The Immortals who gave away everything – The Tale of Bhagat Singh and his friends

Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, Shivaram Hari Rajguru and Batukeshwar Dutta

We have come across some articles and posts that indicate the Valentine’s Day, the 14th of February is the day when the revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were executed by hanging by the British. But the historical facts are otherwise.

When the British Government implemented Defence of India act 1915 to suppress freedom struggle through the recommendations of the act, it gave the British Police a free hand to carry out arrests without any permissions. In order to protest against this act, Bhagat Singh and his friends carried out a plan to use low intensity bomb inside the assembly hall and at the same time ensure that there are no deaths. Immediately after the bombing, Bhagat Singh and his friends voluntarily surrendered and taken to trial. They were charged with attempt to murder and sentenced to 14 years life in 1929.

 

Shown above are the photographs of Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Hai Rajguru, Sukhdev Thapar and Batukeshwar Dutta

Further investigation by the Police led to discovery of other members, some of whom turned into informants and helped police to connect Bhagat Singh with an alleged murder of a British Officer. Singh was again arrested and sent to another jail where he faced discrimination between British & Indian prisoners and that led to his protest in the form of hunger strike against the discrimination.

In the meantime, the ongoing investigation of framing Bhagat Singh for the alleged murder of a British Officer in the past was hastened by the Viceroy, Irwin in 1930. Bhagat Singh, Rajguru & Sukhdev were sentenced to death and the execution date was fixed to the 24th March 1931. The Congress and Gandhi made some attempts to save the lives but went in vain. Gandhi finally came to an agreement in the Gandhi-Irwin pact which gave the British the go-ahead with the execution of Bhagat Singh and his friends.

The Death Warrant

A powerful and well-organized movement was started to get the sentences commuted.  Though the public may not be aware of it, Mahatma Gandhi made a sincere attempt to save them from gallows. Young men and women took a leading part in organizing demonstrations to impress upon the Government that the hangings would have very bad effect on the people of India. Never in the history of British India had there been such a widespread and genuine demand for the commutation of the sentences. Even in England the movement was gaining ground. It was stated that even the Viceroy had felt the influence of the public opinion in this matter.  This was exactly as Bhagat Singh desired.

Then the truce, which was regarded by the young party as nothing but surrender, came in. The Congress leaders suddenly suspended the mass movement. The British Government heaved a sigh of relief, and then calmly carried out the death sentences. Yes, this was exactly as Bhagat Singh had desired.

On the 17th of March, a telegram was sent to Home Department, rescheduling the execution date to 23rd March. Bhagat Singh and his friends were hanged to death at 7.30pm on the 23rd of March 1931 at Lahore. Bhagat Singh and his friends who were hanged were only 22/23 years old at the time of their execution.

Report in The Tribune

The Death Certificate

Their another revolutionary partner, Batukeshwar Dutt, was awarded a life imprisonment and was sent to the Cellular Jail, Andaman. Independent India did not accord him any recognition, and he spent his remaining life in poverty away from political limelight. Batukeshwar Dutta outlived all his comrades and died on 20 July 1965 in the AIIMS in Delhi after a long illness. Its a pity that most of us Indians do not even know his name, who was a very close associate of Bhagat Singh.

Every year, the 23rd of March is observed as Martyrs’ Day in honor of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru & Sukhdev. Let us salute our martyrs for giving up their lives during the freedom struggle so that the subsequent generations could live in peace & prosperity.

Bhagat Sing wrote a letter to Batukeshwar Dutta from the confines of the Central Jail, Lahore. The transcript reads as follows:

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Dear Brother

The judgment has been delivered. I am condemned to death. In these cells, besides myself, there are many prisoner who are waiting to be hanged. The only prayer of these people is that somehow or other they must escape the noose. Perhaps I am the only man amongst them who is anxiously waiting for the day when I will be fortunate enough to embrace the gallows for my ideals. I will climb the gallows gladly and show to the world as to how bravely the revolutionaries can sacrifice themselves for the cause of the nation.

I am condemned to death, but you are sentenced to transportation for life. You will live and , while living, you will have to show t the world that the revolutionaries not only die for their ideals but can face every calamity. Death should not be a means to escape the worldly difficulties. Those revolutionaries who have by chance escaped the gallows should live and how to the world that they can not only embrace gallows for the ideal but also bear the worst type of tortures in the dark dingy prison cells

Jai Hind

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Let us not belittle the supreme sacrifice of these brave hearts equating their day of sacrifice with Valentine’s Day. The least we can do is to keep their day of sacrifice away from such controversies, they deserve that much. How many of us pay our respects to them on the Martyrs’ Day, the 23rd of March? Do we, really?

Even if we can’t shed a drop of tear, let us, at least, bow our heads in respect to them on that day and remember their supreme sacrifice for us. The only thing they wanted is that we will live as independent human beings in an independent country.

I will come back with more such tales of selfless sacrifice of the Indian freedom fighters, some of which our history do not remember.

Jai Hind!

[Thanks for the references – Guruprasad’s Portal, Wikipedia and Google]