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Who was Bhagat Singh?

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Bhagat Singh

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Bhagat Singh was a hero of the early 20th-century Indian independence movement . He was a vocal critic of British rule in India and was involved in two high-profile attacks on British authorities—one on a local police chief and the other on the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi . He was executed for his crimes in 1931 at the age of 23.

Bhagat Singh was involved in two high-profile plots against British authorities in India that helped galvanize the Indian independence movement . In 1928 he took part in a plot to kill the police chief responsible for the death of influential Indian writer and politician Lala Lajpat Rai . However, he and a coconspirator mistakenly killed the assistant superintendent of police, J.P. Saunders, and Singh fled the city of Lahore (now in Pakistan) to escape execution. In 1929, protesting against the Defence of India Act , he and an accomplice threw a bomb at the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi before surrendering. While in jail, Singh helped organize a hunger strike to protest against prisoner mistreatment, a demonstration that gained him wide support in India. Nevertheless, he was hanged in 1931 for Saunders’s murder.

In 1931 Bhagat Singh was hanged for the murder of Officer J.P. Saunders in the city of Lahore (then in India). Saunders had been mistakenly killed as part of a plot to kill the police chief responsible for the death of Lala Lajpat Rai , an influential Indian writer and politician.

Bhagat Singh (born September 27, 1907, Lyallpur, western Punjab, India [now in Pakistan]—died March 23, 1931, Lahore [now in Pakistan]) was a revolutionary hero of the Indian independence movement.

Bhagat Singh attended Dayanand Anglo Vedic High School, which was operated by Arya Samaj (a reform sect of modern Hinduism), and then National College, both located in Lahore . He began to protest British rule in India while still a youth and soon fought for national independence. He also worked as a writer and editor in Amritsar for Punjabi- and Urdu-language newspapers espousing Marxist theories. He is credited with popularizing the catchphrase “Inquilab zindabad” (“Long live the revolution”).

In 1928 Bhagat Singh plotted with others to kill the police chief responsible for the death of Indian writer and politician Lala Lajpat Rai , one of the founders of National College, during a silent march opposing the Simon Commission . Instead, in a case of mistaken identity, junior officer J.P. Saunders was killed, and Bhagat Singh had to flee Lahore to escape the death penalty . In 1929 he and an associate lobbed a bomb at the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi to protest the implementation of the Defence of India Act and then surrendered . He was hanged at the age of 23 for the murder of Saunders.

Bhagat Singh

Born: September 28, 1907 

Place of Birth: Village Banga, Tehshil Jaranwala, District Lyallpur, Punjab (in modern day Pakistan)

Parents: Kishan Singh (father) and Vidyavati Kaur (mother)

Education: D.A.V. High School, Lahore; National College, Lahore 

Associations: Naujawan Bharat Sabha, Hindustan Republican Association, Kirti Kisan Party, Kranti Dal.

Political Ideology: Socialism; Nationalism; Anarchism; Communism

Religious Beliefs: Sikhism (childhood and teen); Atheism (youth)

Publications: Why I Am An Atheist: An Autobiographical Discourse, The Jail Notebook And Other Writings, Ideas of a Nation 

Death: Executed on March 23, 1931

Memorial: The National Martyrs Memorial, Hussainwala, Punjab

Bhagat Singh is considered to be one of the most influential revolutionaries of Indian Nationalist Movement. He became involved with numerous revolutionary organizations and played an important role in the Indian National movement. He died a martyr at the age of just 23 years. Following his execution, on March 23, 1931, the supporters and followers of Bhagat Singh regarded him as a "Shaheed" (martyr).

Childhood and Early Life

Bhagat Singh was born on September 28, 1907, at Banga in Lyallpur district (now Pakistan) to Kishan Singh and Vidyavati. At the time of his birth, his father Kishan Singh, uncles Ajit and Swaran Singh were in jail for demonstrations against the Colonization Bill implemented in 1906. His uncle, Sardar Ajit Singh, was a proponent of the movement and established the Indian Patriots' Association. He was well-supported by his friend Syed Haidar Raza in organizing the peasants against the Chenab Canal Colony Bill. Ajit Singh had 22 cases against him and was forced to flee to Iran. His family was the supporter of the Ghadar party and the politically aware environment at home helped incite a sense of patriotism in the heart of young Bhagat Singh.

Bhagat Singh studied till the fifth class in his village school, after which his father Kishan Singh got him enrolled at the Dayanand Anglo Vedic High School in Lahore. At a very young age, Bhagat Singh started following Non-Cooperation Movement, initiated by Mahatma Gandhi. Bhagat Singh had openly defied the British and had followed Gandhi's wishes by burning the government-sponsored books. He even left the school to enrol at the National College in Lahore. Two incidents during his teen days shaped his strong patriotic outlook - the Jallianwala Bagh Masacre in 1919 and killing of unarmed Akali protesters at the Nankana Sahib in 1921. His family believed in the Gandhian ideology of non-violent approach to attain Swaraj and for a while Bhagat Singh also supported the Indian National Congress and the causes behind the Non-Cooperation Movement. Following the Chauri Chaura Incident , Gandhi called for the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation movement. Unhappy with the decision, Bhagat Singh, isolated himself from Gandhi's nonviolent action and joined the Young Revolutionary Movement. Thus began his journey as the most prominent advocate of violent insurgency against the British Raj.

He was pursuing B.A. examination when his parents planned to have him married. He vehemently rejected the suggestion and said that, if his marriage was to take place in Slave-India, my bride shall be only death."

In March 1925, inspired by European nationalist movements, the Naujawan Bharat Sabha was formed with Bhagat Singh, as its secretary. Bhagat singh also joined the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), a radical group, which he later rechristened as the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) along with fellow revolutionaries Chandrashekhar Azad and Sukhdev. He returned to his home in Lahore after assurances from his parents that he would not be compelled to get married. He established contact with the members of the Kirti Kisan Party and started contributing regularly to its magazine, the "Kirti". As a student, Bhagat Singh was an avid reader and he would read up about European nationalist movements. Inspired by the writings of Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx, his political ideologies took shape and he became more inclined towards a socialist approach. He also wrote in newspapers like “Veer Arjun” "under several pseudonyms.

National Movement & Revolutionary Activities  

Initially, Bhagat Singh’s activities were limited to writing corrosive articles against the British Government, printing and distributing pamphlets outlining principles of a violent uprising, aimed at overthrowing the Government. Considering his influence on the youth, and his association with the Akali movement, he became a person of interest for the government.The police arrested him in a bombing case that took place in 1926 in Lahore. He was released 5 months later on a 60,000 rupees bond. 

On 30 October 1928, Lala Lajpat Rai led an all-parties procession and marched towards the Lahore railway station to protest against the arrival of the Simon Commission. The police resorted to a brutal lathi charge to thwart the advancement of the protesters. The confrontation left Lala Lajpat Rai with severe injuries and he succumbed to his injuries on November17, 1928. As a revenge for the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh and his associates plotted the assassination of James A. Scott, the Superintendent of Police, believed to have ordered the lathi charge. The revolutionaries, mistaking J.P. Saunders, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, as Scott, killed him instead. Bhagat Singh quickly left Lahore to escape his arrest. To avoid recognition, he shaved his beard and cut his hair, a violation of the sacred tenets of Sikhism.

In response to the formulation of Defence of India Act, the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association planned to explode a bomb inside the assembly premises, where the ordinance was going to be passed. On April 8 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw a bomb onto the corridors of the assembly, shouted 'Inquilab Zindabad!' and threw pamphlet outlining their missive into the air. The bomb was not meant to kill or injure anyone and therefore it was thrown away from the crowded place, but still several council members were injured in the commotion. Following the blasts both Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt courted arrest.

1929 Assembly Incident Trial

The dramatic demonstration of protest was met with widespread criticisms from the political arena. Singh responded – “Force when aggressively applied is 'violence' and is, therefore, morally unjustifiable, but when it is used in the furtherance of a legitimate cause, it has its moral justification.”

Trial proceedings commenced in May where Singh sought to defend himself, while Batukeshwar Dutt was represented by Afsar Ali. The court ruled in favour of a life sentence citing malicious and unlawful intent of the explosions.

Lahore Conspiracy Case & Trial

Soon after the sentencing, the police raided the HSRA bomb factories in Lahore and arrested several prominent revolutionaries.Three individuals, Hans Raj Vohra, Jai Gopal and Phanindra Nath Ghosh turned approver for the Government which led to a total of 21 arrests including those of Sukhdev, Jatindra Nath Das and Rajguru. Bhagat Singh was re-arrested for the Lahore Conspiracy case, murder of Assistant Superintendent Saunders and bomb manufacturing.

Trial started against 28 accused in a special session court presided over by Judge Rai Sahib Pandit Sri Kishen, on July10, 1929.

Meanwhile, Singh and his fellow inmates declared an indefinite hunger strike in protest of the prejudiced difference in treatment of the white versus native prisoners and demanded to be recognised as ‘political prisoners’. The hunger strike received tremendous attention from the press and gathered major public support in favour of their demands. Death of Jatindra Nath Das, after 63 days long fast, led to the negative public opinions intensifying towards the authorities. Bhagat Singh finally broke his 116-day fast, on request of his father and Congress leadership, on October 5, 1929.

Owing to the slow pace of the legal proceedings, a special tribunal consisting of Justice J. Coldstream, Justice Agha Hyder and Justice G. C. Hilton was set up on the directives of the Viceroy, Lord Irwin on 1 May 1930. The tribunal was empowered to proceed without the presence of the accused and was a one-sided trial that hardly adhered to the normal legal rights guidelines. 

The tribunal delivered its 300-page judgement on 7 October 1930. It declared that irrefutable proof has been presented confirming the involvement of Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru in the Saunders murder. Singh admitted to the murder and made statements against the British rule during the trial.  They were sentenced to be hanged till death.

On March 23, 1931, 7:30 am, Bhagat Singh was hanged in Lahore Jail with his comrades Rajguru and Sukhdev. It is said that the trio proceeded quite cheerfully towards the gallows while chanting their favourite slogans like “Inquilab Zindabad” and “Down with British Imperialism”. Singh and his peers were cremated at Hussainiwala on the banks of Sutlej River.

Bhagat Singh’s Thoughts & Opinions

From a very young age patriotism had taken its seed in Bhagat Singh’s conscience. He grew up to appreciate nationalism and crave a British-free independent India. Extensive reading of European literature propelled him towards forming a socialist outlook strongly desiring a democratic future for his beloved country. Although born a Sikh, Bhagat Singh veered towards Atheism after witnessing several Hindu-Muslim riots and other religious outbreaks. Singh believed that something as precious as Independence can only be achieved by a thorough cleansing of the exploitative nature of imperialism. He opined that such change can only be brought forwardby means of an armed revolution, in similar lines to the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. He introduced the slogan “Inquilab Zindabad” which sort of transformed into the war cry of the Indian Independence movement.

Popularity & Legacy

Bhagat Singh, his intense patriotism coupled with cultivated idealism, made him an ideal icon for the youth of his generation. Through his written and vocal admonition of the British Imperial Government, he became the voice of his generation. His vehement departure from the Gandhian non-violent route to Swaraj has often been criticized by many, yet through the fearless embracing of martyrdom he inspired hundreds of teens and youths to join the freedom struggle wholeheartedly. His eminence in current times is evident from the fact that Bhagat Singh was voted as the Greatest Indian, ahead of Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi, in a poll conducted by India Today in 2008.

Bhagat Singh in Popular Culture

The inspiration that Bhagat Singh still ignites within the soul of Indians can be felt in the popularity of the films and theatrical adaptations on his life. Several films like “Shaheed” (1965) and “The Legend of Bhagat Singh” (2002) were made on the life of 23-year old revolutionary. Popular songs like the “Mohe rang de basanti chola” and “Sarfaroshiki Tamanna” associated with Bhagat Singh are still relevant in inspiring patriotic emotions in the Indians. Numerous books, articles and papers have been written about his life, ideologies and legacy. Bhagat Singh is quite popular on social media sites as well. On the video sharing website YouTube, you can find several videos, including Life Story of Bhagat Singh , on the life of the firebrand revolutionary .

Bhagat Singh Biography: Life, Death, Slogans and Legacy

Table of Contents

Bhagat Singh is seen as one of the important leaders in India’s fight for independence from British rule. People often call him “Shaheed” Bhagat Singh , which means a person who died for a cause. After the Assembly Bombing, Bhagat Singh explained, “If we want the deaf to hear us, we need to make a big noise. When we threw the bomb, we didn’t want to hurt anyone. Instead, we wanted to send a strong message to the British government that they should leave India and let it be free.”

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Bhagat Singh Overview

Bhagat Singh Biography

Bhagat Singh was born in 1907 in a small village in India. He grew up during a time when India was under British rule, and he witnessed the struggles and injustices faced by his fellow countrymen.

As he became older, Bhagat Singh became deeply committed to the idea of India’s independence. He joined the freedom struggle and actively participated in protests and movements against British rule. One of the most significant events in his life was the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, which deeply moved him and strengthened his resolve to fight for his country’s freedom.

Bhagat Singh is best known for his fearless acts of defiance against the British government. He was involved in daring actions to draw attention to the Indian people’s demands for freedom. His courage and sacrifice made him a national hero, and he is often referred to as “Shaheed Bhagat Singh,” meaning Martyr Bhagat Singh.

Despite his young age, Bhagat Singh’s contributions to India’s struggle for independence are remembered and celebrated to this day. His biography serves as an inspiration to all, reminding us of the power of determination and the pursuit of justice in the face of adversity.

Bhagat Singh Revolutionary Activities

Bhagat Singh was a brave and passionate freedom fighter who took part in several revolutionary activities during India’s struggle for independence from British rule. Here’s an explanation of some of his key actions in simple words:

• Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) : Bhagat Singh joined this group of like-minded young revolutionaries who believed in using force to overthrow British rule and bring freedom to India.
• Assembly Bombing : Bhagat Singh, along with his associates, threw non-lethal smoke bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi in 1929. They did this to protest against repressive laws and show their defiance to the British.
• Lahore Conspiracy Case : Bhagat Singh and his comrades were arrested after the assembly bombing. They were put on trial in what became known as the Lahore Conspiracy Case, where they boldly declared their revolutionary aims and were willing to face the consequences.
• Hunger Strike : While in jail, Bhagat Singh and his fellow prisoners went on a hunger strike to demand better treatment and rights for political prisoners. Their courage and determination drew widespread support.
• Slogans and Writings : Bhagat Singh used his writings and slogans to inspire others and raise awareness about India’s fight for freedom. His slogan “Inquilab Zindabad” (Long Live the Revolution) became iconic.
• Martyrdom : Bhagat Singh, along with Rajguru and Sukhdev, was sentenced to death for his involvement in the killing of a British police officer. Despite the option of saving his life by renouncing violence, he chose to embrace martyrdom, becoming a symbol of sacrifice for the nation’s freedom.

Bhagat Singh’s revolutionary activities demonstrated his unwavering commitment to India’s independence and inspired countless others to join the struggle. His bravery and sacrifice continue to be celebrated, reminding us of the power of determination in the pursuit of justice and freedom. Subash Chandra Bose Biography

Bhagat Singh’s Ideals and Beliefs

Bhagat Singh had strong ideals and beliefs that guided his actions during India’s struggle for independence. Here’s an explanation of his key ideals and beliefs in simple words:

• Patriotism : Bhagat Singh had deep love for his country, India. He believed in the idea of a free and independent India where every citizen could live with dignity and pride. He was willing to sacrifice everything for his homeland.
• Secularism : Bhagat Singh believed in a united and secular India, where people of all religions and backgrounds could coexist peacefully. He rejected any form of discrimination or religious division.
• Socialism : Bhagat Singh was influenced by socialist ideas. He believed in a society where wealth and resources were shared more equally among the people, reducing poverty and inequality.
• Non-Violence vs. Revolution : While he admired Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence, Bhagat Singh felt that, in certain situations, a more forceful approach was needed to gain independence. He believed in using revolutionary means to overthrow British rule.
• Youth Empowerment : Bhagat Singh had great faith in the power of young people to bring about change. He encouraged the youth of India to actively participate in the freedom struggle and take charge of their nation’s destiny.
• Sacrifice : Bhagat Singh believed that freedom came with a price. He was willing to sacrifice his life for the greater good of India. He famously said, “It is easy to kill individuals but you cannot kill the ideas.”
• Fearlessness : He displayed remarkable courage and fearlessness in the face of adversity. He was unafraid of the consequences of his actions and remained steadfast in his commitment to the cause.

Bhagat Singh’s ideals and beliefs continue to inspire people today, reminding us of the importance of patriotism, equality, and the willingness to stand up for what is right in the pursuit of a just and free society.

Bhagat Singh Quotes & Slogans

Bhagat Singh’s quotes and slogans are powerful words that continue to inspire and remind us of his unwavering dedication to India’s freedom struggle.

• “Inquilab Zindabad!” – This iconic slogan, which translates to “Long Live the Revolution,” was often used by Bhagat Singh to inspire the masses in their fight for independence.
• “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.” – Bhagat Singh emphasized the enduring power of his ideas and convictions.
• “It is easy to kill individuals but you cannot kill the ideas.” – He believed that while individuals could be silenced, the ideas of freedom and justice would persist.
• “Revolution is an inalienable right of mankind. Freedom is an imperishable birthright of all.” – Bhagat Singh articulated the belief that every person has the inherent right to strive for freedom and justice.
• “I am a man, and all that affects mankind concerns me.” – He expressed his deep concern for the welfare of all humanity, emphasizing the universal nature of his cause.
• “Merciless criticism and independent thinking are the two necessary traits of revolutionary thinking.” – Bhagat Singh stressed the importance of critical thinking and independent analysis in pursuing revolutionary goals.
• “The sword of revolution is sharpened on the whetting-stone of ideas.” – He highlighted the role of ideas and ideology as the driving force behind revolutionary actions.

Bhagat Singh Photo

Bhagat Singh’s photo , drawing, and image, including his real photo, hold a special place in the hearts of many. His photo captures the fearless spirit of a young revolutionary who fought passionately for India’s freedom. A Bhagat Singh drawing or image often portrays him with a stern yet determined expression, symbolizing his unwavering commitment to the cause. Bhagat Singh real photo , a historic relic, reminds us of the sacrifices made by him and others during the struggle for independence. These visuals serve as powerful reminders of Bhagat Singh’s legacy and the indomitable spirit of those who dedicated their lives to securing India’s freedom.

Bhagat Singh Death

Bhagat Singh Death is a significant part of his life story. Bhagat Singh Death Date is March 23, 1931, in Lahore, which is now in Pakistan. His death occurred as a result of his execution by hanging. Bhagat Singh willingly embraced martyrdom for the cause of India’s freedom from British rule. His sacrifice continues to inspire people, and the date of his death, March 23rd, is observed as Shaheed Diwas ( Martyrs’ Day ) in India to honor his memory and the sacrifices of other freedom fighters.

Bhagat Singh Legacy

Bhagat Singh’s legacy is a profound and enduring one, deeply rooted in his fearless commitment to the cause of India’s independence and his unwavering dedication to justice and equality. This legacy continues to inspire not only Indians but people worldwide.

At the heart of Bhagat Singh’s legacy is his unparalleled bravery and willingness to sacrifice his life for the greater good. He refused to bow down to British oppression and colonial rule, even when faced with the gravest of consequences. His sacrifice is a reminder of the extraordinary lengths to which individuals can go when they passionately believe in a cause.

Bhagat Singh’s legacy is also deeply intertwined with his ideological beliefs. He was a fervent advocate of socialism, secularism, and equality. His vision for an independent India was one where every citizen, regardless of their religion or background, would enjoy equal rights and opportunities. This vision continues to resonate with the principles of democracy and justice.

Bhagat Singh famous slogan, “Inquilab Zindabad” (Long Live the Revolution) , remains a rallying cry for those who strive for social change and justice. It embodies the spirit of resistance against oppression and tyranny. Bhagat Singh’s writings and speeches, which articulated his vision for a just society, continue to inspire scholars, activists, and thinkers.

The impact of Bhagat Singh’s legacy extends to various aspects of Indian culture and society. His birth anniversary, observed on September 28th, is celebrated across the nation as a day of remembrance and reflection. Monuments, memorials, and museums dedicated to his memory stand as a testament to his enduring influence. Films, literature, and documentaries continue to be made about his life, ensuring that his story is passed down to new generations.

Moreover, Bhagat Singh’s legacy has inspired countless individuals to stand up against injustice, tyranny, and inequality not only in India but around the world. His sacrifice and unwavering dedication serve as a beacon of hope for those who believe in the power of ordinary individuals to bring about extraordinary change.

In conclusion, Bhagat Singh’s legacy is a testament to the indomitable spirit of a young revolutionary who dared to challenge the mightiest empire of his time. His principles of justice, equality, and freedom remain relevant, and his memory continues to ignite the flames of inspiration in the hearts of those who aspire to create a better and more just world. Bhagat Singh’s legacy is not just a part of history; it is a living force that continues to shape the aspirations and dreams of a nation and its people.

Bhagat Singh Biography Summary

FAQs on Bhagat Singh Biography

Who is bhagat singh.

Bhagat Singh was a prominent Indian freedom fighter who played a significant role in the struggle for India's independence from British colonial rule. He is celebrated for his courage, patriotism, and sacrifice.

How to draw Bhagat Singh?

o draw Bhagat Singh, you can find reference images online or in books. Start by sketching his facial features, such as his distinctive mustache. Include details like his attire and the background that represents the era he lived in.

When was Bhagat Singh born?

Bhagat Singh was born on September 28, 1907, in the village of Banga, Punjab, which is now in Pakistan.

When was Bhagat Singh hanged?

Bhagat Singh was hanged on March 23, 1931, in Lahore Central Jail in British-ruled India, along with his fellow revolutionaries Rajguru and Sukhdev.

How did Bhagat Singh die?

Bhagat Singh died by execution through hanging. He willingly embraced martyrdom for the cause of India's freedom from British colonial rule.

Why is Bhagat Singh famous?

Bhagat Singh is famous for his unwavering commitment to India's independence struggle, his acts of defiance against British oppression, and his sacrifice. He is an iconic figure in India's history and an inspiration for generations.

What is Bhagat Singh's real name?

Bhagat Singh's real name was Shaheed Bhagat Singh. Shaheed means martyr, and this title was added to his name in recognition of his sacrifice for the nation.

What's the slogan of Bhagat Singh?

Bhagat Singh is often associated with the slogan Inquilab Zindabad, which translates to Long Live the Revolution. This slogan represents his revolutionary spirit and commitment to change.

How old was Bhagat Singh when he died?

Bhagat Singh was 23 years old when he was executed on March 23, 1931.

Did Bhagat Singh have a wife?

No, Bhagat Singh did not have a wife. His life was dedicated to the freedom struggle, and he remained unmarried, fully committed to the cause of India's independence.

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Bhagat Singh

Bhagat Singh (Punjabi: ਭਗਤ ਸਿੰਘ بھگت سنگھہ, IPA: [pə˨gət̪ sɪ˦ŋg] ) (September 28, [1] 1907–March 23, 1931) fought an Indian freedom fighter, considered one of the most famous revolutionaries of the Indian independence movement. For that reason, Indians often refer to him as Shaheed Bhagat Singh (the word shaheed means " martyr "). Many believe him one of the earliest Marxists in India. [2] He had been one of the leaders and founders of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA).

Born to a family which had earlier been involved in revolutionary activities against the British Raj in India, Bhagat Singh, as a teenager, having studied European revolutionary movements, had been attracted to anarchism and communism . [3] He became involved in numerous revolutionary organizations. He quickly rose in the ranks of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) and became one of its leaders, converting it to the HSRA. Singh gained support when he underwent a 63-day fast in jail, demanding equal rights for Indian and British political prisoners. Hanged for shooting a police officer in response to the killing of veteran social activist Lala Lajpat Rai, his legacy prompted youth in India to begin fighting for Indian independence and also increased the rise of socialism in India. [4]

Bhagat Singh, given the title "Shaheed" or martyr , grew up at an exciting time for the Independence movement. During his life time, Mahatma Gandhi developed his non-violence philosophy to deal with Indian independence. His philosophy, based in Hindu thought and practice, had compatibility with Buddhism , Jainism , Islam , and Christianity . Bhagat Singh joined Gandhi as a boy, putting into practice Gandhi's non violent resistance teaching. Whereas Gandhi went the way of the spiritual teachings of Hinduism , Buddha , and Christ , Singh went the way of Marx , Engels , and violence . Singh, an atheist and a Marxists , rejected Gandhi's commitment to God and peaceful resistance.

• 1 Early life
• 2.1 Lala Lajpat Rai's death and the Saunders murder
• 2.2 Bomb in the assembly
• 2.3 Trial and execution
• 3.1 Marxism/Leninism
• 3.2 Atheism
• 4.1 Mahatma Gandhi
• 4.2 Spurious book
• 5.1 Indian independence movement
• 5.2 Modern day legacy
• 6 Criticism
• 7 Quotations
• 10 References
• 11 External links

That Bhagat Singh felt angry about British colonial rule is not surprising. Most Indians hated British rule. If Singh could have over thrown the British colonial government and installed his own brand of communism and atheism , India would have been cast into the dark ages. Instead, India by and large rejected Singh's approach and embraced Gandhi's. Due to that wise national decision, India is a vibrant, rapidly developing, spiritually directed nation of one billion people.

Bhagat Singh had been born into a Sandhu family to Sardar Kishan Singh Sandhu and Vidyavati in the Khatkar Kalan village near Banga in the Lyallpur district of Punjab on September 28, 1907. Singh's given name of Bhagat meant "devotee." His had been a patriotic Sikh family, participating in numerous movements supporting independence of India. [5] The Hindu reformist Arya Samaj influenced his father. His uncles, Ajit Singh and Swaran Singh both took part in the Ghadr Party led by Kartar Singh Sarabha. Ajit Singh fled to Iran to avoid pending legal cases against him while Swaran Singh died from hanging . [6]

As a child, the Jalianwala Bagh Massacre that took place in Punjab in 1919 deeply affected him. [7] When Mahatma Gandhi started the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920, he became an active participant at the age of 13. He had great hopes that Gandhi would bring freedom in India. But he felt disappointed when Gandhi called off that movement following the Chauri Chaura riot in 1922. At that point he had openly defied the British and had followed Gandhi's wishes by burning his government-school books and any British-imported clothing. In 1923, Bhagat famously won an essay competition set by the Punjab Hindi Sahitya Sammelan. That grabbed the attention of members of the Punjab Hindi Sahitya Sammelan including its General Secretary Professor Bhim Sen Vidyalankar. At that age, he quoted famous Punjabi literature and discussed the Problems of the Punjab. He read a lot of poetry and literature written by Punjabi writers, Allama Iqbal, an Indian freedom fighter from Sialkot became his favorite poet. [8]

In his teenage years, Bhagat Singh studying at the National College in Lahore , running away from home to escape early marriage , and became a member of the organization Naujawan Bharat Sabha (Translated to 'Youth Society of India'). In the Naujawan Bharat Sabha, Singh and his fellow revolutionaries grew popular amongst the youth. He also joined the Hindustan Republican Association at the request of Professor Vidyalankar, then headed by Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqulla Khan. He may have had knowledge of the Kakori train robbery. He wrote for and edited Urdu and Punjabi newspapers published from Amritsar. [9] In September 1928, a meeting of various revolutionaries from across India had been called at Delhi under the banner of the Kirti Kissan Party. Bhagat Singh served as the secretary of the meeting. He carried out later revolutionary activities as a leader of that association. The capture and hanging of the main HRA Leaders necessitated his and Sukhdev quick promotion to higher ranks in the party. [10]

Later Revolutionary activities

Lala lajpat rai's death and the saunders murder.

The British government created a commission under Sir John Simon to report on the current political situation in India in 1928. The Indian political parties boycotted the commission because Indians had been excluded from representation, protests erupting throughout the country. When the commission visited Lahore on October 30, 1928, Lala Lajpat Rai led the protest against the commission in a silent non-violent march, but the police responded with violence. The police chief beat Lala Lajpat Rai severely and he later succumbed to his injuries. Bhagat Singh, an eyewitness to that event, vowed to take revenge. He joined with other revolutionaries, Shivaram Rajguru, Jai Gopal and Sukhdev Thapar, in a conspiracy to kill the police chief. Jai Gopal had been assigned to identify the chief and signal for Singh to shoot. In a case of mistaken identity, Gopal signaled Singh on the appearance of J. P. Saunders, a Deputy Superintendent of Police. Thus, Singh shot Saunders, instead of Scott. [11] He quickly left Lahore to escape the police. To avoid recognition, he shaved his beard and cut his hair, a violation of one of the sacred tenets of Sikhism .

Bomb in the assembly

In the face of actions by the revolutionaries, the British government enacted the Defence of India Act to give more power to the police. The Act, defeated in the council by one vote, purposed to combat revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh. The Act later passed under the ordinance that claimed the Act served the best interest of the public. In response to that act, the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association planned to explode a bomb in the assembly where the ordinance would be passed. Originally, Azad attempted to stop Bhagat Singh from carrying out the bombing; the remainder of the party forced him to succumb to Singh's wishes, deciding that Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt, another revolutionary, would throw the bombs in the assembly.

On April 8, 1929, Singh and Dutt threw bombs onto the corridors of the assembly and shouted " Inquilab Zindabad! " ("Long Live the Revolution!"). A shower of leaflets stating that it takes a loud voice to make the deaf hear followed. The bomb neither killed nor injured anyone; Singh and Dutt claimed they deliberately avoided death and injury, a claim substantiated both by British forensics investigators who found that the bomb too weak to cause injury, and the bomb had been thrown away from people. Singh and Dutt gave themselves up for arrest after the bomb. [12] He and Dutt received life sentences to 'Transportation for Life' for the bombing on June 12, 1929.

Trial and execution

Shortly after his arrest and trial for the Assembly bombing, the British came to know of his involvement in the murder of J. P. Saunders. The courts charged Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev with the murder . Bhagat Singh decided to use the court as a tool to publicize his cause for the independence of India. He admitted to the murder and made statements against the British rule during the trial. [13] The judge ordered the case carried out without members of the HSRA present at the hearing. That created an uproar amongst Singh's supporters as he could no longer publicize his views.

While in jail, Bhagat Singh and other prisoners launched a hunger strike advocating for the rights of prisoners and under trial. They struck to protest better treatment of British murderers and thieves than Indian political prisoners, who, by law, would receive better conditions. They aimed through their strike to ensure a decent standard of food for political prisoners, the availability of books and a daily newspaper, as well as better clothing and the supply of toilet necessities and other hygienic necessities. He also demanded political prisoners' exemption from forced labor or undignified work. [14] During that hunger strike that lasted 63 days and ended with the British succumbing to his wishes, he gained much popularity among the common Indians. Before the strike his popularity had been limited mainly to the Punjab region. [15]

Bhagat Singh also maintained a diary, eventually filling 404 pages, with notes relating to the quotations and popular sayings of various people whose views he supported; Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels held a prominent place. [16] The comments in his diary led to an understanding of the philosophical thinking of Bhagat Singh. [17] Before dying he also wrote a pamphlet entitled "Why I am an atheist," to counter the charge of vanity for rejecting God in the face of death.

On March 23, 1931, the British hanged Bhagat Singh in Lahore with his comrades Rajguru and Sukhdev. His supporters, who had been protesting against the hanging, immediately declared him as a shaheed or martyr. [18] According to the Superintendent of Police at the time, V.N. Smith, the time of the hanging had been advanced:

Normally execution took place at 8 A.M. , but it was decided to act at once before the public could become aware of what had happened…. At about 7 P.M. shouts of Inquilab Zindabad were heard from inside the jail. This was correctly interpreted as a signal that the final curtain was about to drop. [19]

Singh had been cremated at Hussainiwala on banks of Sutlej river. Today, the Bhagat Singh Memorial commemorates freedom fighters of India. [20]

Political Thoughts and Opinions

Marxism/leninism.

Bhagat Singh's political thought evolved gradually from Gandhian nationalism to revolutionary Marxism . By the end of 1928, he and his comrades renamed their organization the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. He had read the teachings of Karl Marx , Friedrich Engels , and Vladimir Lenin and believed that, with such a large and diverse population, India could only survive properly under a socialist regime. Those ideals had been introduced to him during his time at the National College at Lahore and he believed that India should re-enact the Russian revolution . In the case that India rejected socialism, he believed that the rich would only get richer and the poor would only get poorer. That, and his militant methods, put him at odds with Gandhi and members of the Congress. He became the first socialist leader in India to make any gain. Even today, socialist leaders sometimes refer back to him as the founder of Indian socialism.

While in a condemned cell in 1931, he wrote a pamphlet entitled Why I am an Atheist in which he discussed and advocated the philosophy of atheism . That pamphlet arose as a counter to criticism by fellow revolutionaries for his failure to acknowledge religion and God while in a condemned cell, the accusation of vanity. He supported his own beliefs and claimed that he used to be a firm believer in The Almighty, but rejected the myths and beliefs that others held close to their hearts. In that pamphlet, he acknowledged that religion made death easier, but declared unproved philosophy a sign of human weakness. [21]

Bhagat Singh had been known to have an appreciation of martyrdom . Kartar Singh Sarabha had been his mentor as a young boy. [22] Many Indians consider Singh a martyr for acting to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, also considered a martyr. In the leaflet he threw in the Central Assembly on April 8, 1929, he stated that It is easy to kill individuals but you cannot kill the ideas. Great empires crumbled while the ideas survived. [23] After engaging in studies on the Russian Revolution , he wanted to die so that his death would inspire the youth of India to unite and fight the British Empire . [24]

While in prison, Bhagat Singh and two others had written a letter to the Viceroy asking him to treat them as prisoners of war and hence to execute them by firing squad rather than by hanging . Prannath Mehta visited him in the jail on March 20, four days before his execution, with a draft letter for clemency, but he declined to sign it. [25]

Conspiracy theories

Many conspiracy theories arose regarding Singh, especially the events surrounding his death.

Mahatma Gandhi

One theory contends that Mahatma Gandhi had an opportunity to stop Singh's execution but refused. That particular theory has spread among the public in modern times after the creation of modern films such as The Legend of Bhagat Singh, which portray Gandhi as someone strongly at odds with Bhagat Singh and supporting his hanging. [26] In a variation on that theory, Gandhi actively conspired with the British to have Singh executed. Both highly controversial theories have been hotly contested. Gandhi's supporters say that Gandhi too little influence with the British to stop the execution, much less arrange it. Furthermore, Gandhi's supporters assert that Singh's role in the independence movement posed no threat to Gandhi's role as its leader, and so Gandhi would have no reason to want him dead.

Gandhi, during his lifetime, always maintained a great admiration of Singh's patriotism , but that he simply disapproved of his violent methods. He also said that he opposed Singh's execution (and, for that matter, capital punishment in general) and proclaimed that he had no power to stop it. On Singh's execution, Gandhi said, "The government certainly had the right to hang these men. However, there are some rights which do credit to those who possess them only if they are enjoyed in name only." [27] Gandhi also once said, on capital punishment, "I cannot in all conscience agree to anyone being sent to the gallows. God alone can take life because He alone gives it."

Gandhi had managed to have 90,000 political prisoners—members of movements other than his Satyagraha movement—released under the pretext of "relieving political tension," in the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. According to a report in the Indian magazine Frontline, he did plead several times for the commutation of the death sentence of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, including a personal visit on March 19, 1931, and in a letter to the Viceroy on the day of their execution, pleading fervently for commutation, without knowing that the letter would be too late. [28]

Lord Irwin, the Viceroy, later said:

As I listened to Mr. Gandhi putting the case for commutation before me, I reflected first on what significance it surely was that the apostle of non-violence should so earnestly be pleading the cause of the devotees of a creed so fundamentally opposed to his own, but I should regard it as wholly wrong to allow my judgment to be influenced by purely political considerations. I could not imagine a case in which under the law, penalty had been more directly deserved. [29]

Spurious book

On October 28, 2005, K.S. Kooner's and G.S. Sindhra's book entitled, Some Hidden Facts: Martyrdom of Shaheed Bhagat Singh—Secrets unfurled by an Intelligence Bureau Agent of British-India [ sic ] released. The book asserted that Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev had been deliberately hanged in such a manner as to leave all three in a semi-conscious state, so that all three could later be taken outside the prison and shot dead by the Saunders family, a prison operation codenamed "Operation Trojan Horse." Scholars have expressed skepticism of the book's claims. [30]

Indian independence movement

Bhagat Singh's death had the effect that he desired and he inspired thousands of youths to assist the remainder of the Indian independence movement. After his hanging, youths in regions around Northern India rioted in protest against the British Raj .

Modern day legacy

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) itself acknowledges Bhagat Singh's contribution to Indian society [31] and, in particular, the future of socialism in India. To celebrate the centenary of his birth, a group of intellectuals have set up an institution to commemorate Singh and his ideals. [32]

Several popular Bollywood films have been made capturing the life and times of Bhagat Singh. Shaheed, released in 1965, starred Manoj Kumar as Singh. Two major films about Singh released in 2002, The Legend of Bhagat Singh and 23rd March 1931: Shaheed. The Legend of Bhagat Singh represents Rajkumar Santoshi's adaptation, in which Ajay Devgan played Singh and Amrita Rao featured in a brief role. Guddu Dhanoa directed 23 March 1931: Shaheed, starring Bobby Deol as Singh, with Sunny Deol and Aishwarya Rai in supporting roles.

The 2006 film Rang De Basanti (starring Aamir Khan) drew parallels between revolutionaries of Bhagat Singh's era and modern Indian youth. It covers Bhagat Singh's role in the Indian freedom struggle, revolving around a group of college students and how they each play the roles of Bhagat's friends and family.

The patriotic Urdu and Hindi songs, Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna ("the desire to sacrifice") and Mera Rang De Basanti Chola ("my light-yellow-colored cloak") with Basanti referring to the light-yellow color of the Mustard flower grown in the Punjab which is one color of the rehat meryada (code of conduct of the Sikh Saint-Soldier). These songs are largely associated with Bhagat Singh and have been used in a number of films related to him.

In September 2007 the governor of Pakistan's Punjab province announced that a memorial to Bhagat Singh will be displayed at Lahore museum . According to the governor “Singh was the first martyr of the subcontinent and his example was followed by many youth of the time." [33]

Both his contemporaries and people after his death criticized Bhagat Singh because of his violent and revolutionary stance towards the British, his opposition to the pacifist stance taken by the Indian National Congress and particularly Mahatma Gandhi . [34] The methods he used to make his point—shooting Saunders and throwing non-lethal bombs—stood in opposition to the non-violent non-cooperation used by Gandhi. The British accused him of having knowledge of the Kakori train robbery.

Bhagat Singh has also been accused of being too eager to die, as opposed to staying alive and continuing his movement. It has been alleged that he could have escaped from prison if he so wished, but he preferred that he die and become a legacy for other youths in India. Some lament that he may have done much more for India had he stayed alive. [35]

• Hindustan Socialist Republican Association
• Communist Party of India (Marxist)
• Sukhdev Thapar
• Chandrashekar Azad
• Udham Singh
• ↑ Tribune Chandigarh: In memory of Bhagat Singh
• ↑ Communist Party of India (Marxist)
• ↑ Revolutionary Democracy: Bhagat Singh and the Revolutionary Movement
• ↑ Reeta Sharma, Tribune India: What if Bhagat Singh had lived Retrieved February 12, 2009.
• ↑ Bharat Desam Biographies: Bhagat Singh
• ↑ Martyrdom of Sardar Bhagat Singh by Jyotsna Kamat . Cited by University of California Berkeley Library on South Asian History
• ↑ Bhagat Singh Documents Problems of the Punjab
• ↑ Jyotsna Kamat, Martyrdom of Sardar Bhagat Singh
• ↑ Jyotsna Kamat, Martyrdom of Sardar Bhagat Singh Retrieved February 12, 2009.
• ↑ Bhagat Singh Documents: Bhagat Singh and BK Dutt's Demands from the British Government
• ↑ Communist Party of India (Marxist): Bhagat Singh Remains Our Symbol of Revolution Retrieved February 12, 2009.
• ↑ Shahid Bhagat Singh: Jail Note Book of Shahid Bhagat Singh Retrieved February 12, 2009.
• ↑ Shahid Bhagat Singh: Bhagat Singh quotes from his jail note book
• ↑ CPIM: Bhagat Singh Memorial Day Observed Retrieved February 12, 2009.
• ↑ The Tribune India : Excerpts out of Martyrdom of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Retrieved February 12, 2009.
• ↑ Why I am an Atheist : Bhagat Singh 1931 . marxists.org . Retrieved February 12, 2009.
• ↑ Tribune India What if Bhagat Singh had lived
• ↑ Bhagat Singh Documents Leaflet thrown in the Central Assembly Hall, New Delhi . Retrieved February 12, 2009.
• ↑ Bharat Desam Biographies: Bhagat Singh bharatadesam.com . Retrieved February 12, 2009.
• ↑ Frontline 18 (8) (Apr. 14 - 27, 2001), Frontline : Paresh R. Vaidya, Of Means and Ends. hinduonnet.com .
• ↑ The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002 film)
• ↑ M. K. Gandhi. The Collected works of Mahatma Gandhi. I - XC, 1884 - 1948. (Delhi: Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. 1979), vol. 45, 359-361.
• ↑ Frontline : Paresh R. Vaidya, Of Means and Ends. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
• ↑ . Frontline : Paresh R. Vaidya, Of Means and Ends. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
• ↑ The Sunday Tribune Was Bhagat Singh shot dead? Retrieved February 12, 2009.
• ↑ Communist Party of India 25th January 2006, letter to Manmohan Singh cpindia.org . Retrieved February 12, 2009.
• ↑ The Tribune Chandigarh In memory of Bhagat Singh
• ↑ Daily times Pakistan : "Memorial will be built to Bhagat Singh, says governor" Retrieved February 12, 2009.
• ↑ Punjabi Lok Sukhdev's letter to Gandhi punjabilok.com . Retrieved February 12, 2009.
• ↑ Tribune India: What if Bhagat Singh had lived . Retrieved February 12, 2009.

References ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Gandhi, M.K. The Collected works of Mahatma Gandhi. I - XC, 1884 - 1948. Delhi: Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, 1979. OCLC 85966948
• Pinney, Christop. Bhagat Singh. Routledge India, 2008. ISBN 978-0415446082
• Sanyal, Jatinder Nath, Bhagat Singh, Kripal Chandra Yadav, and Babar Singh. Bhagat Singh A Biography. (Shahid-i-azam series, vol. 3.) Gurgaon: Hope India, 2006. ISBN 978-8178710594
• Singh, Bhagat, and M. M. Juneja. Selected Collections on Bhagat Singh. Hissar: Modern Publishers, 2007. OCLC 156902585

External links

All links retrieved October 1, 2023.

• Bhagat Singh Biography, Contains letters written by Bhagat Singh .

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Bhagat Singh

(1907-1931)

Bhagat Singh was born in Punjab, India (now Pakistan), on September 27, 1907, to a Sikh family deeply involved in political activities. He quit school at thirteen to devote his life to Indian independence. He became involved in several violent demonstrations of political defiance and was arrested several times. Singh was found guilty of killing a British police officer and hanged on March 23, 1931.

Early Years

Born on September 27, 1907, to a Sikh family in Punjab, India (now Pakistan), Bhagat Singh was the second son of Kishan Singh and Vidya Vati. The family was steeped in nationalism and involved in movements for independence. At the time of Bhagat's birth, his father was in jail for political agitation.

By the time Bhagat Singh was 13, he was well familiar with this family’s revolutionary activities. His father was a supporter of Mahatma Gandhi , and after Gandhi called for boycotting government-aided institutions, Singh left school and enrolled in the National College at Lahore, where he studied European revolutionary movements. In time, he would become disenchanted with Gandhi’s non-violent crusade, believing that armed conflict was the only way to political freedom.

Young Firebrand

In 1926, Bhagat Singh founded the 'Naujavan Bharat Sabha (Youth Society of India) and joined the Hindustan Republican Association (later known as Hindustan Socialist Republican Association), where he met several prominent revolutionaries. A year later, Singh’s parents planned to have him married, a move he vehemently rejected, and he left school.

By this time, Bhagat Singh had become a person of interest to the police, and in May 1927, he was arrested for allegedly being involved in a bombing the previous October. He was released several weeks later and began to write for various revolutionary newspapers. After receiving reassurances from his parents that they wouldn’t force him to marry, he returned to Lahore.

Radical Revolutionary

In 1928, the British government held the Simon Commission to discuss autonomy for the Indian people. Several Indian political organizations boycotted the event because the Commission had no Indian representatives. In October, Bhagat Singh’s comrade, Lala Lajpat Rai led a march in protest against the Commission. Police attempted to disburse the large crowd, and during the melee, Rai was injured by the superintendent of police, James A. Scott. Rai died of heart complications two weeks later. The British government denied any wrongdoing.

To avenge his friend’s death, Bhagat Singh and two others plotted to kill the police superintendent, but instead shot and killed police officer John P. Saunders. Singh and his fellow conspirators escaped arrest despite a massive search to apprehend them.

In April 1929, Bhagat Singh and an associate bombed the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi to protest implementation of the Public Safety Bill. The bombs they carried allegedly were not intended to kill but to scare (no one was killed, though there were some injuries). The bombers planned to get arrested and stand trial so they could further promote their cause.

Arrest and Trial

The actions of the young revolutionaries was soundly condemned by followers of Gandhi, but Bhagat Singh was delighted to have a stage on which to promote his cause. He offered no defense during the trial but disrupted the proceedings with rants of political dogma. He was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.

Through further investigation, the police discovered the connection between Bhagat Singh and the murder of Officer Saunders and he was rearrested. While awaiting trial, he led a hunger strike in prison. Eventually, Singh and his co-conspirators were tried and sentenced to hang. He was executed on March 23, 1931. It is said that he kissed the hangman’s noose before it was placed around his neck. His death brought mixed emotions throughout India. Followers of Gandhi felt that he was too radical and hurt the quest for freedom, while his supporters considered him a martyr. Singh remains a significant, though controversial, figure in India’s independence movement.

QUICK FACTS

• Name: Bhagat Singh
• Birth Year: 1907
• Birth date: September 27, 1907
• Birth City: Punjab
• Birth Country: British India (now Pakistan)
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Considered to be one of the most influential revolutionaries of the Indian independence movement, Bhagat Singh gave his life for this cause.
• World Politics
• Astrological Sign: Virgo
• Dayanand Anglo Vedic High School And National College
• Nacionalities
• Interesting Facts
• At age 13, Bhagat Singh quit school to become a revolutionary.
• Occupations
• Political Activist
• Death Year: 1931
• Death date: March 23, 1931
• Death City: Lahore
• Death Country: British India (now Pakistan)

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• Last Updated: August 14, 2019
• Original Published Date: May 7, 2015
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Bhagat Singh: The Young Revolutionary

Last updated on April 16, 2022 by ClearIAS Team

Bhagat Singh was a charismatic revolutionary freedom fighter who was known for his courage. Read here to know more about his short but significant life.

Bhagat Singh was a revolutionary leader who was executed by the British at the age of 23 for his activities in Indian freedom movement.

Table of Contents

Early life of Bhagat Singh

Bhagat Singh was born on September 27, 1907, in Lyallpur, western Punjab, India (now in Pakistan).

Bhagat Singh attended Dayanand Anglo Vedic High School, which was operated by  Arya Samaj  (a reform sect of modern Hinduism), and then National College, both located in Lahore.

His family members were involved in the freedom struggle and he was drawn to the Indian independence movement from a very young age. His father and his uncle Ajit Singh were active in progressive politics, taking part in the agitation around the Canal Colonization Bill in 1907, and later the Ghadar Movement of 1914–1915.

In 1923, he joined the National College in Lahore, founded two years earlier by Lala Lajpat Rai in response to Mahatma Gandhi’s non-cooperation movement, which urged Indian students to shun schools and colleges subsidized by the British Indian government.

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Bhagat Singh’s foray into the freedom movement

His family’s relation with the freedom struggle propelled Bhagat Singh into the activities from a young age. Initially, he supported Mahatma Gandhi and the Non-Cooperation Movement. However, when Gandhi withdrew the movement in the wake of the Chauri Chaura incident, Bhagat Singh turned to revolutionary nationalism.

Bhagat singh was deeply affected by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (1919) and the violence against unarmed Akali protestors at Nankana Sahib (1921).

In 1924 in Kanpur, he became a member of the Hindustan Republican Association, started by Sachindranath Sanyal a year earlier. The main organizer of the Association was Chandra Shekhar Azad and Bhagat Singh became very close to him.

In 1926, he founded the  Naujawan Bharat Sabha, an organization that aimed to encourage revolution against British rule by rallying the peasants and workers.

He made contact with the ‘Workers and Peasants Party’ which brought out the monthly magazine Kirti in Punjabi. For the next year, Bhagat Singh worked on the editorial board of Kirti.

In 1928, he established the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) along with Sukhdev, Chandrashekhar Azad , and others.

HSRA collapsed after Chandrashekar Azad was shot dead in 1930.

Bhagat Singh’s Revolutionary activities

His association with revolutionaries began with HSRA. He was introduced to the philosophy of bombs and the importance of the armed revolution.

In 1927, he was first arrested on charges of association with the Kakori Case   accused of an article written under the pseudonym Vidrohi (Rebel).

He was also accused of being responsible for a bomb explosion at Lahore during the Dussehra fair.

The Saunders Case/ Lahore Conspiracy case:

In 1928, Lala Lajpat rai died due to injuries sustained during a protest against the Simon Commission in Lahore. The lathi-charge was ordered by the superintendent of police James Scott.

Bhagat Singh and his revolutionary friends decided to avenge the death of the dear leader. However, in a case of mistaken identity, they assassinated another police official J P Saunders. This was known as the  Lahore Conspiracy Case .

• After this incident, Bhagat Singh fled from Lahore and made changed his appearance to avoid arrest.

The murder was condemned as a retrograde action by Mahatma Gandhi, but Jawaharlal Nehru later wrote:

“Bhagat Singh did not become popular because of his act of terrorism but because he seemed to vindicate, for the moment, the honor of Lala Lajpat Rai, and through him of the nation. He became a symbol, the act was forgotten, the symbol remained, and within a few months each town and village of Punjab, and to a lesser extent in the rest of northern India, resounded with his name. Innumerable songs grew about him and the popularity that the man achieved was something amazing.”

Central assembly bombing case:

On 8th April 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw a bomb in the Central Assembly at Delhi, from the Visitors’ Gallery. They also threw pamphlets and raised pro-revolutionary slogans.

Both the revolutionaries did not resist arrest since they wanted to spread their message of revolution and anti-imperialism and wanted to use the trial as a platform for it.

• They shouted slogans of “Inquilab Zindabad” during the whole arrest. The slogan became quite popular among the youth and many freedom fighters.

There were no causalities in the incident as it was never their intention to cause physical harm to anyone. Their aim was ‘to make the deaf hear’.

Bhagat Singh was the mastermind behind the incident and was inspired by Auguste Vaillant, a French anarchist, who was executed by France for a similar incident in Paris.

In the trial for the incident, both Singh and Dutt were sentenced to imprisonment for life.

By this time Bhagat Singh was also linked to the JP Saunder’s murder incident. He, along with Rajguru and Sukhdev was charged with the murder of Saunders.

The trial and death of Bhagat Singh

The trial started in July 1929 and was published in daily newspapers.

The young revolutionaries started a hunger strike in Lahore prison demanding better conditions for political prisoners who were also treated as criminals.

They were met by many leaders including Jawaharlal Nehru while they fasted for 116 days which only ended after repeated requests from family and congress leaders.

But the trial was a one-sided affair and Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru were sentenced to death. The verdict was met with large criticism and many national leaders requested to reduce the sentence but in vain.

The three were ordered to be hanged on 24 March 1931 but the sentence was carried out a day earlier at the Lahore Jail. After the hanging, their mortal remains were cremated in secret.

The executions were reported widely by the press, especially as they took place on the eve of the annual convention of the Congress party in Karachi. Gandhi faced black flag demonstrations by angry youths who shouted: “Down with Gandhi”.

Individual Heroism vs Mass Movement

Bhagat Singh initially believed in individual heroism to achieve the goal.

However, he later realised that individual heroism stood no chance against the brute force of the British empire and the only way to a successful revolution was to unleash a popular broad-based movement.

Legacy of Bhagat Singh

Every year, March 23 is observed as Martyrs’ Day as a tribute to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru. The day is also known as Shaheed Diwas or Sarvodaya Day.

During the centenary of his birth, a group of intellectuals sets up an institution named Bhagat Singh Sansthan to commemorate him and his ideals.

He was an atheist and ardent reader- his book “Why I am an Athiest” is quite popular.

Few of his famous quotes were-

• 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.
• Bombs and pistols do not make a revolution. The sword of revolution is sharpened on the whetting stone of ideas.
• May the sun in his course visit no land freer, happier, more lovely, than this our own country.
• But mere faith and blind faith is dangerous: it dulls the brain and makes a man reactionary.
• Revolution is an inalienable right of mankind. Freedom is an imperishable birthright of all. Labour is the real sustainer of society.

The youth of India still gain inspiration in his life- a young revolutionary with fire in his blood and calm in his heart.

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Review of Bhagat Singh — A Life in Revolution : A legend in life and death

In a new biography, satvinder juss shines a light on the freedom fighter, his comrades and the revolutionary members of his family.

Published - May 08, 2023 08:23 pm IST

People hold placards and shout slogans during a Kranti March from Jantar Mantar to Parliament street in New Delhi, demanding martyrdom status for freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Rajguru, Sukhdev and others. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

When called upon to mount the scaffold, Bhagat Singh was reading a book by Lenin or on Lenin. He continued his reading and said, ‘Wait a while. A revolutionary is talking to another revolutionary.’ There was something in his voice which made the executioners pause. Bhagat Singh continued to read. After a few moments, he flung the book towards [the] ceiling and said, ‘Let’s go.’

— Manmathnath Gupta, Bhagat Singh’s associate writing in 1977; quoted by Satvinder Juss

To be placed in Gandhi’s league is not easy, but Bhagat Singh managed it in death and in life. His name is taken with Gandhiji, Subhas Bose and Jawaharlal Nehru, to name only a few, when it comes to measuring the contribution of these tall freedom fighters.

In a new biography, Bhagat Singh: A Life in Revolution , Satvinder Juss has done a service by shining a light on the person, his comrades (whose contributions were as critical) and the revolutionary members of his family.

A mural of Bhagat Singh in New Delhi. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Actions and words

The dramatic effect of throwing leaflets in the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi (April 1929), the killing of British policeman J.P. Saunders, in retaliation to the British police beating Lala Lajpat Rai to death (December 1928), the great hunger strike at Mianwali jail in which one of Bhagat Singh’s comrades, Jathindranath Das, gave his life September 1929, are just some actions of Bhagat Singh that set him apart.

Interestingly, Bhagat Singh was not to throw the bomb in the Delhi Assembly but one of his comrades, Sukhdev, accused him of ducking out. Sukhdev alleged that Bhagat Singh was not going to throw the bomb at the Assembly because he wanted to spend more time with a “certain woman”, Juss reveals.

Hunger strike poster of Bhagat Singh and Batukeshswar Dutt. | Photo Credit: Wiki Commons

On April 5, 1929, Bhagat Singh sent a letter to Sukhdev saying that his own brother had misunderstood him and levelled a very serious charge of weakness against him. By then, he was already on his way to the Delhi Assembly. Juss wonders whether Bhagat Singh is making an admission of his own love when he tells Sukhdev, “Don’t be cold to those who lag behind and fall prey to a disease like mine ; don’t heighten their pain by scolding them, because they need your sympathy.”

The last thing that Bhagat Singh could be accused of is weakness — his actions demonstrated the contempt for British colonialism. His actions and his words both spoke loudly — and both galvanised millions of Indians against the Raj.

No neat labels

Juss quotes Oxford scholar Pritam Singh to suggest that all shades of political opinion had problems with Bhagat Singh, who didn’t fit neatly in a box and had a life and legacy that were all his own.

Students participate in a poster-making competition to commemorate the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, in Chandigarh. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Bhagat Singh’s comrade, Shiv Verma, has recorded that the revolutionary always moved with a small, portable library. He always had two things with him — a pistaul (pistol) and a pustak (book) even if he was ill-clad, Verma recalled.

Bhagat Singh’s vision of an exploitation-free India, his undying commitment to secular and rational values as well as a nuanced commitment to methods needed to end British rule are well brought out by Juss.

Statues of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev at the India–Pakistan Border, near Hussainiwala. | Photo Credit: Wiki Commons

Relevant to today’s India are Bhagat Singh’s views on Governors at the time something that many chief ministers could make common cause with. “I can only say that the Governor imposed from above, equipped with extraordinary powers, higher and above the legislative, shall prove to be no less than a despot.”

Critiquing the press

Finally, in mid-1928, Bhagat Singh wrote a damning critique of the press, a year before he was arrested, “The real duty of the newspapers is to educate, to cleanse the minds of people, to save them from narrow sectarian divisiveness... instead their main objective seems to be spreading ignorance, preaching and propagating sectarianism and... communalism... leading to the destruction of our composite culture and shared heritage.”

Bhagat Singh would have easily understood today’s India. One can only wonder what he would have to say about young idealists fighting for the idea of India finding themselves behind bars and the rising economic inequality in the country.

Bhagat Singh: A Life in Revolution ; Satvinder Juss, Penguin/Viking, ₹999.

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Bhagat Singh: Biography, Scholarly Works, and His Religious and Political Beliefs

On 23 March Martyr’s Day ( Shahid Diwas ) is celebrated in the memory of three freedom fighters Bhagat Singh , Rajguru and Sukhdev.

Bhagat Singh Biography

• Birth: Bhagat Singh was born on September 28, 1907 in the village of Banga in Lyallpur district (present-day Faisalabad, Pakistan).
• Death: He was hanged for murdering British police officer John Saunders in 1931 , at the age of only 23.
• Politically Active: Both Bhagat Singh’s father Kishan and uncle Ajit were politically active against the British.
• His uncle was deported to Mandalay in 1907 for his inflammatory speeches and agitation against the Punjab Colonisation Bill.
• Association with Ghadar Party: After his release, he headed to Europe and then America from where he was associated with the San-Francisco based Ghadar Party.
• Dissenter: Chris Moffat wrote in India’s Revolutionary Inheritance: The politics and promise of Bhagat Singh (2019) – “ a dissenter from a family of dissenters. “

Scholarly Works

• Journals: He wrote for Kirti, the journal of the Kirti Kisan Party and briefly for the Veer Arjun newspaper, published in Delhi.
• Pseudonyms: Singh often used pseudonyms including Balwant, Ranjit and Vidhrohi.
• Poetic Influence : His jail notebooks reveal not only his social and political concerns , but also the kind of literature he was reading while in prison, which included poetry by the likes of Rabindranath Tagore, William Wordsworth, Waiid Ali Shah, Mirza Ghalib and lqbal.
• Religious and Political Beliefs: Despite his present-day co-option by parties across the political spectrum, Bhagat Singh was a steadfast atheist and a Marxist with an anarchist tilt.

Reasons For Practising Atheism by Bhagat Singh

• For him, scientific principles provided a more reliable and logical framework for understanding the world than religious doctrines.
• Socialism and Class Struggle: Bhagat Singh was also an advocate of socialist ideals and saw religion, particularly organized religion, as a potential tool used by the ruling class to control and manipulate the masses. 
• Opposition to Dogma and Superstition : He argued that blind faith and unquestioning acceptance of religious doctrines hindered progress and critical thinking and believed in reason and scientific inquiry.
• Secularism and Inclusivity: He opposed the idea of a theocratic state and believed in the separation of religion from the affairs of the state.

Bhagat Singh’s Defence

• Jinnah Defendend: British attempted to pass a Bill which would make it legal to conduct a trial in absentia — without the presence of the accused and Jinnah stood steadfastly against this. 
• Jawaharlal Nehru Defended: Nehru was highly critical of the legal process and the injustice being perpetrated by the British.

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Five things you did not know about Bhagat Singh: When Jinnah defended him, Nehru praised him

On his 116th birth anniversary, we remember bhagat singh, revolutionary freedom fighter who remains an icon for patriots across india. here are five lesser-known facts about him..

Bhagat Singh was born on September 28, 1907 in the village of Banga in Lyallpur district (present-day Faisalabad, Pakistan). A charismatic revolutionary, he was hanged for murdering British police officer John Saunders in 1931, at the age of only 23.

His martyrdom and the coverage his trial received made him a folk hero, especially in northern India. Paeans of his courage and heroism are sung even today, with Bhagat Singh continuing to be an inspiration for patriots across the country. While many freedom fighters laid their lives for India, few have been lionised in popular art and literature as Bhagat Singh.

On his 116th birth anniversary, here are five lesser-known facts about Bhagat Singh’s life.

1. Born into a family of progressive freedom fighters

Both Bhagat Singh’s father Kishan and uncle Ajit were politically active against the British. His father was frequently at odds with the colonial regime and even imprisoned briefly in 1910 for “flooding Punjab with seditious literature”. His uncle was deported to Mandalay in 1907 for his inflammatory speeches and agitation against the Punjab Colonisation Bill. After his release, he headed to Europe and then America, where he was associated with the San Francisco-based Ghadar party.

This meant that from an early age, Bhagat Singh grew up in an environment of anti-colonialism. In Bhagat Singh and His Thought (1990), Hansraj Rahbar wrote that young Bhagat Singh was able to “assimilate nationalist traditions even as he drank his mother’s milk” (translated from Hindi).

Yet, in many ways, Bhagat Singh was — as Chris Moffat wrote in India’s Revolutionary Inheritance: The politics and promise of Bhagat Singh (2019) — “a dissenter from a family of dissenters.” This can most notably be seen in his very public rebuke of his father after he submitted a mercy plea to the Viceroy when his son was facing the gallows. Bhagat Singh chastised old Kishan for his weakness and undermining of the condemned revolutionaries’ cause.

2. A very scholarly person

Today, Bhagat Singh is often remembered as a man of action. Popular portrayals, such as in films like Rang De Basanti (2006) or The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002), there is an emphasis on his revolutionary activities and muscular nationalism.

However, Singh was as much a scholar as he was a revolutionary. He was a voracious reader and prolific writer who preferred a pen over a pistol in his hand. In the 1920s, he was writing for both Urdu and Punjabi newspapers in Amritsar. He also contributed to pamphlets and other ‘seditious’ literature criticising British colonial rule.

He also wrote for Kirti , the journal of the Kirti Kisan Party and briefly for the Veer Arjun newspaper, published in Delhi. Singh often used pseudonyms including Balwant, Ranjit and Vidhrohi. His jail notebooks reveal not only his social and political concerns, but also the kind of literature he was reading while in prison, which included poetry by the likes of Rabindranath Tagore, William Wordsworth, Wajid Ali Shah, Mirza Ghalib and Iqbal.

3. An atheist and a Marxist

Despite his present-day co-option by parties across the political spectrum , Bhagat Singh was a steadfast atheist and a Marxist with an anarchist tilt.

Criticising religion, Bhagat Singh wrote in ‘Why I am an Atheist’ (1930), “All faiths differ on many fundamental questions, but each of them claims to be the only true religion. This is the root of evil.”

“One of my friends asked me to pray. When informed of my atheism, he said, ‘When your last days come, you will begin to believe.’ I said, ‘No, dear sir, Never shall it happen. I consider it to be an act of degradation and demoralisation. For such petty selfish motives, I shall never pray,” Singh wrote.

He considered the likes of Marx, Lenin, Trotsky and Bankunin as his inspirations. In his final testament, ‘To Young Political Workers’ (1931), he declares his ideal as the “social reconstruction on new, i.e., Marxist, basis”. At the same time, he also did not agree with many orthodox Marxist positions, including those on authoritarianism, that were very fashionable at the time.

In 1928, Singh published a series of articles on anarchism in Kirti , clarifying the meaning of the term for the masses. “The ultimate goal of Anarchism is complete independence, according to which no one will be obsessed with God or religion, nor will anybody be crazy for money or other worldly desires. There will be no chains on the body or control by the state. This means that they want to eliminate: the Church, God and Religion; the state; Private property.”

4. Jinnah eloquently defended Bhagat Singh in 1929

Mahatma Gandhi refused to intervene in the Bhagat Singh trial. As Yashpal, a comrade of Singh later wrote: “Gandhi considered it moral to put government pressure on the people for prohibition but he considered it immoral to put people’s pressure on foreign governments to commute the sentences of Bhagat Singh etc.”

However, he received support from another nationalist giant of the time: Muhammad Ali Jinnah. While as a liberal politician who moved about in high society circles, he was very different from Bhagat Singh, Jinnah nonetheless saw the injustice of the trial he was being put to.

In the aftermath of the Bhagat Singh arrest and his subsequent hunger strike in prison, now stuff of legend, the British attempted to pass a Bill which would make it legal to conduct a trial in absentia — without the presence of the accused. Jinnah stood steadfastly against this, delivering one of his best speeches in the Central Assembly on September 12, 1929.

“The man who goes on hunger-strike has a soul. He is moved by that soul and he believes in the justice of his cause,” he said.

“Jinnah created a profound impression … the Government was sacrificing the fundamental principles of jurisprudence and wanted the House to change the law of the land to create a farce,” The Tribune correspondent wrote at the time (as quoted in T he Trial of Bhagat Singh, Politics of Justice by AG Noorani). Eventually, the attempt to pass the law was foiled.

However, Bhagat Singh’s trial went on, under highly dubious circumstances, and he was sentenced to death in 1930.

5. Jawaharlal Nehru also defended Singh and met him in prison

A special tribunal pronounced Bhagat Singh guilty and sentenced him to death by hanging in a 300-page judgement delivered on October 7, 1930. Responding to the judgement a few days later, Nehru was highly critical of the legal process and the injustice being perpetrated by the British.

Explaining Bhagat Singh’s actions, he said: “If England were invaded by Germany or Russia, would Lord Irwin go about advising the people to refrain from violence against invaders?”

While he himself was not fully in agreement with Singh’s methods, Nehru’s respect for him was clear .

“Whether I agree with him or not, my heart is full of admiration for the courage and self-sacrifice of a man like Bhagat Singh. Courage of the Bhagat Singh type is exceedingly rare. If the Viceroy expects us to refrain from admiring this wonderful courage and high purpose behind it, he is mistaken. Let him ask his own heart what he would have felt if Bhagat Singh had been an Englishman and acted for England,” Jawaharlal Nehru told a large crowd that had gathered to hear him speak.

In fact, Nehru even visited Bhagat Singh in prisoner, along with other leaders such as Subhash Chandra Bose, Motilal Nehru, KF Nariman, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai, Mohanlal Saxena, etc.

After the hanging, in an annual Congress session, Nehru moved an official resolution, which was seconded by Madan Mohan Malviya. Despite Congress’s official position decrying any violence, the resolution condemned the execution. It read, “This Congress is of the opinion that this triple execution is an act of wanton vengeance and is a deliberate flouting of the unanimous demand of the nation for commutation”.

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Full text of " Path Of Revolution A Biography Of Shaheed Bhagat Singh "

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Biography Of Bhagat Singh

One of the most influential revolutionaries in the Indian Nationalist Movement was born on September 27, 1907, in the village of Banga near the Lyallpur district in Punjab, British India. When he was born, his father Kishan Singh, uncles Ajit and Swaran Singh, and others were detained for opposing the 1906 Colonisation Bill. 

Young Bhagat Singh acquired a sense of patriotism as a result of his upbringing in a politically active home where his family backed the Ghadar party. He was an Indian freedom warrior and is regarded as one of the movement’s most important revolutionaries.

All those who stand up for justice and struggle against injustice might find inspiration in Bhagat Singh’s life. His life was devoted to the fight for Indian freedom. He was a courageous young guy. His narrative serves as a reminder that success is still attainable even in the face of extreme adversity. 

The biography of Bhagat Singh offers inspiration to people battling for change today and offers a glimpse into the revolutionary’s mentality. Anyone interested in politics, history, or human rights action should read it. The Indian people, who continue to celebrate his memory, loved and respected him.

Bhagat Singh’s life was tragic at a young age and he left a legacy that still motivates people today. Anyone with an interest in history or human rights activism will never forget his narrative. 

He devoted all of his strength to the fight against dictatorship till he passed away at the age of 23, having a profound effect on Indian society at a time when it was trying to break free from British authority. 

Also Read: Top Bhagat Singh Slogans in English  

National Movement and Revolutionary Deeds

On October 30, 1928, Lala Lajpat Rai led an all-parties rally that marched towards the Lahore train station in protest of the Simon Commission’s arrival. The cops used a brutal lathi charge to prevent the protesters from pushing forward. J.P. Saunders, an assistant superintendent of police, was slain by the revolutionaries because they were unable to distinguish him from a Scott.

Bhagat Singh escaped Lahore immediately to avoid being apprehended. He violated the fundamental principles of Sikhism by shaving his beard and cutting his hair in order to avoid being recognised.

It was not Bhagat Singh’s terrorist deed that made him popular; rather, it was the way in which he appeared to temporarily uphold Lala Lajpat Rai’s honour and, through him, the honour of the country. Within a few months, every town and village in Punjab, as well as to a lesser extent in the rest of northern India, echoed with the sound of his name. The act was forgotten, but the symbol persisted. The notoriety that the man attained was incredible, and countless songs began to grow about him.

On the other hand, on April 8, 1929, when the Assembly was in session, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt destroyed two explosives in the venue. The Assembly members were hurt by the bombs. The subsequent turmoil and disarray allowed both of them the opportunity to leave the Assembly Hall, but they chose to remain there and chanted their slogan “Inquilab Zindabad!”

His Thoughts And Opinions 

Since he was very young, Bhagat Singh had a strong sense of patriotism. Being a product of a nationalist upbringing, he yearned for an independent India free from British tyranny. Following extensive reading of European literature and a strong desire for a democratic future for his beloved country, he adopted a socialist worldview. Bhagat Singh was raised as a Sikh, but after witnessing countless Hindu-Muslim riots and other religious upheavals, he started to move more and more towards atheism.

Bhagat Singh believed that the exploitative nature of imperialism had to be entirely abolished in order to achieve something as precious as Independence. Only an armed uprising akin to the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, in his view, could bring about such a transition. “Inquilab Zindabad,” which he invented, finally became the battle cry of the movement for Indian independence. 

Bhagat Singh’s Accomplishments

• Being a young member of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) and participating in revolutionary activities
• Taking part in a number of sabotage attempts against British institutions, including a bombing attempt against the Delhi Central Legislative Assembly
• Being hung at the age of 23 after being found guilty of killing British police officer John Saunders
• Being chosen as the HSRA’s president just before being put to death.

Also Read: Chandrashekhar Azad Biography – History, Family and Education

Bhagat Singh’s Death

He took part in a number of attacks on British institutions, including a failed bombing attempt on Delhi’s Central Legislative Assembly. He was found guilty of killing British police officer John Saunders in 1929, along with two other outsiders. 

At the age of 23, Bhagat Singh was hanged at the Lahore prison on March 23, 1931. He is accused of shouting their favourite slogan, such as “Inquilab Zindabad” and “Down with British Imperialism,” as they walked enthusiastically to the execution site. beside the Sutlej River. Despite having a brief life, he made a significant contribution to the fight for Indian freedom. 

Bhagat Singh’s Legacy and Devotion

Bhagat Singh’s intense patriotism and mature idealism made him the ideal role model for the youngsters of his time. Through his criticism of the British Imperial Government in literature and speech, he rose to become the voice of his time. 

Though many have questioned his drastic deviation from Gandhi’s nonviolent road to Swaraj, he nevertheless inspired hundreds of youths and young adults to fully participate in the liberation movement with his bold embracing of martyrdom. 

Bhagat Singh triumphed over Mahatma Gandhi and Subhash Chandra Bose to win the title of Greatest Indian in a 2008 India Today poll, illustrating his prominence in contemporary society.

Bhagat Singh Contribution in Freedom Struggle

Bhagat Singh, the renowned leader of India’s independence movement, left a lasting impact with his remarkable contributions. Here we are highlight the bhagat singh contribution in freedom struggle .

Bhagat Singh played a crucial role in the revolutionary activities that shaped India’s liberation struggle. As a dedicated member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), he actively participated in protests against British colonial rule, leaving an indelible mark in history.

One of Bhagat Singh’s most notable feats was the Lahore Conspiracy Case of 1929. Alongside his comrades, he orchestrated the bombing of the Central Legislative Assembly, symbolizing resistance against British oppression and a fervent call for India’s complete independence.

In addition to his actions, Bhagat Singh utilized his intellectual prowess to rally public support. Through thought-provoking essays, pamphlets, and manifestos, he stirred nationalistic sentiments, urging fellow Indians to rise against the British and embrace the struggle for freedom.

Bhagat Singh’s unwavering commitment and audacious acts inspired millions across the nation to join the fight for independence. His martyrdom on March 23, 1931, at the hands of the British further solidified his status as a national hero, etching his bravery and sacrifice deep within the collective memory of India’s quest for liberty.

Bhagat Singh Short Note

Bhagat Singh, a revered figure in India’s freedom struggle, was born on September 27, 1907, in Punjab. His unwavering commitment to the cause of independence made him an iconic leader and symbol of resistance. This short note delves into the life, contributions, and legacy of the revolutionary hero, Bhagat Singh.

Raised in a family with a history of revolutionary activities, Bhagat Singh imbibed patriotic values from a young age. He attended the National College in Lahore, where he joined youth organizations and began questioning British colonial rule.

Bhagat Singh played a important role in the Indian freedom movement by joining the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), a revolutionary organization dedicated to ending British oppression. Together with his comrades, he carried out acts of resistance against symbols of British authority.

One of the most significant acts was the Lahore Conspiracy Case of 1929, where Bhagat Singh and his associates threw bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly, demanding complete independence for India. Although their intention was not to cause harm, a British police officer tragically lost his life.

Bhagat Singh was arrested and imprisoned as a result of his revolutionary activity. His spirit was unwavering despite being imprisoned. Bhagat Singh, along with fellow revolutionaries Rajguru and Sukhdev, was put to death by the British colonial authorities on March 23, 1931, when he was 23 years old.

Millions of people are still motivated by Bhagat Singh’s legacy today, which stands for bravery, selflessness, and steadfast devotion to the cause of independence. His courageous deeds and unwavering attitude serve as a reminder of the tenacious fight for freedom that moulded India’s history.

Bhagat Singh Achievements

Bhagat Singh, a prominent figure in India’s freedom struggle. Here are some of his key achievements.

• Role in the Lahore Conspiracy Case
• Founding Member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA)
• Publication of Revolutionary Literature
• Influence on Youth Movements
• Hunger Strikes in Jail
• Emphasis on Gender Equality
• Solidarity with Farmers
• Promotion of Socialist Ideals
• Intellectual Stature
• Martyrdom and Legacy

Frequently Asked Questions About Bhagat Singh

Who was bhagat singh’s first wife.

Bhagat Singh did not have a wife. He never got married, choosing to devote his entire life to the cause of the Indian independence movement and his revolutionary work.

What Is Full Name of Bhagat Singh?

Sardar Bhagat Singh was the full name of the well-known Indian freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. He was also known as Shaheed Bhagat Singh, with “Shaheed” meaning martyr in Hindi.

What Age Bhagat Singh Died?

Bhagat Singh was executed at the age of 23. He was born on September 27, 1907, and he was hanged on March 23, 1931, along with his comrades Rajguru and Sukhdev, for their involvement in the Lahore Conspiracy Case and the assassination of British police officer John Saunders. Bhagat Singh’s sacrifice and martyrdom at such a young age made a profound impact on India’s struggle for independence.

When Bhagat Singh Date of Birth and Death?

Bhagat Singh was born on September 27, 1907, and he was executed on March 23, 1931.

When Bhagat Singh Was Born and Died

When was bhagat singh martyred.

Bhagat Singh was martyred on March 23, 1931. He was executed by hanging in Lahore Central Jail along with his comrades Rajguru and Sukhdev for their involvement in the Lahore Conspiracy Case and the assassination of British police officer John Saunders. The date of his martyrdom, March 23, is observed as “Shaheed Diwas” (Martyr’s Day) in India to honor his sacrifice and contribution to the country’s independence struggle.

Bhagat Singh Hanged in Which City

Lahore, which today is a part of Pakistan, is where Bhagat Singh was hanged. He was executed at Lahore Central Jail on March 23, 1931. Lahore was a significant center of the Indian independence movement during that time.

Are There Any Biographies Written by Bhagat Singh Himself?

Yes, “The Jail Notebook and Other Writings” is a collection of Bhagat Singh’s own works. His prison journal, which recorded his ideas, comments, and thoughts while he was incarcerated, is also included.

Are There Any Biographies Written by His Family Members?

Yes, “Bhagat Singh: The Ideas on Freedom, Liberty, and Revolution” by Jagmohan Singh is written by Bhagat Singh’s nephew. It provides insights into Bhagat Singh’s life, ideology, and revolutionary activities.

About The Author

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I am Komal Gupta, the founder of Knowledge Glow, and my team and I aim to fuel dreams and help the readers achieve success. While you prepare for your competitive exams, we will be right here to assist you in improving your general knowledge and gaining maximum numbers from objective questions. We started this website in 2021 to help students prepare for upcoming competitive exams. Whether you are preparing for civil services or any other exam, our resources will be valuable in the process.

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Biography for children: Bhagat Singh was three when he ‘sowed guns’ to fight the British

An excerpt from ‘the incredible life of bhagat singh: the indomitable freedom fighter,’ by swati sengupta..

A three-year-old boy ran unsteadily into the fields. He was dressed in a shirt and khaki shorts, and his long, silky hair was tied up in a tiny bun. He threw himself to the ground and started digging with his bare hands. What fun this was! His father, Kishan Singh, watched him fondly from a distance.

The tracts of lush fields were at Banga village, Lyallpur, Punjab, and the time was 1910. This tranquil and serene village was in western Punjab, 150 kilometres from Lahore.

But no place was really peaceful anywhere in the country.

The British had been in India for over a hundred years now. A few years earlier – in 1905 – the first partition of Bengal had taken place. A new province of Eastern Bengal was created with its capital at Dacca. Indians had protested against this, and at mass rallies, the rebellious cry of “Vande Mataram” (Hail to Thee, Mother) had rent the air. The boycotting and burning of British-made goods had started in different parts of the country. In 1906, in the Calcutta session of the Congress, a demand for Swaraj, or self-rule, had been made. Indians were awakening to the idea of freedom – that the country had to be governed by Indians, not the British. But how would Indians achieve this?

By militant, violent means, or through dialogue and discussions? Which path would the country choose eventually?

Kishan Singh, the little boy’s father, was walking with Mehta Anand Kishore. As the two men came closer to the boy, they saw the three-year-old was engrossed in something. His clothes were grubby and his face smeared with dirt and mud. He was digging the ground, and had made several holes already.

“What are you doing?” asked Kishan Singh lovingly of his son, Bhagat. There was no answer from the busy little boy. Kishan Singh lowered his head, held his cheek against little Bhagat’s, and asked him again

Now the boy spoke, with a resolve that was nothing like that of a three-year-old: “I am sowing guns, so that when they sprout, we will be able to get rid of the British.”

Kishan Singh and Mehta Anand Kishore exchanged glances. At that moment they knew that it would be impossible to keep the child away from the passion and intensity of nationalism. After all, everyone in the family always discussed how to achieve freedom from British rule. How could little Bhagat not be a part of it?

Little did they know that Bhagat Singh would go on to be one of the country’s greatest freedom fighters. His distinctive thoughts, ideology, strength of character, resolve and fearlessness would set him apart and he would be remembered fondly and with great respect forever.

The family’s ancestral home was in Khatkar Kalan near Jalandhar. In the 1840s, Bhagat’s great-grandfather Fateh Singh had fought against the British in Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s army in the Anglo-Sikh war.

As a fallout, a part of the family’s land and property was seized by the British East India Company. In the early 1900s, the family moved from Khatkar Kalan to Lyallpur when they were allotted land there. The British had dug canals in this region for the formation of colonies where agriculture could be commercialised. Singh’s family got their land in Chak No 105 in Lyallpur.

Fateh Singh’s son, Sardar Arjan Singh, was an Arya Samajist – a follower of the Arya Samaj. The Samaj promoted values based on the belief in and the authority of the Vedas. Arjan Singh always lent a helping hand to those in need, especially during natural disasters.

Arjan Singh had three sons – Kishan, Ajit and Swaran. Ajit Singh was a revolutionary thinker. He studied at Anglo-Sanskrit High School in Jalandhar, the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic College, Lahore, and while studying at Bareilly College, he started working for the poor and against the British regime. During famines, he and his elder brother Kishan worked among the poor in various parts of the country, including in Barar, Ahmedabad, Srinagar and Kangla.

In 1907, Ajit Singh was arrested for leading a peasants’ agitation and deported to Myanmar’s Mandalay Jail. After his release, he attended the Surat session of the Congress and in 1907, formed a revolutionary organisation called the Bharat Mata Society, in which freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai was also involved. Later, Singh launched the Bharat Mata Book Agency, which published anti-government literature. He worked closely with many revolutionaries. In 1909, Ajit Singh along with freedom fighter Sufi Amba Prasad fled to Iran.

Bhagat Singh was born on September 28, 1907, to Kishan Singh and Vidyawati. He spent most of his childhood in the company of his grandfather Arjan Singh, and as a result, Bhagat was greatly influenced by his spirit of generosity. Though Bhagat was only two years old when his uncle Ajit Singh left the country, he knew the stories of how his uncle had fought against the British and worked for the poor. All this had a huge influence on the young mind.

Bhagat’s father Kishan Singh was a Congress leader and had been in jail several times. Swarn Singh, Kishan Singh’s other brother, had been in jail too, where he had contracted tuberculosis and died shortly after his release. Every day, the little boy heard conversations in the family on India’s freedom movement.

Bhagat was the second of Kishan Singh and Vidyawati’s nine children. The other five sons were Jagat, Kulbir, Kultar, Ranbir, and Rajinder. The girls were Amar, Prakash, and Shakuntla.

In such a family, how could Bhagat stay away from the spirit of nationalism?

Bhagat Singh Jayanti, Biography, History, Revolutionary Activities

Bhagat Singh born in September 28, 1907 was an Indian revolutionary freedom fighter. Know all about Bhagat Singh Jayanti, Biography, Death and Important Facts for UPSC & Other government exams.

Table of Contents

Bhagat Singh (1907-1931) was a charismatic Indian revolutionary who is considered one of the most famous and iconic figures in the Indian independence movement. He was a staunch advocate of socialist and communist ideals, and he believed in using violence to achieve independence from British rule. He is considered one of the most influential nationalist leaders of the  Indian Independence movement .

He is also referred to as  ‘Shaheed Bhagat Singh’ . The word ‘Shaheed’ means a martyr. “If the deaf are to hear, the sound has to be very loud. When we dropped the bomb, it was not our intention to kill anybody, we have bombed the British Government, British must quit India and make it free.” He said this after the Assembly Bombing.

Bhagat Singh Jayanti

Bhagat Singh Jayanti, also known as Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s birth anniversary, is observed on September 28th every year. It commemorates the birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh, a prominent freedom fighter of India and revolutionary in India’s struggle for independence from British colonial rule. On this day, people across India pay tribute to his courage, patriotism, and sacrifice for the nation. Various events, seminars, and cultural programs are organized to remember his legacy and the ideals he stood for. Bhagat Singh’s contributions to the independence movement continue to inspire generations of Indians.

Bhagat Singh Biography

All those who stand up for justice and struggle against injustice might find inspiration in his life. At a very young age, he devoted his entire life was devoted to the fight for India’s Independence. His History is a reminder that success is still attainable even in the face of extreme adversity. The biography of Bhagat Singh offers inspiration to people battling for change today and offers a glimpse into the revolutionary’s mentality.

Bhagat Singh History

One of the most important revolutionaries in the Indian Nationalist Movement is Bhagat Singh. On September 28, 1907, Kishan Singh and Vidyavati gave birth to Bhagat Singh in Banga, Lyallpur District (now Pakistan). When he was born, his uncles Ajit and Swaran Singh, as well as his father Kishan Singh, were all imprisoned for protesting the 1906 Colonization Bill. Being raised in a politically conscious household where his family supported the Ghadar Party, young Singh developed a sense of patriotism. Singh started supporting Mahatma Gandhi’s  Non-Cooperation Movement  at a very young age. He openly resisted the British and carried out Gandhi’s request by setting fire to publications that the government-sponsored. In fact, he quit school altogether to enroll in Lahore’s National College. The 1919  Jallianwala Bagh Massacre  and the 1921 murder of unarmed Akali demonstrators at the Nankana Sahib both occurred when he was a teenager, and both events strongly influenced his patriotic viewpoint. His family adhered to the Gandhian philosophy of using non-violence to achieve Swaraj. For a while, he also backed the  Indian National Congress  and the objectives of the  Non-Cooperation Movement . After the  Chauri Chaura Incident , Gandhi demanded that the movement against non-cooperation be abandoned. He disassociated himself from Gandhi’s nonviolent effort because of the choice and joined the Young Revolutionary Movement instead. Thus began his career as the most well-known proponent of a bloody uprising against the British Raj. The Naujawan Bharat Sabha was established in March 1925, with he serving as its secretary, and was motivated by nationalist movements in Europe. In addition, He joined the radical Hindustan Republican Association  (HRA), which he eventually renamed the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) with fellow revolutionaries  Chandra Shekhar Azad  and Sukhdev.

Freedom fighters Revolutionary Activities

His political activism began in earnest during the 1920s. He was involved in a number of protests and demonstrations against British rule, and he also participated in several armed robberies to fund the HSRA’s activities. His early actions consisted primarily of penning critical articles against the British government and printing and distributing leaflets explaining the fundamentals of a violent insurrection with the goal of overthrowing the government. To protest the Simon Commission’s arrival, Lala Lajpat Rai led an all-parties parade that marched toward the Lahore train station on October 30, 1928. To stop the protesters from moving forward, the police used a violent lathi charge. The revolutionaries were not able to recognize J.P. Saunders, who was Assistant Superintendent of Police; they thought that he was a Scott and killed him instead. He quickly left Lahore to avoid getting caught. To avoid being recognized, he shaved his beard and cut his hair, violating the core values of Sikhism.

Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA)

• He was a prominent revolutionary in India’s fight for independence, closely aligned with the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA).
• Joining the HSRA in his youth, Singh was drawn to its militant approach against British colonial rule.
• Notable members included Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru.
• Singh and his associates became infamous for actions such as the Saunders killing, seeking revenge for the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, and the Central Legislative Assembly bombing to protest repressive laws.
• Their hunger strike in prison gained widespread support.
• Executed by the British in 1931, Singh’s martyrdom remains an enduring symbol of courage and sacrifice in India’s struggle for freedom.

Assassination of J.P. Saunders

• He and his compatriot Rajguru assassinated J.P. Saunders in 1928 to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai during a protest against the Simon Commission.
• Mistakenly identifying Saunders as the responsible police officer, they shot him dead in Lahore.
• This act marked a significant turning point in India’s struggle for independence and propelled Singh and his associates into the national spotlight, as they openly dared to challenge British colonial rule.

Central Assembly Bombing Case

• Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt exploded a bomb in Delhi’s Central Assembly on April 8, 1929, from the Visitors’ Gallery.
• They also raised pro-revolutionary banners and threw leaflets.
• Because they planned to utilize the trial as a platform to propagate their message of revolution and anti-imperialism, neither revolutionary resisted being taken into custody.
• Throughout the entire arrest, they screamed “Inquilab Zindabad” slogans.
• The phrase gained a lot of traction with young people and many liberation warriors.
• They never intended to hurt anyone physically, thus there were no casualties in the incident.
• Their claimed objective was “to make the deaf hear.” Auguste Valliant, a French anarchist who was hanged by France for a similar incident in Paris, served as inspiration for Bhagat Singh, the incident’s mastermind.
• Both Singh and Dutt received life sentences in jail after being found guilty in the incident’s trial.
• At this point, He had also been connected to the JP Saunders murder case.
• He was charged with the murder of Saunders together with Rajguru and Sukhdev.

Dr.Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Biography

1929 Assembly Incident Trial

• The violent protest was met with harsh criticism from the political body.
• In response, Singh said, “Force, when used violently, is ‘violence’ and is, thus, morally indefensible, but when it is used in support of a righteous cause, it has its moral legitimacy.
• Trial proceedings began in May, with Singh attempting to represent himself and Batukeshwar Dutt being represented by Afsar Ali.
• The explosions’ malevolent and illegal motive was cited by the court in its decision in favour of a life sentence.

Lahore Conspiracy Case and Trial

• Three people, Hans Raj Vohra, Jai Gopal, and Phanindra Nath Ghosh, turned government approvers, which resulted in a total of 21 arrests, including those of Sukhdev, Jatindra Nath Das, and Rajguru.
• The police raided the HSRA bomb factories in Lahore shortly after the sentencing and detained several well-known revolutionaries.
• For the murder of Assistant Superintendent Saunders, the making of bombs, and the Lahore Conspiracy case, Bhagat Singh was detained once again.
• On the orders of the Viceroy, Lord Irwin, a special tribunal made up of Justices J. Coldstream, Agha Hyder, and G. C. Hilton was established on May 1st, 1930 due to the sluggishness of the legal proceedings.
• The tribunal had the authority to conduct the trial without the presence of the defendant, and it was a biased trial that rarely followed the standard legal rights principles.

Hunger Strike

• When Singh was sent to the Central Jail Mianwali from the Delhi jail he witnessed discrimination between the Indian and European Prisoners.
• He considered himself as a political prisoner.
• He organized a hunger strike on behalf of fellow political prisoners from India who he believed were being treated like normal criminals.
• They wanted access to literature and a daily newspaper, as well as equality in access to food standards, clothing, toiletries, and other hygiene essentials.
• They contended that they shouldn’t be made to perform manual labour or any other inhumane tasks while incarcerated.
• Around June 1929, the public began to support Bhagat Singh and his colleagues more due to the hunger strike.
• After a 63-day hunger strike, Jatindra Nath Das passed away on September 13, 1929.
• Nearly all of the nation’s nationalist leaders paid respects to Jatin Das.
• In response, Gopi Chand Bhargava and Mohammad Alam withdrew from the Punjab Legislative Council.
• Nehru also successfully sponsored an adjournment motion in the Central Assembly to denounce the “inhumane treatment” of the Lahore captives.
• He finally ended the hunger strike after 116 days on October 5, 1929.
• During this time, Singh was well-liked outside of Punjab among ordinary Indians.

Thoughts and Opinions

His sense of patriotism had been embedded in him since a very young age. He was raised to value nationalism and yearned for an independent India free from British rule. He developed a socialist outlook after reading a lot of European literature and creating a great desire for a democratic future for his beloved nation. Singh was born a Sikh, but after seeing numerous Hindu-Muslim riots and other religious upheavals, he began to lean toward atheism. He thought that in order to attain something as precious as Independence, imperialism’s exploitative aspect needed to be eradicated. According to his opinion, only an armed revolution along the lines of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia could bring about such transformation. He coined the phrase “Inquilab Zindabad,” which eventually became the war cry of the campaign for Indian independence.

Bhagat Singh Death

He died on March 23, 1931, at 7:30 in the morning, hanging with his friends Rajguru and Sukhdev at the Lahore Jail. He was 23 at that time. He was born on September 28, 1907. They allegedly shouted their favorite slogans, such as “Inquilab Zindabad” and “Down with British Imperialism,” as they marched joyfully to the execution location bank of the Sutlej River.

Shaheed Bhagat Singh Legacy

He was the perfect role model for the youth of his period because of his passionate patriotism and developed idealism. Also became the voice of his generation through his criticism of the British Imperial Government in writing and speech. Numerous people have questioned his dramatic departure from Gandhi’s non-violent path to Swaraj, yet with his daring embrace of martyrdom, he encouraged hundreds of teenagers and young adults to fully engage in the freedom movement.

His legacy is complex and contested. He is revered by many Indians as a national hero and a symbol of the struggle for independence. However, he is also criticized for his use of violence and his association with the HSRA, which was responsible for several other acts of violence against British officials and civilians.

Despite the controversies surrounding his legacy, there is no doubt that he was a charismatic and influential figure who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. His life and work continue to inspire generations of Indians who are fighting for social justice and equality.

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Bhagat Singh Jayanti FAQs

Why bhagat singh is famous.

Bhagat Singh was an Indian revolutionary freedom fighter who was hanged to death by British colonisers at the age of 23 years. Fondly known as 'Shaheed (martyr) Bhagat Singh', he is considered a national hero of India's freedom struggle against colonial rule.

What is Bhagat Singh real name?

His real name was Bhagat Singh but he was also known as Shaheed-e-Azam.

Why did Gandhi not save Bhagat?

Gandhi, who advocated for nonviolence, disagreed with Bhagat Singh and his allies' use of violence to obtain freedom. That didn't imply Gandhi supported hanging Bhagat Singh and his pals insinually.

Who was better Gandhi or Bhagat Singh?

Bhagat Singh engaged in a revolutionary armed fight laced with violence against the British government, while Mahatma Gandhi led a civil disobedience movement based on the values of nonviolence and satyagraha. Despite having different philosophies and worldviews, each has the same goal.

What's the slogan of Bhagat Singh?

One of Bhagat Singh's most famous slogans is "Inquilab Zindabad."

What is the bhagat singh death age?

Bhagat Singh died at the age of 23. He was born on September 28, 1907, and was executed on March 23, 1931.

Give me a Brief information about Bhagat Singh.

Bhagat Singh (28 September 1907 – 23 March 1931) was an Indian revolutionary who challenged British rule of India. He is considered to be one of the most important figures in the Indian independence movement. In 1928, Bhagat Singh and other HRA members assassinated John Saunders, a British police officer. They were convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Singh was hanged on 23 March 1931 at the age of 23.

What is bhagat singh date of birth and death?

Bhagat Singh was born on September 28, 1907, and died on March 23, 1931.

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