Bhagat Singh was a great freedom fighter and revolutionary of India. Along with Chandrashekhar Azad and his other party members, he bravely challenged the powerful British government in the struggle for India's independence. He further escalated the open rebellion against the British Empire by assassinating Saunders in Lahore and then by carrying out a bomb blast in the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi. Even after throwing the bomb in the assembly, he refused to escape. As a result, the British government hanged him along with his two comrades, Rajguru and Sukhdev, on March 23, 1931.
Birth and Background
Bhagat Singh was born on September 28, 1907, but according to many older documents, his birth date was September 27, 1907. He was born into a Sikh family in the village of Banga, West Punjab (now in Pakistan). His father was Sardar Kishan Singh and his mother was Vidyavati Kaur. They belonged to a farming family. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar on April 13, 1919, deeply affected Bhagat Singh's thinking. After leaving his studies at the National College in Lahore, Bhagat Singh founded the Naujawan Bharat Sabha (Young India Society) to fight for India's independence.
In 1922, after the Chauri Chaura incident, when Gandhiji did not support the peasants, Bhagat Singh became very disillusioned. His faith in non-violence diminished, and he felt that the only way to achieve freedom was through armed revolution. He then joined the Ghadar Party led by Chandrashekhar Azad. The execution of four revolutionaries, including Ram Prasad 'Bismil', and the imprisonment of 16 others in the Kakori Conspiracy case deeply saddened Bhagat Singh. He joined Chandrashekhar Azad's party, the Hindustan Republican Association, and renamed it the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. The objective of this organization was to train young people to be selfless, dedicated, and capable of facing hardships.
On December 17, 1928, Bhagat Singh, along with Rajguru, assassinated British police officer J.P. Saunders in Lahore. Revolutionary Chandrashekhar Azad fully supported this action. On April 8, 1929, Bhagat Singh, along with his comrade Batukeshwar Dutt, threw bombs and leaflets into the hall of the Central Legislative Assembly (now Parliament House) in what is now New Delhi, to draw attention to the unjust policies of the British government. After throwing the bombs, both surrendered to the police.
Revolutionary Activities
When the Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred, Bhagat Singh was about twelve years old. Upon hearing the news, he walked twelve miles from his school to Jallianwala Bagh. At that age, he read the revolutionary books of his uncles and pondered whether their path was the right one. When Gandhiji launched the Non-Cooperation Movement, he considered whether to follow Gandhiji's non-violent methods or adopt the violent path of the revolutionaries. He was somewhat disappointed when Gandhiji withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement, but like the rest of the country, he respected Mahatma Gandhi. However, he did not consider it wrong to choose the path of violent revolution for the country's independence instead of Gandhiji's non-violent movement. He started participating in processions and became a member of several revolutionary organizations. Prominent revolutionaries in his group included Chandrashekhar Azad, Sukhdev, and Rajguru. Bhagat Singh was deeply saddened by the hanging of four revolutionaries and the imprisonment of 16 others in the Kakori Conspiracy case, and in 1928, he merged his party, Naujawan Bharat Sabha, into the Hindustan Republican Association, renaming it the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association.
Revenge for Lala Lajpat Rai's Death
In 1928, large-scale protests erupted against the Simon Commission. The British administration resorted to lathi-charges to suppress these protests. Lala Lajpat Rai was also injured in the lathi-charge, from which he later died. The revolutionaries decided to take revenge for his death. Under a secret plan, they decided to assassinate the police superintendent, Scott. As per the plan, Bhagat Singh and Rajguru casually strolled in front of the Lahore police station. Meanwhile, Jai Gopal pretended that his bicycle had broken down and sat there. At Gopal's signal, the two revolutionaries became alert. Chandrashekhar Azad was hiding behind the wall of the nearby DAV school, ready to provide security during the operation. On December 17, 1928, at approximately 4:15 PM, when Assistant Superintendent of Police Saunders arrived, Rajguru shot him in the head, killing him instantly. Immediately after, Bhagat Singh fired three or four more shots to ensure his death. As the two were fleeing, Constable Chanan Singh chased them. Chandrashekhar Azad warned him, "If you come any further, I will shoot you." When he did not stop, Azad shot him, killing him on the spot. Thus, they took revenge for Lala Lajpat Rai's death.
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