Freedom fighters || Nearly eighty-seven years ago, on March 23, 1931, Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar marched to the gallows of Lahore Jail with smiles on their faces and “Inquilab Zindabad” on their lips.
Executed for their roles in the Lahore Conspiracy Case, each member of the trio had been equally instrumental in infusing fresh energy into the fight against the British Raj. Yet, in the years since Independence, Bhagat Singh’s fame seems to have eclipsed the heroics of his compatriots Rajguru and Sukhdev
In February 1928, the Simon Commission arrived in India to suggest constitutional reforms. The unfair and insulting decision to not have a single Indian member in the Commission led to much anger and disappointment among Indians.
A skilled wrestler and Sanskrit scholar, the young patriot met Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev under the aegis of HSRA and they quickly became close friends. It was not long before the trio’s revolutionary activities began striking fear into the heart of the British empire.
In the resulting protests, veteran leader Lala Lajpat Rai was killed in a brutal lathi charge by the police. Seeking revenge for the death of the much-loved freedom fighter, the trio assassinated Assistant Superintendent of PoliceJohn Saunders, the British police officer responsible for the lathi charge on the senior freedom fighter.
Soon after, Bhagat Singh and fellow revolutionary, Batukeshwar Dutt, threw two bombs and leaflets inside the Central Legislative Assembly before offering themselves up for arrest. These were the two charges that were clubbed together by the British Raj in the Lahore conspiracy case that led to the arrest of the young leaders of HSRA.
Their fierce nationalism and great sacrifice also inspired a great number of people to join and support the freedom movement. Several thousand people gathered at various places to pay homage to India’s beloved sons after they were hanged on March 23, 1931 and cremated on the banks of the Sutlej River in Punjab’s Hussainwala (now in Pakistan).
At the time of their execution, Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev Thapar were just 23 years old while Shivaram Rajguru was only 22.
Their extraordinary commitment to their cause is worthy of emulation. Yet, the families of Rajguru and Sukhdev have been struggling to keep their memories alive, even as the restoration and maintenance of their ancestral homes have remained entangled in red tape.
Its time we moved beyond paying mere lip-service to their sacrifice once every year and adopt the examples they set – that of deep love for one’s nation, dedication to their cause and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge – in our own lives.
That may be, perhaps, the most meaningful tribute we can pay to these heroes. For as Bhagat Singh himself said, “bombs and pistols do not make revolution. The sword of revolution is sharpened on the whetting stone of ideas”.
Executed for their roles in the Lahore Conspiracy Case, each member of the trio had been equally instrumental in infusing fresh energy into the fight against the British Raj. Yet, in the years since Independence, Bhagat Singh’s fame seems to have eclipsed the heroics of his compatriots Rajguru and Sukhdev
Shivaram RajguruThese experiences instilled within him a strong urge to join the revolutionaries in their fight for India’s freedom. Chandrashekhar Azad’s fiery words, courage and deep love for India especially captured Rajguru’s imagination and he joined the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA).
On August 24, 1908, Shivaram Hari Rajguru was born into middle-class family at Khed in Pune district of Maharashtra. Like Sukhdev, he too grew up witnessing the injustice and exploitation the British Raj continually wrought upon India.
In February 1928, the Simon Commission arrived in India to suggest constitutional reforms. The unfair and insulting decision to not have a single Indian member in the Commission led to much anger and disappointment among Indians.
A skilled wrestler and Sanskrit scholar, the young patriot met Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev under the aegis of HSRA and they quickly became close friends. It was not long before the trio’s revolutionary activities began striking fear into the heart of the British empire.
In the resulting protests, veteran leader Lala Lajpat Rai was killed in a brutal lathi charge by the police. Seeking revenge for the death of the much-loved freedom fighter, the trio assassinated Assistant Superintendent of PoliceJohn Saunders, the British police officer responsible for the lathi charge on the senior freedom fighter.
Soon after, Bhagat Singh and fellow revolutionary, Batukeshwar Dutt, threw two bombs and leaflets inside the Central Legislative Assembly before offering themselves up for arrest. These were the two charges that were clubbed together by the British Raj in the Lahore conspiracy case that led to the arrest of the young leaders of HSRA.
In the last two years of their life in jail, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru fought one of the most celebrated court battles in the annals of India’s national liberation struggle.
Other than using the court as a vehicle for the propagation of their revolutionary message, they also put the spotlight on the inhuman conditions political prisoners faced in colonial jails.Their fierce nationalism and great sacrifice also inspired a great number of people to join and support the freedom movement. Several thousand people gathered at various places to pay homage to India’s beloved sons after they were hanged on March 23, 1931 and cremated on the banks of the Sutlej River in Punjab’s Hussainwala (now in Pakistan).
At the time of their execution, Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev Thapar were just 23 years old while Shivaram Rajguru was only 22.
Their extraordinary commitment to their cause is worthy of emulation. Yet, the families of Rajguru and Sukhdev have been struggling to keep their memories alive, even as the restoration and maintenance of their ancestral homes have remained entangled in red tape.
Its time we moved beyond paying mere lip-service to their sacrifice once every year and adopt the examples they set – that of deep love for one’s nation, dedication to their cause and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge – in our own lives.
That may be, perhaps, the most meaningful tribute we can pay to these heroes. For as Bhagat Singh himself said, “bombs and pistols do not make revolution. The sword of revolution is sharpened on the whetting stone of ideas”.
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