Revolutionaries.
A Special Tribunal on 7th October 1930 sentenced
Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev to death. An appeal to the Privy Council
against the maximum penalty was turned down. Mahatma Gandhi was asked to
intervene by several Indian groups. It is said that he made a feeble attempt to
do so which amounted to nought and he meekly
concurred with the British Viceroy in going ahead with the executions.
While awaiting execution,
Bhagat Singh wrote a 404 page diary and a paper on “Why I am an Atheist”.
Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and
Sukhdev were martyred at Lahore Jail on 23.03.31. It is said that seeing the
fearlessness with which the three
Revolutionaries were willing to embrace death for their cause, no magistrate
was willing to supervise their execution, till an honorary magistrate was
appointed for this purpose.
Fearing nation-wide protests the time of their
execution was advanced to an evening before and their families were not allowed
to meet them. The cremation of their remains was carried out in great secrecy,
since there was an angry mob of Indians waiting outside the front gate.
The Aftermath of the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh and his
Associates:
Gandhiji faced Black Flag
demonstrations by angry youth who shouted “Down with Gandhi”. In Karachi,
Mahatma Gandhi was attacked by a youth.
The Indian National
Congress in keeping with its pacifist policies, while condemning the
executions, did precious little to act on the mood of an appalled Nation.
Gandhiji wrote in Young India on 29.03.31 that
while he praised the efforts of these brave young men, he abided by his policy
of non-violence, much against the mood of the Indian Nation.
Subhash Chandra Bose who
was a Revolutionary himself, lauded the sacrifice of Bhagat Singh in no
uncertain terms mentioning inter alia that he (Bhagat singh) was the “symbol of
a new awakening among the youth”.
It is said that Bhagat
Singh’s photograph was on sale in every nook and corner of India and for a very
long time, his popularity and ultimate sacrifice surpassed that of Mahatma
Gandhi himself.
Difference of opinion between the Revolutionary
thinking and Mahatma Gandhi inspired Indian National Congress:
The Revolutionaries
across India were convinced that given the oppressive nature of British Rule in
India, it was their legitimate right to use violence as a weapon to overthrow
the oppressors. It was therefore, considered proper to take up armed aggression
and engage in acts of violence, to achieve the ultimate goal of Indian
Independence.
This thought was
diametrically opposed to the Gandhian thought of a freedom movement based on
“Ahimsa” (non-violence) and Satyagrah (insistence of a right through peaceful
means).
All prominent Revolutionary thinkers like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Subhash
Chandra Bose et al had to leave the Indian National Congress because they
thought that the INC’s methods, influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s methods of
achieving ends through non-violence were far too docile to achieve any
meaningful Independence from the British Rule.
Martyrdom and Legacy:
March 23 is the death
anniversary of Shaheed (Martyr) Bhagat Singh, who was one of the most dynamic of the Revolutionaries and who willingly
paid the ultimate sacrifice for the Independence of India from British Rule and
for the ideals that he and his family stood for.
Bhagat Singh was an
inspiration not only as a fearless and bold Freedom Struggle Revolutionary, but
also as a social thinker and subscribed to the theory of collective state
ownership of the means of production – land, labour and capital. He wrote
several papers and articles in his short life in the furtherance of this
concept. Bhagat Singh’s death inspired several Indian youth to participate in
the Indian Freedom Struggle.
He has been commemorated
with a 18-foot tall bronze statue in the Indian Parliament where a statue of
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose also stands.
There are several other memorials all
over India as a tribute to his sacrifice.
A National Martyrs Memorial was built
in 1968 on the spot where he was cremated, and which was rebuilt in 1973.
A
“Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh Museum” exists at Khatkar Kalan, his native
village.
In 2008, he was voted the
“Greatest Indian” in a poll conducted by “India Today” a leading Magazine,
ahead of Gandhi and other freedom Struggle leaders, indicating that he is
looked upon with pride by a new generation of Indians.
On 23.03.2001 and 2005
the Indian Parliament observed silence as a mark of respect to his memory.
In Pakistan, the Bhagat
Singh Foundation of Pakistan has been fighting off stiff opposition (from persons who think that he was an Indian Revolutionary and should not be honoured in Pakistan) to rename
the Shadman Chowk (the place where he was executed) as “Bhagat Singh Chowk” to
commemorate his sacrifices in the Indian Freedom struggle.
Commemorative coins issued by the Reserve bank of India:
Commemorative coins have been issued by the Reserve Bank of India commemorating his Birth centenary. Although the approval for issue of this coin had been given by the Government in 2006 so that the coin could be issued in his Centenary Year, however these coins have been issued only in 2012. Strange are the ways of the Government of India/ Reserve Bank of India, when the issue of a Commemorative coin for a prominent freedom fighter like Shaheed Bhagat Singh is taken so lightly.
The reverse of this coin shows the portrait of Shaheed Bhagat Singh
flanked on the left periphery by the words “Shaheed Bhagat Singh Janamshati”
(in Hindi), and the words “SHAHEED BHAGAT SINGH BIRTH CENTENARY” (in English).
His Centenary years “1907- 2007” are shown below his portrait. This coin has
been issued by the Hyderabad Mint. Notice the “Star Mint Mark” of the Hyderabad
Mint.
This coin has been contributed for my coin collection by Krishna Tonpe who is constantly on the look-out for unusual/new coins for me.
This coin has been contributed for my coin collection by Krishna Tonpe who is constantly on the look-out for unusual/new coins for me.
The obverse of the five rupee coin issued on Shaheed Bhagat Singh has
two horizontal lines, dividing this face into three portions. On the top half
of this coin are the words “Bharat” (“India” as it is called in Hindi) and
“India” (in English). In the centre is the Lion Capitol of the Ashoka Pillar
with the legend “Satyameva Jayate” (written in Hindi), meaning “Truth always
prevails” on the left hand side, while on the right hand side of the central
part of this face is the numeral “5” indicating the denomination of this coin.
In the lower section of this coin is mentioned “Rupiye” (in Hindi) and “Rupees’
(in English) showing the currency of issue. This coin has been issued in 2012.
The
specifications of this coin are:
Shape: Circular;
Diameter: 23mm;
Weight: 6 gms;
Composition of Alloy: Ferritic
Stainless Steel: 83%; Chromium: 17%.
The coin is security
edged on the periphery. At the centre of the edge is a shallow groove with a
design inside the two sections separated by blank spaces. The design has a
chain of 30 beads in relief and each bead is followed by one inclined line in
relief, numbering 30.
The cover of the
Commemorative Proof coin Album issued by Hyderabad mint.
A brief description of
Shaheed Bhagat Singh on the inner cover of the Album containing the five rupee
Commemorative coin issued on his Birth centenary.
An image of the obverse
of the five rupee Proof coin. The coin is identical to the earlier coin issued
for general circulation and also has two horizontal lines, dividing this face
into three portions. On the top half of this coin are the words “Bharat”
(“India” as it is called in Hindi) and “India” (in English).
In the centre is
the Lion Capitol of the Ashoka Pillar with the legend “Satyameva Jayate”
(written in Hindi), meaning “Truth always prevails” on the left hand side, while
on the right hand side of the central part of this face is the numeral “5”
indicating the denomination of this coin.
In the lower section of this coin is
mentioned “Rupiye” (in Hindi) and “Rupees’ (in English) showing the currency of
issue. This coin has been issued in 2012 and received by me in September 2012
from the Hyderabad Mint.
The reverse of this coin shows the portrait of Shaheed Bhagat Singh flanked on the left periphery by the words “Shaheed Bhagat Singh Janamshati” (in Hindi), and the words “SHAHEED BHAGAT SINGH BIRTH CENTENARY” (in English). His Centenary years “1907- 2007” are shown below his portrait. This coin has been issued by the Hyderabad Mint. Notice the “Star Mint Mark” of the Hyderabad Mint.
The reverse of this coin shows the portrait of Shaheed Bhagat Singh flanked on the left periphery by the words “Shaheed Bhagat Singh Janamshati” (in Hindi), and the words “SHAHEED BHAGAT SINGH BIRTH CENTENARY” (in English). His Centenary years “1907- 2007” are shown below his portrait. This coin has been issued by the Hyderabad Mint. Notice the “Star Mint Mark” of the Hyderabad Mint.
Error coin issued by the Hyderabad Mint?
On a second look, there
appears to be an error in the Commemorative coin. “SHAHEED” in Hindi appears to
be spelt as “SHAHAD” (instead of “SHAHEED”) indicating a questionable quality
of minting at the Hyderabad Mint.
The inner back page of the album. The picture at the bottom right shows a National College group photo of teachers and students. Shaheed Bhagat Singh is standing in the back row (fourth from right).
Ramchandra Lalingkar has commented:
ReplyDelete"Thanks for the post which contains short but appropriate biography of the 'Great Son of India'."
Thanks for your constant encouragement.
ReplyDeleteSaroj Nanda has commented:
ReplyDelete"Recently I read that Pakistan named one of the biggest Chowks in Lahore after Bhagat Singh. A great tribute to a great martyr."
Yes, but there seems to be some opposition to the move as mentioned in the post.
ReplyDelete