The legend of Bhagat Singh
"Bhaghat Singh did not become popular because of his act of terrorism but because he seemed to vindicate, for the moment, the honour 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 the 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"
-Jawaharlal Nehru
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Bhagat Singh was an Indian socialist considered to be alongside Mahatma Gandhi as one of the most influential revolutionaries of the Indian Independence Movement. Singh’s family had a history of being involved in revolutionary activities against the British Raj. His birth coincided with the release from jail of his father and two uncles, Ajit Singh and Swaran Singh. "Unlike many Sikhs of his age, Singh did not attend the Khalsa High School in Lahore. His grandfather did not approve of the school officials' loyalism to the British authorities." Singh later joined the Young Revolutionary Movement and began to advocate for the violent overthrow of the British in India. Like Gandhi and other revolutionists, Singh gave up all material goods, he even ran away from home to avoid getting married by his family. Before he left, he wrote a letter saying : "My life has been dedicated to the noblest cause, that of the freedom of the country. Therefore, there is no rest or worldly desire that can lure me now."
Mahatma Gandhi Vs. Baghat Singh
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Mahatma Gandhi and Bhagat Singh were two giants of the Indian Independence Movement. These two leaders shared one thing in common; they laid down their lives to help India. "Even though [Singh and Gandhi] strived towards the same goal, their approaches were drastically different." (Prathap Singh) While one "...spearheaded a civil disobedience movement founded on the principles of nonviolence and Satyagraha"(Sakthi Kumaran), the other waged a revolutionary armed struggle laced with violence towards the British regime. "There were many controversies and conspiracy theories between Gandhi and Singh..." (Prathap Singh), most of these stem from Gandhi and the Indian National Congress' alleged failure to prevent Bhagat Singh's execution. However, it was proved later that Gandhi was an admirer of Bhagat Singh and publicly applauded his patriotism on many occasions. "Gandhi [had even] wrote to the Viceroy pleading with him to commute the death sentence of Singh and his accomplices" (Prathap Singh).
“An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law”
- Martin Luther King Jr.
Praise"Bhagat Singh did not wish to live. He refused to apologize, or even file an appeal. Bhagat Singh was not a devotee of non-violence, but he did not subscribe to the religion of violence. He took to violence due to helplessness and to defend his homeland. In his last letter, Bhagat Singh wrote --'I have been arrested while waging a war. For me there can be no gallows. Put me into the mouth of a cannon and blow me off.' These heroes had conquered the fear of death. Let us bow to them a thousand times for their heroism."
- Mahatma Gandhi (March 23, 1931) |
Criticizism"We should not imitate their act. In our land of millions of destitute and crippled people, if we take to the practice of seeking justice through murder, there will be a terrifying situation. Our poor people will become victims of our atrocities. By making a dharma of violence, we shall be reaping the fruit of our own actions."
- Mahatma Gandhi (March 23, 1931) |