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Martyr Bhagat Singh Anniversaries by Chaman Lal
Martyr Bhagat Singh Anniversaries by Chaman Lal
23rd March 2006
Bhagat Singh was just twenty three years and few months, when he was martyred by British colonialists on 23rd March 1931 after a sham trial. However by the time Bhagat Singh went to gallows, he had entered the hearts and minds of all Indians, some of whom later became Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. Over the years despite best efforts by British rulers, the image of Bhagat Singh has kept on growing and growing. With the publication of his writings largely after 1947 and more in the last few decades of twentieth century (complete documents in Hindi of about 500 pages are now available in one volume) Bhagat Singh outgrew his image a brave patriot and became the symbol of revolutionary socialist thinker as well.
On 23rd March 2006, it would be seventy five years of Bhagat Singh's martyrdom in the liberation of the country from the hands of foreign colonialists as well as from native feudalism. In the same year on 28th September 2006, birth centenary year of Bhagat Singh would begin as he was born on 28th September 1907 at Lyallpur Banga, though his ancestral village is Khatkarkalan near Banga in district Nawanshehar. Bhagat Singh spent most of his childhood and had education in Pakistani Punjab, particularly in Lahore and he was martyred also in Lahore.
Bhagat Singh is revered not only in India but also in Pakistan and Bangladesh, while people in countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, also have feeling of respect towards this great revolutionary from India. When he was hanged in 1931,number of poems and other writings appeared in almost all Indian languages-Hindi,Punjabi,Urdu,English,Bengali,Tamil, Telugu, Gujrati etc. Many of these writings were banned by British Colonial Govt. at that time, which are now honorable part of National Archives collection in Delhi.
Even in international arena, if Mahatma Gandhi has become a symbol of Indian non-violent struggle for freedom, Bhagat Singh's name comes close to great revolutionary nationalists like Che Guvera ,Bolivar,Nelson Mandela and many others.
It is time that all-patriotic Indians get together to celebrate these occasions in a befitting manner to remember Bhagat Singh and his fellow revolutionaries, who martyred themselves for the cause of motherland and its people's liberation from foreign yoke and international exploitation.
There is a need to propagate Bhagat Singh's ideas by way of translating his documents in all Indian languages at various levels. There is also need to put the picture of Bhgat Singh in Parliament. There is need to introduce writings of Bhagat Singh against communalism and untouchability etc. in school curricula's. There can be many ways of celebrating these occasions for two full years, at least year 2006 and 2007, in order to bring into centre focus the role of revolutionary ideas of Bhagat Singh in changing the destiny of our great nation. Bhagat Singh was not a terrorist as British colonialists and some of its cohorts in India would try and make us believe, he was revolutionary in the most true and correct meaning of the term. His ideas are beacon light for the people of nation and the nation needs to enlighten its path most urgently with ideas of Bhagat Singh. Bhagat Singh is the most powerful nationalist icon of resistance to this onslaught of imperialist arrogance over lording the whole world. Bhagat Singh is symbol of unity of people of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and is as strong a symbol of national resistance as are Bolivar and Che-Guvera in Latin America.
Bhagat Singh's Martyrdom day-23rd March should be observed as "Anti Colonialism/Anti Imperialism" day throughout India, Pakistan, Bangla Desh, Nepal etc, particularly in the wake of onslaught of neo-imperialist powers of the world, trying to dominate militarily, politically, economically, culturally the other independent countries.
The martyrdom of Bhagat Singh in March 2006, should be observed in very big way at Lahore by the citizens of India and Pakistan jointly. The main function should be held at Lahore Jail on 23rd March at 7.00 p.m., at the time, when these three patriots were surreptiousely hanged by British colonialists. The cultural activists, writers of both the countries should hold at least week-long festival, holding seminars, organizing street and stage plays, film shows, militant song-singing etc. to mark the 75 years of their martyrdom as a memorable event. This should also help revive their memories and spread of their ideas among people of both the countries, particularly among youth
In fact Pakistan should enter into a healthy competition with India in claiming the legacy of Bhagat Singh. Bhagat Singh was born, brought up and educated in present day Pakistan. He had his revolutionary training in National College at Lahore. His only activities in present day India was to hold a meeting of revolutionaries at Delhi in September 1928 and throwing a bomb in Central Assembly Delhi, apart from spending sometime in Kanpur or some other places, whereas he gave his life for the nation in Lahore jail. In a way, Pakistan should have taken lead in owning and spreading Bhagat Singh legacy, but that could have been possible only in a democratic and secular Pakistan. Yet in the trust-building exercise in both the countries today, the joint legacy of Bhagat Singh can help them come closer, at least culturally.
The birthday of Bhagat Singh-28th September should be declared as "National Youth Day'. This day should be given equal importance to 2nd October. For the simple reason that Bhagat Singh's name was as popular among Indian masses as was of Mahatma Gandhi during freedom struggle, as has been acknowledged by none other than the historians of Congress Party. It would also mean to acknowledge the role of different revolutionary movements in fighting for the freedom of the country from colonial yoke Also the youth of the country need to be filled with patriotic fervor, which is possible only by making them feel as the builders of free nation. This feeling in youth can only be instilled through the ideas of supreme symbol of Indian revolutionary freedom struggle-Bhagat Singh.
Bhagat Singh does not remain an individual now, as Mahatma Gandhi remains no individual. These historical personalities of the country have become symbols of ideas and movements. Bhagat Singh has emerged as symbol of most radical nationalist movement against imperialism and colonialism. He represents the highest ideals of Indian revolutionary movement and he is iconic symbol all other revolutionary movements. .
Bhagat Singh is one among many national heroes, whom Dalits and minorities, who form a large chunk of Indian society are ready to accept as their Hero, because of his radical views on untouchability and communalism etc.. Alongwith Dr. Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh also has an appeal for Dalits of this nation.
In context of misuse or overexposure of religion by some fascist fundamentalist groups in our society, Bhagat Singh's ideas on religion or atheism can work as an antidote to counter such pernicious views
Let all democratic and nationalist Indians and other nationalities in Indian subcontinent unite on this occasion and by focusing on Bhagat Singh's ideas, build a most powerful resistance movement against a much dangerous neo-colonial onslaught, more powerful than the old colonialist British empire.
23rd March 2006
Bhagat Singh was just twenty three years and few months, when he was martyred by British colonialists on 23rd March 1931 after a sham trial. However by the time Bhagat Singh went to gallows, he had entered the hearts and minds of all Indians, some of whom later became Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. Over the years despite best efforts by British rulers, the image of Bhagat Singh has kept on growing and growing. With the publication of his writings largely after 1947 and more in the last few decades of twentieth century (complete documents in Hindi of about 500 pages are now available in one volume) Bhagat Singh outgrew his image a brave patriot and became the symbol of revolutionary socialist thinker as well.
On 23rd March 2006, it would be seventy five years of Bhagat Singh's martyrdom in the liberation of the country from the hands of foreign colonialists as well as from native feudalism. In the same year on 28th September 2006, birth centenary year of Bhagat Singh would begin as he was born on 28th September 1907 at Lyallpur Banga, though his ancestral village is Khatkarkalan near Banga in district Nawanshehar. Bhagat Singh spent most of his childhood and had education in Pakistani Punjab, particularly in Lahore and he was martyred also in Lahore.
Bhagat Singh is revered not only in India but also in Pakistan and Bangladesh, while people in countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, also have feeling of respect towards this great revolutionary from India. When he was hanged in 1931,number of poems and other writings appeared in almost all Indian languages-Hindi,Punjabi,Urdu,English,Bengali,Tamil, Telugu, Gujrati etc. Many of these writings were banned by British Colonial Govt. at that time, which are now honorable part of National Archives collection in Delhi.
Even in international arena, if Mahatma Gandhi has become a symbol of Indian non-violent struggle for freedom, Bhagat Singh's name comes close to great revolutionary nationalists like Che Guvera ,Bolivar,Nelson Mandela and many others.
It is time that all-patriotic Indians get together to celebrate these occasions in a befitting manner to remember Bhagat Singh and his fellow revolutionaries, who martyred themselves for the cause of motherland and its people's liberation from foreign yoke and international exploitation.
There is a need to propagate Bhagat Singh's ideas by way of translating his documents in all Indian languages at various levels. There is also need to put the picture of Bhgat Singh in Parliament. There is need to introduce writings of Bhagat Singh against communalism and untouchability etc. in school curricula's. There can be many ways of celebrating these occasions for two full years, at least year 2006 and 2007, in order to bring into centre focus the role of revolutionary ideas of Bhagat Singh in changing the destiny of our great nation. Bhagat Singh was not a terrorist as British colonialists and some of its cohorts in India would try and make us believe, he was revolutionary in the most true and correct meaning of the term. His ideas are beacon light for the people of nation and the nation needs to enlighten its path most urgently with ideas of Bhagat Singh. Bhagat Singh is the most powerful nationalist icon of resistance to this onslaught of imperialist arrogance over lording the whole world. Bhagat Singh is symbol of unity of people of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and is as strong a symbol of national resistance as are Bolivar and Che-Guvera in Latin America.
Bhagat Singh's Martyrdom day-23rd March should be observed as "Anti Colonialism/Anti Imperialism" day throughout India, Pakistan, Bangla Desh, Nepal etc, particularly in the wake of onslaught of neo-imperialist powers of the world, trying to dominate militarily, politically, economically, culturally the other independent countries.
The martyrdom of Bhagat Singh in March 2006, should be observed in very big way at Lahore by the citizens of India and Pakistan jointly. The main function should be held at Lahore Jail on 23rd March at 7.00 p.m., at the time, when these three patriots were surreptiousely hanged by British colonialists. The cultural activists, writers of both the countries should hold at least week-long festival, holding seminars, organizing street and stage plays, film shows, militant song-singing etc. to mark the 75 years of their martyrdom as a memorable event. This should also help revive their memories and spread of their ideas among people of both the countries, particularly among youth
In fact Pakistan should enter into a healthy competition with India in claiming the legacy of Bhagat Singh. Bhagat Singh was born, brought up and educated in present day Pakistan. He had his revolutionary training in National College at Lahore. His only activities in present day India was to hold a meeting of revolutionaries at Delhi in September 1928 and throwing a bomb in Central Assembly Delhi, apart from spending sometime in Kanpur or some other places, whereas he gave his life for the nation in Lahore jail. In a way, Pakistan should have taken lead in owning and spreading Bhagat Singh legacy, but that could have been possible only in a democratic and secular Pakistan. Yet in the trust-building exercise in both the countries today, the joint legacy of Bhagat Singh can help them come closer, at least culturally.
The birthday of Bhagat Singh-28th September should be declared as "National Youth Day'. This day should be given equal importance to 2nd October. For the simple reason that Bhagat Singh's name was as popular among Indian masses as was of Mahatma Gandhi during freedom struggle, as has been acknowledged by none other than the historians of Congress Party. It would also mean to acknowledge the role of different revolutionary movements in fighting for the freedom of the country from colonial yoke Also the youth of the country need to be filled with patriotic fervor, which is possible only by making them feel as the builders of free nation. This feeling in youth can only be instilled through the ideas of supreme symbol of Indian revolutionary freedom struggle-Bhagat Singh.
Bhagat Singh does not remain an individual now, as Mahatma Gandhi remains no individual. These historical personalities of the country have become symbols of ideas and movements. Bhagat Singh has emerged as symbol of most radical nationalist movement against imperialism and colonialism. He represents the highest ideals of Indian revolutionary movement and he is iconic symbol all other revolutionary movements. .
Bhagat Singh is one among many national heroes, whom Dalits and minorities, who form a large chunk of Indian society are ready to accept as their Hero, because of his radical views on untouchability and communalism etc.. Alongwith Dr. Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh also has an appeal for Dalits of this nation.
In context of misuse or overexposure of religion by some fascist fundamentalist groups in our society, Bhagat Singh's ideas on religion or atheism can work as an antidote to counter such pernicious views
Let all democratic and nationalist Indians and other nationalities in Indian subcontinent unite on this occasion and by focusing on Bhagat Singh's ideas, build a most powerful resistance movement against a much dangerous neo-colonial onslaught, more powerful than the old colonialist British empire.
Prof. Chaman Lal
Centre of Indian Languages, (SLL&CS)
JNU, New Delhi-110067
Contact number: 09868774820
Vice-President , JNU Teachers Association(JNUTA)
Chaman Lal is the editor of 'Complete Documents of Bhagat Singh' in Hindi 'Bhagat Singh Ke Sampooran Dastavej'
JNU, New Delhi-110067
Contact number: 09868774820
Vice-President , JNU Teachers Association(JNUTA)
Chaman Lal is the editor of 'Complete Documents of Bhagat Singh' in Hindi 'Bhagat Singh Ke Sampooran Dastavej'
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