The Story of Bhagat Singh - The Man, The Rebel, The Legend

The Seeker stormed into Mr. Attitude's study, his face flushed with anger. "I can't believe it! Another politician praising non-violence as the only way India gained independence. What about those who sacrificed their lives? What about the fire that burned in the hearts of our revolutionaries?"

Mr. Attitude looked up from his book, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Ah, my young friend, you've stumbled upon one of history's greatest debates. But before we dive into that thorny issue, let me ask you this: Have you ever wished you could travel through time?"

The Seeker's brow furrowed. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Everything, my dear boy. Everything." Mr. Attitude rose, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Come with me. I have something to show you."

He led The Seeker down a spiral staircase to a hidden room. As the lights flickered on, The Seeker gasped. The walls were covered with screens, and in the center stood a plush leather couch.

"Welcome to my time machine," Mr. Attitude announced proudly. "Tonight, we're going on a journey to meet one of India's greatest sons – Bhagat Singh."

As they settled into the couch, the screens came alive with images of pre-independence India. Mr. Attitude's voice took on a nostalgic tone.

"It was September 28, 1907. The place: Banga village in the Lyallpur district of Punjab, now in Pakistan. But this wasn't just any ordinary birth, my boy. The circumstances were quite extraordinary."

The Seeker leaned forward, intrigued.

"You see, on that very day, Bhagat Singh's father Kishan Singh and uncle Ajit Singh were released from jail. They had been imprisoned for their involvement in the agitation against the Colonization Bill, which threatened to snatch land from farmers."

Mr. Attitude's voice took on a tone of reverence. "Imagine the scene: a household celebrating the return of its men from prison, and in the midst of this jubilation, a child is born. It was as if fate had orchestrated a perfect revolutionary welcome!"

(The screens now showed a traditional Punjabi household of the time.)

"But here's where it gets even more interesting. Bhagat Singh's grandmother, upon seeing the newborn, is said to have exclaimed, 'Oh, a revolutionary has been born in the house!'"

The Seeker's eyes widened. "She predicted his future?"

Mr. Attitude chuckled. "Well, whether it was prediction or projection, those words certainly proved prophetic. From his very first breath, Bhagat Singh was surrounded by an atmosphere of rebellion and patriotism."

He continued, his voice rich with detail. "The family named him Bhagat, meaning 'devotee'. And truly, he became a devotee - not of any god, but of the idea of a free and just India."

The screens displayed images of Bhagat Singh's family members.

"His father Kishan Singh, uncle Ajit Singh, and another uncle, Swaran Singh, were all active in the independence movement. Young Bhagat grew up hearing tales of revolution, of sacrifice for the motherland. The seeds of his future were sown in these early days."

Mr. Attitude leaned forward, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Can you imagine the discussions around the dinner table? The passion, the dreams of freedom, the anger against injustice - all of this was Bhagat Singh's lullaby, his bedtime story."

The Seeker nodded, clearly moved by the image.

"And here's a fascinating tidbit," Mr. Attitude added, his eyes twinkling. "Bhagat Singh's family followed the Arya Samaj, a Hindu reform movement. This early exposure to reformist ideas arguably shaped his later thoughts on religion and society."

Mr. Attitude leaned back in his chair, "So you see...Bhagat Singh was born into a family already steeped in the revolutionary spirit. At just 12 years old, he visited the site of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Can you imagine the impact on a young mind, seeing the aftermath of such brutality?"

The Seeker shuddered as images of the massacre flashed across the screens.

Mr. Attitude's voice grew solemn as the screens displayed images of a walled garden in Amritsar. "Picture this, my boy. April 13, 1919. Jallianwala Bagh. A peaceful gathering of thousands - men, women, children - celebrating Baisakhi and protesting peacefully against British oppression."

The Seeker leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the screens.

"Suddenly, without warning, Brigadier-General Dyer arrived with his troops, almost all of whom were Indian in ethnicity, ironically. He ordered them to open fire on the crowd. The only exit was blocked. It was a trap."

Mr. Attitude's voice quivered with contained rage. "For ten minutes - ten eternal minutes - they fired. Over 1,600 rounds. The sound of gunfire, the screams of the innocent, the thud of bodies falling... Can you imagine the terror, the helplessness?"

The screens showed recreated scenes of chaos and bloodshed. The Seeker's face paled.

"People jumped into a well to escape the bullets, only to drown or be crushed by others falling in. The British reported 379 dead. Indians claimed over a thousand. The truth? We may never know."

Mr. Attitude's eyes glistened. "Now, imagine young Bhagat Singh, just 12 years old, visiting this site of massacre. The walls still pockmarked with bullet holes. The well, now a silent tomb. The ground, though cleaned, forever stained with the blood of his countrymen."

He paused, letting the weight of the scene sink in.

"He would have seen the remnants of torn clothes, abandoned shoes. Perhaps he noticed dried bloodstains on the walls, or picked up spent bullet casings from the ground. The air would have been thick with the lingering scent of gunpowder and death."

The Seeker shuddered, his fists clenched.

"But it wasn't just the physical evidence, my boy. It was the stories. Survivors recounting how they played dead among corpses to survive. Tales of mothers futilely trying to shield their children, of families destroyed in moments."

Mr. Attitude's voice dropped to a whisper. "And the silence. The heavy, accusatory silence of a place where hundreds had screamed their last. This, my young friend, is what seared itself into Bhagat Singh's young mind. This senseless brutality, this stark reminder of subjugation."

He turned to The Seeker, his eyes fierce. "Is it any wonder that this boy grew into a man willing to sacrifice everything for freedom? The seeds of revolution were watered with the blood spilled at Jallianwala Bagh."

The Seeker nodded, his face a mix of horror and understanding. "I... I had no idea it was so brutal. How could anyone witness that and not be changed?"

"Exactly," Mr. Attitude replied. "This was the crucible that forged Bhagat Singh's revolutionary spirit. A spirit that would shake the very foundations of the British Empire."

Mr. Attitude continued, his voice rising with passion. "But Bhagat Singh didn't let that horror crush him. No, it ignited a fire in his soul! By 16, he had devoted himself to the cause of India's freedom."

"But sir," The Seeker interjected, "wasn't he just a violent extremist? That's what my textbooks always implied."

Mr. Attitude's eyes flashed. "Ah, the narrow lens of sanitized history! Bhagat Singh was a thinker, a voracious reader...." Mr. Attitude's eyes lit up with admiration as he continued, "....Let me tell you about the mind of this revolutionary of the truest sense. Bhagat Singh wasn't just a man of action; he was a voracious reader and a brilliant thinker. He considered Kartar Singh Saraba as his ideal from a very young age. Saraba who died in 1915 at 19 years of age was a member of the Ghadar Party since he was 15."

The screens flickered to show images of a young Bhagat Singh surrounded by books.

"By the time he was executed at 23, Bhagat Singh had amassed a personal library of over 200 books. And we're not talking about light reading, my boy. His collection included works on economics, political theory, philosophy, and literature from around the world."

The Seeker's eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Oh yes," Mr. Attitude chuckled. "He read Marx, Engels, Lenin, Trotsky. He devoured the works of Bertrand Russell, Thomas Paine, and Upton Sinclair. He studied the Irish revolutionary movement and the Russian Revolution. In his jail notebook, he quoted Vladimir Lenin and Fyodor Dostoevsky with equal ease."

The screens now showed pages from Bhagat Singh's prison diary, filled with notes and quotes in multiple languages.

"But here's what's truly remarkable," Mr. Attitude leaned forward, his voice intense. "Bhagat Singh didn't just read; he synthesized. He took these global ideas and applied them to the Indian context. He wrote extensively, arguing for a socialist revolution that would not only free India from British rule but also from social and economic inequality."

The Seeker nodded, clearly impressed.

"Let me give you an example of his intellectual acumen," Mr. Attitude continued.

"In his essay 'Why I Am An Atheist', written just a few days before his execution, Bhagat Singh presented a rational, philosophical argument against the existence of God. He referenced everything from Bakunin's 'God and the State' to Greek philosophy. This wasn't just rhetoric; it was a well-reasoned, logically structured argument, unlike the present day fad of atheism that we see."

The screens displayed excerpts from the essay.

"And his linguistic skills! Bhagat Singh was fluent in Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, and English. He could read Sanskrit, Bengali, and Arabic. He even learned the Bodh script while in prison, just so he could send secret messages to his comrades."

Mr. Attitude's voice swelled with pride. "This was a man who, while facing death, spent his time translating Victor Hugo's 'The Last Days of a Condemned Man' from English to Urdu. He saw parallels between Hugo's protagonist and his own situation, yet he approached it with scholarly interest."

The Seeker sat in stunned silence.

"But perhaps the most telling evidence of his brilliant mind was his vision for post-independence India. At a time when most were focused solely on gaining freedom, Bhagat Singh was already thinking about what kind of nation India should become."

Mr. Attitude's voice grew passionate. "He wrote about the need for economic reforms, about breaking down caste barriers, about true equality. He criticized the Indian National Congress for not being radical enough in its demands. This was a young man who could see beyond the immediate struggle to the challenges that lay ahead."

Turning to The Seeker, Mr. Attitude smiled. "So you see, my boy, Bhagat Singh wasn't just a firebrand revolutionary. He was a scholar, a visionary, and a political theorist of remarkable depth. His actions may have made him a martyr, but it was his ideas that made him immortal."

The Seeker nodded slowly, a new understanding dawning in his eyes. "I had no idea he was so... intellectual. It's like he packed a lifetime of learning into just a few years."

"Exactly," Mr. Attitude replied. "And that, my young friend, is why Bhagat Singh continues to inspire generations. He showed us that true revolution begins in the mind."

"What was his vision, sir?" The Seeker leaned forward, captivated.

"Bhagat Singh dreamed of an India free not just from British rule, but from all forms of exploitation. He saw socialism as the path to true equality. But more than that, he understood the power of symbols and sacrifice."

“And what about Sukhdev and Rajguru? We often see their images alongside Bhagat Singh’s? Were they friends?” The seeker was totally immersed in history.

Mr. Attitude leaned back, his eyes gleaming with the fervor of a storyteller. "Ah...the bonds of brotherhood that fueled this revolution. Bhagat Singh wasn't a lone wolf, you see. He was part of a network of brilliant, passionate young men who dreamed of a free India."

The screens flickered to life, showing images of Indian revolutionary luminaries - Sukhdev Thapar, Shivram Rajguru. Ramprasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, Chandrashekhar Azad...

"It all started with the Hindustan Republican Association, or HRA, founded by the firebrand Ramprasad Bismil in 1924. Bismil was a poet and a revolutionary, a man whose words could ignite the hearts of thousands. Young Bhagat Singh looked up to him, saw in him the perfect blend of thought and action."

The Seeker nodded, engrossed.

"Then there was Chandrashekhar Azad," Mr. Attitude continued, his voice filled with admiration. "Azad, who vowed never to be captured alive by the British. He and Bhagat Singh formed a deep bond. They were like fire and wind, each fueling the other's revolutionary spirit."

Images of Azad and Singh together flashed across the screens.

"In 1928, these young firebrands decided to give a socialist turn to the movement. They renamed the HRA to Hindustan Socialist Republican Association - HSRA. This wasn't just a name change, my boy. It was a shift in ideology, a commitment to fight not just British rule, but all forms of exploitation."

Mr. Attitude's voice grew softer, more intimate. "But you asked about Sukhdev and Rajguru. Ah, these were more than comrades to Bhagat Singh. They were his brothers in every sense but blood."

The screens now showed pictures of the three young men together.

"Sukhdev Thapar was the strategist, the organizer. He and Bhagat Singh had known each other since their college days in Lahore. They shared a deep intellectual bond, often discussing revolutionary literature late into the night."

The Seeker leaned forward, captivated.

"And Shivaram Rajguru, the youngest of the trio. He was all passion and courage. Where Bhagat Singh brought the intellectual heft and Sukhdev the organizational skills, Rajguru brought raw, unbridled revolutionary zeal."

Mr. Attitude's eyes misted over. "These three - Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru - they were inseparable. They lived together, planned together, dreamed together. And ultimately, they died together."

The Seeker's breath caught in his throat.

"Their finest hour came with the bombing of the Central Legislative Assembly. But it wasn't just about the act itself. It was about the message. They could have escaped, you know. But they chose to stay, to get arrested. They turned their trial into a platform to broadcast their revolutionary ideas to all of India."

The Seeker's eyes widened. "They wanted to be caught?"

"Precisely! Bhagat Singh knew that his ideas would echo far louder than any explosion. In prison, he and his comrades went on a hunger strike for 116 days, demanding better treatment for political prisoners."

As images of the emaciated revolutionaries appeared, Mr. Attitude's voice grew somber. "He knew he would die. But listen to his words: 'The sanctity of law can be maintained only so long as it is the expression of the will of the people.'"

Mr. Attitude's voice swelled with emotion. "And in their last days, as they awaited execution, their bond only grew stronger. They sang revolutionary songs together, discussed philosophy, and planned for an India they knew they wouldn't live to see."

He turned to The Seeker, his eyes intense. "That's the power of true friendship, my boy. These young men, barely in their 20s, faced death with smiles on their faces because they had each other, and because they believed in something greater than themselves."

The Seeker sat in silence for a moment, visibly moved. "It's... it's incredible. Their courage, their bond..."

Mr. Attitude nodded solemnly. "Indeed. Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Azad, Bismil - they showed us that revolution isn't just about individual heroism. It's about collective action, about friendships forged in the fire of a common cause. Such action lives on and has a ripple effect."

“Ripple effect?” The Seeker was intrigued.

He placed a hand on The Seeker's shoulder. "Yes the ripple effect. You see...In 1929, when Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt threw bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly, do you know who spoke up in their defense? It was none other than Subhash Chandra Bose, who was a decade older than Bhagat Singh."

Mr. Attitude's voice took on a passionate tone. "Bose argued that while he didn't condone violence, he understood the desperation that drove young men to such actions. He said, and I quote, 'Men may come and men may go, but ideas live on. The youths of Bengal and Punjab are but victims of a system which needs to be altered root and branch.'"

The screens now displayed newspaper clippings from the time, highlighting Bose's statements.

"This defense wasn't just about Bhagat Singh, you see. It was Bose's way of challenging the Congress leadership, of pushing for a more radical approach to the freedom struggle."

The Seeker nodded slowly, beginning to see the connection.

"But here's where it gets even more interesting," Mr. Attitude continued, his eyes gleaming. "After Bhagat Singh's execution, Bose's admiration for the young martyr only grew. He saw in Singh's sacrifice a symbol of the spirit needed to overthrow British rule."

The screens showed images of Bose addressing large crowds.

"Bose would often invoke Bhagat Singh's name in his speeches, using his martyrdom to stir the passions of the youth. He understood, as Singh did, the power of symbolism in a revolution."

Mr. Attitude's voice grew softer, more reflective. "Both men, in their own ways, represented the more militant, uncompromising face of India's freedom struggle. They believed in socialism, in the need for economic reform alongside political freedom. They saw independence not just as an end of British rule, but as the beginning of a new, more just India."

The Seeker's eyes widened with understanding. "So they were like... two sides of the same coin?"

"In many ways, yes," Mr. Attitude nodded approvingly. "Bhagat Singh through his martyrdom and Bose through his leadership of the Indian National Army, both challenged the narrative of a purely non-violent struggle for freedom. They reminded us that India's path to independence was complex, multi-faceted, and often contradictory."

He leaned forward, his voice intense. "And here's a thought to ponder, my young friend. What if Bhagat Singh had lived? Might he and Bose have joined forces? Can you imagine the impact they could have had together?"

The Seeker sat back, his mind clearly racing with the possibilities.

"But perhaps," Mr. Attitude concluded softly, "their greatest commonality was this: both Bhagat Singh and Subhash Chandra Bose lived and died for an idea of India that was greater than themselves. They showed us that true revolution requires not just courage, but vision."

The screens now showed the famous image of Bhagat Singh in his hat and mustache. Mr. Attitude's voice swelled with pride.

The Seeker felt a lump in his throat. "But....He was so young..."

"Yes, only 23 when he was hanged. Although he asked the British to shoot him instead of hanging him. Now that was some "Attitude"...!! You see, age is no measure of impact, my boy. Bhagat Singh's execution shook the nation. Even those who disagreed with his methods couldn't deny his courage and conviction."

The screens now showed crowds mourning, newspapers declaring "Three Martyrs of the Nation".

Mr. Attitude turned to The Seeker, his eyes blazing. "Now, about your earlier frustration. Was non-violence the only path to India's freedom? No. It was one powerful stream in a mighty river of resistance. Bhagat Singh's sacrifice, his ideas, they electrified a generation. He showed that Indians could be fearless, that we could shake the very foundations of the Empire."

The Seeker sat in stunned silence for a moment. "I had no idea... But sir, what relevance does Bhagat Singh have today?"

Mr. Attitude chuckled. "Look around you, my boy! In every student protest, in every voice raised against injustice, you'll find echoes of Bhagat Singh. He reminds us that patriotism isn't blind obedience, but a constant striving for a better nation."

He placed a hand on The Seeker's shoulder. "Bhagat Singh's India was to be built on reason, on questioning, on the ceaseless pursuit of equality. Tell me, isn't that a vision worth fighting for even now?"

The Seeker stood up, his eyes shining. "It is, sir. It absolutely is."

As they climbed the stairs back to the study, Mr. Attitude smiled softly. "Remember, my young friend, revolutions aren't just about changing governments. They're about changing minds, awakening spirits. Bhagat Singh may have died young, but his ideas? They're immortal."

The Seeker nodded, his mind racing with newfound inspiration. As he left Mr. Attitude's home, the words "Inquilab Zindabad" echoed in his heart, a battle cry for a new generation of dreamers and change-makers.

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FAQs

Q: Why is Bhagat Singh called Shaheed (martyr)?

A: Bhagat Singh is called Shaheed because he sacrificed his life for India's independence, willingly facing execution for his revolutionary activities.

Q: What was Bhagat Singh's educational background?

A: Bhagat Singh studied at the National College in Lahore. He was a voracious reader and self-educated on various subjects including politics, philosophy, and economics.

Q: What was the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA)?

A: The HSRA was a revolutionary organization founded by Bhagat Singh and his comrades in 1928, aimed at achieving India's independence through revolutionary means.

Q: Why did Bhagat Singh bomb the Central Legislative Assembly?

A: The bombing was a symbolic act of protest against oppressive laws. No one was harmed, as the intent was to "make the deaf hear" rather than to cause injury.

Q: What were Bhagat Singh's political ideologies?

A: Bhagat Singh was influenced by socialism and anarchism. He advocated for a society free from exploitation and believed in radical social and economic reforms.

Q: Did Bhagat Singh believe in non-violence?

A: While Bhagat Singh respected non-violent methods, he believed that armed revolution was necessary to overthrow British rule in India.

Q: What is the significance of "Inquilab Zindabad"?

A: "Inquilab Zindabad" means "Long Live the Revolution". It was a popular slogan used by Bhagat Singh and other revolutionaries to inspire people to join the freedom struggle.

Q: Who were Sukhdev and Rajguru?

A: Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru were close associates of Bhagat Singh. They were executed along with him for their revolutionary activities.

Q: What was Bhagat Singh's stance on religion?

A: Bhagat Singh was an atheist. He wrote an essay titled "Why I Am An Atheist" shortly before his execution, explaining his rational and philosophical reasons for not believing in God.

Q: How did Bhagat Singh influence the Indian independence movement?

A: Bhagat Singh's actions and sacrifice galvanized the youth of India, bringing renewed vigor to the independence movement and challenging the British authority.

Q: What books did Bhagat Singh read in prison?

A: Bhagat Singh read extensively in prison, including works by Marx, Lenin, Trotsky, and various Western philosophers. He maintained a personal library of over 200 books.

Q: Why did Bhagat Singh kill John Saunders?

A: Bhagat Singh and his associates originally planned to assassinate James Scott, the superintendent of police responsible for the death of Lala Lajpat Rai during a protest. However, they mistakenly identified John Saunders, a British police officer, as Scott and killed him instead. This act was intended as revenge for Lala Lajpat Rai's death and to send a message to the British authorities.

Q: Why was Bhagat Singh hanged?

A: Bhagat Singh was sentenced to death and hanged for two main reasons:

• His involvement in the killing of John Saunders.

• His role in bombing the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi. Although no one was injured in the bombing, which was meant as a symbolic protest, the British authorities used these acts to charge Bhagat Singh with murder and conspiracy against the crown. Despite public protests and appeals for clemency, the British government carried out the execution to make an example of him and deter other revolutionaries.

Q: How old was Bhagat Singh when he was executed?

A: Bhagat Singh was 23 years old when he was hanged on March 23, 1931.