Bhagat Singh - A sublime martyr

Bhagat Singh - A sublime martyr

          Indian National Movement, from its very inception, remained divided between moderate & extremist elements. The path of extremism is laid with hardships, blood, sweat, tears and death. The difference between two streams of thoughts existed right from 1907 at Surat session. The moderate views suited the Britishers and they did their best to placate them while declaring the extremists as terrorists. The repressive measures against the extremists were not effectively and sincerely opposed by the moderates.
          The revolutionary movement was led by Aurbindo Ghose, Savarkar & Bhagat Singh. Bhagat Singh was imbued with an ardent desire to drive the Britishers out of India. Born to Kishan Singh and Vidyavati at Banga in the Lyallpur district of the West Punjab in 1907, Bhagat Singh grew up as patriotic young man. He became the leader of student community and later joined the National college, Lahore founded by Lala Lajpat Rai. In 1925 he established Nav Jawan Bharat Sabha at Lahore. He came in contact with other revolutionaries like, Sukhdev, Chander Shekhar Azad, Jatinder Nath Das and others.
          The decisive moment in the life of Bhagat Singh and other revolutionaries came in 1928 when Lala Lajpat Rai was seriously injured by the police. The huge procession in the form of protest against Simon commission was being headed by Lala Ji. Later on he succumbed to the injuries. His death infuriated young men like Bhagat Singh, Azad, Raj Guru and many others who decided to avenge the death of Sher-i-Punjub. They shot dead Saunders, Asstt. Superintendent of police. Then again Bhagat Singh had the courage to throw a bomb in central Assembly on 8th April, 1929. Sardar Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Raj Guru were sentenced to death and hanged on 28th March, 1931. Thus ended a tempestuous career at the age of twenty four.
          Bhagat Singh was inspired by his uncle Sardar Ajit Singh. Patriotic fervour ran in the family blood. Vidyalankar, a lecturer at National college & Lala Lajpat Rai had a tremendous impact on his thoughts. Nav Jawan Bharat Sabha established in 1925 by Bhagat Singh was entirely aimed at social welfare. But soon it took up the cause of country's freedom and served as an outlet for preaching revolutionary ideas to the young men.

          Bhagat Singh was no less a political and social thinker. Nav Jawan Bharat Sabha was renamed as Hindustan Socialist Republican Association IT wasn an Organisation of about 60 young men including five women. Durga Bhabhi, a courageous woman, played a historic role in the organization. Sadly enough, her name does not find any mention in the books of history. Her saga of courage can serve as an inspiration to the young women of today.
          Bhagat Singh has left a legacy of revolutionary ideals which are relevant even today. Though the revolutionaries did not succeed yet they made a dent in British Empire. Today we owe a debt to him and countless young men & women who sacrificed their comforts & embraced an arduous path to freedom.