Hindustan Times
Remembering Bhagat Singh
Bhagat Singh was barely 23 when he was hanged by the British in a case which symbolizes total miscarriage of justice. He and his two associates—Sukhdev and Rajguru-became martyrs and symbols of India’s freedom struggle on March 23, 1931. It was Bhagat Singh’s birth anniversary on September 27/28 and yet the media virtually blacked him out.
No political leader either paid his tribute to this legendary revolutionary who gave up his life so that we could all breathe freely. Such was his commitment to his country that till the end, his only dream was to see India out of the shackles of the British. He obviously did not get as much credit for the deed finally accomplished in 1947 but his name remains enshrined in our freedom saga.
His last words were very significant and I always get emotionally moved whenever I recall them. “Dil se niklegi, na mar kar bhi, watan ki ulfat, meri mitti se bhi khushboo-e-watan aayegi’’ ( Even after my death my love for my motherland will not diminish from my heart. Even my ashes will smell of your (motherland’s) greatness and love).
For me Bhagat Singh always symbolized supreme love for one’s country, something which does not come out with the same intensity when one looks at other stalwarts of our freedom movement. Of course the methods adopted by Bhagat Singh and his associates were totally different from those of others but the objective was to drive the British away.
His determination became even more firm after Lala Lajpat Rai was felled by lathis of the police and because of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of the innocent. He and his associates took revenge and shot JP Saunders, a British officer mistaking him for Scott, the man who had ordered the firing in Jallianwala Bagh. Scott was killed many years later by another great martyr Udham Singh who went all the way to England to carry out his revenge.
It pains me that none of our present day politicians publicly acknowledge the great contribution by this young man who hailed from a family of freedom fighters who were actively a part of the Ghaddar party. Bhagat Singh had his own ideas but he was totally blinded by the love for his country. Akbar Allahabadi who wrote many revolutionary poems during his time had once stated, “Mujhe nafrat nahin thi angrez ki soorat se, nafrat this to thi uski andaaze hakumat se’’. To this late Raj Narain added two more lines in the seventies which are extremely apt for most of today’s leaders–“Jab apno ki hakumat gawara ho na saki, to apno ki soorat se bhi mohabbat ho na saki’’.
The shortpoint is that politics is no longer about bringing about a social change for the better it is got reduced to getting votes. And good governance is the biggest casualty. Most of our much publicized development programmes often have another side to it i.e of corruption. The more flyovers you add, the more money you make is the theme behind many such projects in this country irrespective of who is in power.
Finally, let us always be grateful to Bhagat Singh and his associates including Chandrashekhar Azad and many other revolutionaries who died for our country so that we could live freely. Bhagat Singh is a symbol of revolutionaries who died unsung and paying our tribute to him will automatically be a tribute to others whose martyrdom remains in anonymity. They were not seeking anything but gave their lives for India. There is a old revolutionary couplet which used to be recited by our freedom fighters, “Shaheedo ki cheetaon par har baras lagen ge melae, watan par marne walon ka bus yahi nishan hoga’’.
(7 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
Loading ...Posted by Pankaj Vohra on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Filed under india · Tagged Bhagat Singh, political leaders, Rajguru, revolutionary, Sukhdev
Dear Mr. Vohra,
Great people are not frequent visitors on this planet. The greatest of freedom fighters Mahatma Gandhi, Patel, Bose, Nehru, Maulana, Bhagat Singh exemplified their love for their land by varied means and they still live in our collective memories. Strangely enough it is leaders of the later generations who have been forgotten in a jiffy.
Other than Obama who can tell his own black people what ails them as when he told them that they make lousy fathers and they must try to be better at that, is there anybody who can speak unpalatable truths in todays world? It has been ages since leaders spoke harshly but concernedly for others. It is sincerity that is badly lacking in todays milieu and that is the real cause for concern, particularly in India.
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I believe our parliamentary system with voting blocks and vote banks have screwed up our democracy.
I strongly urge a 4-5 party limitation; and even a US style “primary” system so that party does not select candidates, people select party candidates.
The current system is very corrupt with party leaders deciding for their children. MAny of our MPs are children of ex MPs, ministers, state leaders. Look at Rahul, Jagan, Kumarswanmy, Patnaik etc etc etc Jus t shameful
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Mr.Vohra,
Hats off to you for writing such a beautiful piece on Bhagat Singh. I forgive all your past biased behavior for this blog.
You deserve applause for this one.
Just wondering why did Nehru and him family were the only one who got most benefit politically after the independence. I even feel sad for Gandhi who was sidelined by Nehru once he became PM.
Anyway I join you in paying homage to Azad, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru and all the great revolutionaries of HSRA. Long live revolution. The next revolution will be making Indian free from Nehru-gandhi dynasty and pvt. ltd. company called congress.
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The term revolution opens up a whole new debate in the present context of our country. What the Naxalite movement claims is a revolution from the oppression of the state and they have been branded as terrorists yet they have considerable support at the grassroot level.
Likewise, the British branded Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru as terrorists. We term them revolutionaries as their motive was freedom from the oppression of the British. It is an open secret that innocent people die in police encounters and in some cases people do not get the required legal remedy. While this is no Jallianwala Bagh, there is a chilling similarity in patterns.
This quandry about the end justifying the means needs to relooked at. What is the reason for the political class ignoring Bhagat Singh?
Is it because the popularity of the traditionally acknowledged freedom fighters is threatened(lets face it, Bhagat Singh makes for a more direct action freedom fighter)? Or, are there other motives behind this snub?
I have to admit I was unaware of the dates mentioned as being Bhagat Singh’s birth anniversary. What is unbelievable is that the mainstream media ignored this. I wish to thank you Mr. Vohra for bringing it to everyone’s attention.
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“alatham thim du ka syeva muhurth api vijjwala;
ma thushagni vn archi: kaka ram kha jijivishu:
Muhurtham jwalitham Shreyo, na thu dhumayithm chriam” _ Gita
” It is better to be a roaring fire for one sec than long lasting smoking ricehusk”"
Bhgat singh was that roaring fire, for a second. The lack of long history, in a sense prevents his story being told. He did not have 25-30 years of freedom history; he went to heaven when he was barely 23 or so.
We are blessed because of people like him Today we need people liek him - willing to die for a cause.
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Bhagat Singh not remembered by media at large because it doesn’t boost their TRP. Bhagat Singh was not a politician while Gandhi was, so he is remembered always on 31st Jan and 2nd October. Gandhi is father of nation today, he would not have been had he been spoken truth upfront and not played politics.
Bhagat Singh, Udham Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai, Chandrashekhar Azad and may more are greater than the so called father of the nation but who knows them outside text books because they were not politicians, they were not part of the political drama, so no publicity…
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Bhagat Singh was fighing for SAMPOORNA SWARAJ which is still not there we are still Gulams earlier to Britishers now to politicians and capitalists. Britishers was at least batter administrators and would have done more good to the country than done in last sixty years…..
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Dear Mr. Vohra,
Here is my theory on why the media largely ignored Bhagat Singh’s anniversary :
I remember till even the late ninties his birth anniversary was celebrated. Not in as big and flashy way as, say, of Pandit Nehru, but yet there was political represenation and wreath laying at his memorial. I distinctly remember watching such functions on TV.
It is only in this decade that the process got diluted gradually culminating in this year’s total blackout.
The reason : The secular-pseudo secular debate that is raging in our country.
The BJP won the debate in the nineties. That is why it grew so fast and was in government forming position by end of the decade.
However, as the BJP came to power and started implementing some if its policies, notbaly in HRD under Dr. Joshi, the response from the secular brigade was fierce. For what Dr. Joshi was trying to do was unsettling decades of cosy relationship between the left intellectual mafia and the secular brigade of the Congress, journos and sundries. How could they allow the crumbling of the edifice they had built for themselves over the decades?
Thus began a very overt and assiduous wooing of the Muslims by Congress in the early part of the decade. As the BJP gained in popularity, the desperation to woo the Muslims grew in direct proportion. So any method that would help the Congress in acheiving this was adopted. Any issue that was thought that the Muslims would not like was jettisoned. Any person or issue that was similar in appeal as the the BJP’s core issues was either pushed in the backburner or systematically demonised. Any issue was highlighted that was thought to be Muslim friendly.
Thus Bhagat Singh was slowly and deliberately taken away from the consciousness of the society. For he was thought to represent a militant society and policies akin to BJP’s core ideas and thus not atune to Congress’s voters. It was thought that Bhagat Singh would not appeal to Muslims.
It is the same midset that refused to celebrate the Kargil war victory day, untill in the 10th anniversary, the media forced the hand. It is the same mindset that bizzarely refuses to hang Afzal Guru since 2004. It is the same mindset that scandulously revises its petition on Ishrat Jahaan. Never mind making your own IB look like bumbling idiots as long as Modi is demonised and some Muslims votes are garnered in Maharashtra.
It is the same midset of Congress that makes it kep silent when Jaswant Singh praises Jinnah and demonises Patel. For Congrees too thinks that Patel is more appealing to Muslims voters.
Imagine the irony - Congress virtually abandoning it’s first home minister !
However, it is also a fact that the BJP which won the secular pseudo-secualar debate so spectacularly in the ninties has also conclusively lost the debate in this decade. And for this, Muslims alone are not responsible. It’s core voters have also moved ay from it.
But who has helped the Congrees in acheving this. Journos like you and media outlets like HT. By constantly badgering anything BJP. So even if BJP says that bring back black money fromm Swiss banks, it is badgered as to why it did not raise the issue before?
So why beamon the ignorance of Bhagat Singh. It’s a by product of the policy that Congress has practised in the last 10 years. No other Congress sympathiser is wasting time on it.
And amazingly the greatest Congress acolyte is crying over the by product of the policy he himself helped further through is columns? Why?
Is it because your Punjabi bacakground could not accept such a disrespect to one of the greatest sons of Punjab ?
But Mr. Vohra -as you sow, so shall you reap !!
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Pankaj Vohra Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Dear Akhilesh ji, thanks for your long thesis which talked about other things more than it talked about Bhagat Singh. For your information, Congress has been in power at the centre for only five years and a few months and not ten years. I hold no cudgels for the party but it is not Congress alone but the whole political class which is responsible for ignoring someone like Bhagat Singh. It is not my Punjabi background which makes my heart cry for him but his supreme sacrifice. As a punjabi I am as proud of Bhagat Singh as I am of Chandrashekhar Azad (who was not a punjabi). Please do not introduce an agenda or politics where there is none. I can answer each of you points but am not doing so because this blog is my tribute to Bhagat Singh and other martyrs and not an occasion to spar on you on the merits of BJP vs Congress or any other such thing. I do not agree with your perception that I am some party’s acolyte even as you are a self confessed bigot. Please leave such things out and sometimes try to get into a mature debate. Best regards. Pankaj Vohra
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Akhilesh Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 12:41 am
Dear Mr. Vohra,
I missed this reply of yours. Infact I read it just now when I saw that your blog has been refreshed with a new entry.
I do hope, still, that you see the merit in my arguments - that why has the Congress and it’s band of supporters systematically cast aside all symbols of past that had elemnts of militant nationalism to it.
Thus the total sidelining of Bhagat Singh, Saradr patel, Rajaji, Tilak and others - not celebrating the Kargil Victory day, infact not even celebrating December 16, the greatest miliatry victory day of India - and so many other examples.
It is this mindset that I was referring to. Remember it was Indira Gandhi who had so famously touched the feet of the mother of Bhagat Singh in a public ceremony, while giving an award to her on behalf of her son. And it is the same Congress party that has allowed Bhagat Singh’s memory to fade away !!
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I am surprised because BJP normally never misses celebratign Bhagat Singh.. I geuss they are too mired in their own party problems these days..
Well so called psec gentry well since Mahatam Gandhi refused to intervene let Bhagat Singh be hanged hence ingonring Bhagat Singh has become psec citadel for them. they are just following Gandhiji’s warped sense apropos Bhagat singh
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Atul Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 2:56 pm
For Your Information, Bhagat Singh’s ideological leanings were pro Communist / Marxist
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Rajeev Reply:
October 6th, 2009 at 12:40 am
Most of the revolutionaries of that time were influenced by Russian revolution so it was quite natural for Bhagat Singh to be influenced by ideology that taught equality.
Had Bhagat Singh been alive, he would have denounced marxism without denouncing the idea of equality and justice for all.
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Sampooran Swaraj was nipped in the bud by nehru through hsi over centralization politics.. And his thug daughter Indira Gandhi took the centralization to the extreme and today it will take nothign sort of revolution to break this centralization in indian polity..
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Bhagat Singh is a curious case of selective amnesia. There is an India which has other take on the freedom fighters of India. Mayawati and her ilk thinks that Bhagat Singh was a terrorist no different than the one we have come to recognise. Section of India thinks that Charu Majumdar was a freedom fighter. There is an India who think Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Dhondo Keshav Karve, Swami Dayand Saraswati have made greater contribution to the freedom movement because of their contribution to the social upliftment in modern India, which was besides the freedom struggle. There are people like Chittaranjan Das, Aurobindo, Tilak who find their mention once in a while. Bharat Singh would be remembered only if his birth anniversary was to fall during the a general election in Panjab !
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Atul Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Au contraire, all these pockets of thought emerge from a lack of understanding of the length and depth our freedom struggle. Recent incidents are better documented (and distorted) as compared to the older ones.
One can only infer Mayawati’s reference to Bhagat singh as a terrorist is caused by political compulsions. As for the others, sadly, it has to be a case of insufficient information being given to the people who believe so.
Its much like the proverbial blind men feeling different parts of an elephant and drawing respective inferences on its shape and nature. That is our tragedy as a people in today’s context.
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Mannu Reply:
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:48 am
Such politicians are more dangerous and harmful to the nation than any terrorist in the world.
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Its a reflection of the times we live in.
We are forgetting the sacrifices our elders made to make us independent
Love for the country seems to be a rapidly vanishing trait. I think it was Addision who said
“How beautiful is death, when earn’d by virtue!
Who would not be that youth? What pity is it
That we can die but once to serve our country!”
People like Bhagat Singh need to be enshrined. They are recent symbols of unconditional love for their country.
My question for Pankaj is - What do we do to enure we dont forget him next year?
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We all should ensure thhat his memory is never erased. As long as he lives in the hearts of us Indians, it will be more than enough. He does not need the govt to remember him if people acknowledge his supreme sacrifice for our country. Brgds.
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Aman Reply:
October 21st, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Wah Wah Mr Vohra!
That was a diplomatic reply- if ever there was one!
By your advice- should we not stop celebrating Independence day, Republic Day, Gandhi Jayanti, Nehru/Indira/Rajiv Birthday…?? Or is it the case here that SELECTIVE events may be celebrated publicly, the others can derive their respect/remembrance by continuing to ‘live in the hearts of us indians’ ?
Since we haven’t given up on celebrating occasions of national importance- HOW is the govt choosing which martyrs/events/occasions to forget and side line?
Can you still not see a single political family (not even the party) party overshadowing the national conscience?
I do not concede that Rajiv Gandhi (peace be on his soul) should be remembered, even as Tilak/Gokhale/Bhagat/Chandrasekhar etc are not.
Why, I do not even understand by what right Mr PV Narsimha Rao should be ignored, when Mr Rajiv Gandhi is toasted.
Regards.
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pankajji
main aapko bahuth shukriya dena chahtha hoo.jitna bhi kahay ya lkhay bhagat aur unkay aur sathiyon ka abhi bhee kam hi hai.aapka aricle bahooth acha tha aur rahega bhi -kyoonki samachar waley bahooth kam unkay baray mein may likhthay hain aur aajkal ka tv channels bhi kam nahin kyonki advanced thinking walay jo hain-phir bhi aapnay jo kiya aur log bhi jo aur akhbaraon main hai bhi likhna chahiyay -yehi mera khud bahooth aur jaisay aam admi ka gunjaish hai -’yeh watan’ kay liyay jo kurbani woh diyay usi ka badaulath hum aaj hain -azadi say.unkao yaad karna aur bhool nahi jana.
shukriya
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Pankajvohra Reply:
October 8th, 2009 at 6:08 am
We must all thank Bhagat Singh and all others who got us freedom. Yeh hi hamari unko shradhanjal ho gi.
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Mr Vohra,
That’s a well written piece. Bhagat Singh and his comrades are enshrined in our hearts. Media and politicians may forget them, but we will not. We need more material on Rajguru and Sukhdeo too, as people do not know much about them.
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. Mr.Vohra Yours is a true written blog.Our Netas are taking away all fruits of the freedom tree which was watered and kept alive with the BLOOD of our beloved HEROS like Bhagat Singh and many many more true freedom fighters.They do not have time to even think about paying Homage or remember them since they are only busy in filling up their safes with our hard earned money.
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