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The Martyrdom of Bhagat Singh (Shaheed-e-Azam)

Kamlesh Tripathi

    Shaheed Bhagat Singh remains a timeless symbol of courage, sacrifice, and revolutionary ideas. His life and martyrdom continue to inspire generations to stand for justice, equality, and freedom. He reminds us that true revolution lies not merely in action, but in the power of ideas.

    Born on 28 September 1907 in Banga village of Lyallpur district, which is now in Pakistan, Bhagat Singh grew up in a patriotic Sikh family headed by his father, Sardar Kishan Singh Sandhu. From a very early age, he was exposed to the ideals of nationalism and sacrifice. The horrific tragedy of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre left a deep and indelible scar on his young mind. It strengthened his resolve to fight against British oppression. By the year 1926, he had become actively involved in revolutionary movements, and he began organising young and youthful groups dedicated to India’s freedom.

    On 23 March 1931, Bhagat Singh was executed by the cruel British Raj along with Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar at the young age of 23. Their martyrdom stirred the conscience of the nation and inspired millions to join the struggle for independence. One can easily say Bhagat Singh was miles ahead of his physical age when it came to ‘Inquilabi’ ideas that were required to liberate Mother India from the clutches of the British Raj. He was also an established writer. ‘Why I Am An Atheist’ is an essay written by him in 1930 in the Lahore Central Jail. His other works are equally absorbing.

     With his erudite pronouncements, Bhagat Singh demolished the basis of the Sessions Court judgment and emphasised the importance of motive. The motive behind the action, he argued, should be the main consideration while judging the offence of an accused. He quoted the famous Jurist Solomon, who thought that one should not be punished for their criminal offence if their aim is not against the law.

    In his statement before the Lahore High Court Bench, Bhagat Singh spoke with humility, acknowledging that he and his comrade were neither trained lawyers nor masters of language. He urged the court to overlook shortcomings, if any, in their expression and instead, understand the real meaning and spirit behind their words. The central idea of his argument was the importance of motive in judging any action. He firmly believed that justice cannot be served without considering the intention behind an act. According to him, if motive was ignored, even the greatest figures in history might appear criminal when judged solely by their outward actions.

    He clarified that the Assembly bombing was not intended to kill anyone. The limited impact of the explosions proved that the act was carefully planned as a symbolic protest. He emphasised that they could have easily escaped if they had wished, but instead chose to surrender so that they could explain their ideals openly. They aimed to awaken both the rulers and the masses to the growing unrest in the country and to warn that continued neglect of people’s grievances by the British Raj could lead to greater upheaval.

    He also explained the true meaning of revolution, stating that it does not merely signify violence. For him, revolution was rooted in ideas and aimed at ending injustice, exploitation, and oppression in society. From a legal perspective, he argued that motive had always been an important factor in judicial decisions. He cited the example of Reginald Dyer, who ordered firing on unarmed civilians (equivalent to a massacre) but was not given capital punishment, but a cash award, and another case of Kharag Bahadur Singh, who received a lighter sentence because his intentions were taken into account.

    Bhagat Singh questioned why the same principle should not be applied to him and his comrades. He argued that ignoring motive was unjust and went against the principle that law exists for the welfare of human beings. He asked whether they were being denied fairness because their actions were political and directed against the government.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

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