Shaheed Diwas 2025: Honouring legacy of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev and their revolutionary thoughts
Every year on March 23, India observes Shaheed Diwas to
honor the sacrifices of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru. This day remembers
their courage and dedication to the nation's freedom struggle.
Shaheed Diwas is not only a day to remember the martyrs but
also a time for reflection on the values of patriotism, justice, and national
unity.
Historical significance of Shaheed Diwas
The significance of Shaheed Diwas lies in the tragic but
heroic story of three young freedom fighters—Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru,
and Sukhdev Thapar — who were hanged by the British authorities in Lahore on
March 23, 1931, for their involvement in the killing of J.P. Saunders, a
British police officer. This act was a retaliation for the death of Lala Lajpat
Rai, a prominent leader, who was fatally injured during a peaceful protest
against British rule. The executions of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev
sparked outrage across India, further galvanizing the freedom struggle.
The following is a small real story that depicts chilling story of sacrifices and freedom struggle of our dear country.
The story begins..
The air in Lahore was thick with the scent of rebellion, a
volatile mix of jasmine and gunpowder. Bhagat Singh, a firebrand with eyes that
burned like the embers of a revolution, adjusted the knot of his turban. Beside
him, Rajguru, his face a mask of grim determination, checked the action of his
pistol. Sukhdev, ever the pragmatist, meticulously arranged the pamphlets in
his khadi bag. Tonight, they would strike a blow that would echo through the
halls of the British Raj and ignite the hearts of millions.
The year was 1928. The Simon Commission, an all-white panel
sent to determine India's future, had been met with black flags and cries of
“Go Back Simon!” Lala Lajpat Rai, the Lion of Punjab, had been fatally wounded
during a brutal lathi charge by the British police, orchestrated under the
chilling orders of Superintendent James A. Scott.
Bhagat Singh vowed revenge.
"Lala Ji's blood cries out for justice," he had
declared, his voice resonating with a steely resolve. "We will make the
British pay for their brutality."
Their target was Scott, the man responsible for Lajpat Rai’s
death. But fate, or perhaps the fog of war, played a cruel trick. Instead of
Scott, they gunned down Assistant Superintendent John Saunders, mistaking him
for their nemesis.
The earth trembled with the deafening report of the pistol
shots. The city erupted in chaos. Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev vanished
into the labyrinthine streets of Lahore, leaving behind a trail of defiance
that would quickly transform into a legend.
Hunted as murderers, they decided to surrender themselves
not as criminals, but as revolutionaries. They planned a grand, theatrical
entrance to the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi, a symbol of the British
Raj's power in India. They would use the platform to broadcast their message of
complete independence, of Purna Swaraj.
On April 8, 1929, the assembly hall was packed. Inside,
debates droned, lulling the British officials into a false sense of security.
Bhagat Singh, disguised in a brown suit, and Batukeshwar Dutt, a fellow
revolutionary, slipped into the visitors' gallery.
Suddenly, the air crackled with tension. Bhagat Singh and
Dutt hurled two low-intensity bombs into the crowded chamber. The explosions
were designed to startle, not to kill. As smoke billowed and pandemonium
reigned, the two revolutionaries stood their ground, unfazed. They showered the
terrified parliamentarians with leaflets proclaiming, "It takes a loud
voice to make the deaf hear."
Then, with their voices ringing with defiance, they chanted
the iconic slogan: "Inquilab Zindabad!" (Long Live the Revolution!)
They could have escaped. But they remained, deliberately
offering themselves for arrest. They wanted to be heard. They wanted to be
seen.
The trial that followed was a spectacle. Bhagat Singh,
Rajguru, and Sukhdev became national heroes overnight. They used the courtroom
as a stage to denounce British imperialism, to expose the injustices inflicted
upon the Indian people, and to articulate their vision of a free and equitable
India. They refused to defend themselves, choosing instead to deliver fiery
statements that were smuggled out of the prison and circulated throughout the
nation.
Their unwavering courage captivated the country. Young men
and women across India were inspired to join the freedom movement, fueled by
the fire of their revolutionary ideals.
The British government, fearing widespread unrest, rushed
the trial. The judgment was inevitable: death by hanging.
In the final days, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev
embraced their fate with serenity. They spent their time reading Marxist
literature, discussing philosophy, and singing patriotic songs. Their cells
became mini-universities, where they imparted their knowledge and inspired
their fellow inmates.
On March 23, 1931, the day of their execution, the entire
nation held its breath. Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev walked to the
gallows with unwavering steps, chanting, "Inquilab Zindabad!" and
"Bharat Mata Ki Jai!" (Victory to Mother India!).
As the noose tightened around their necks, they sang the
fiery anthem of patriotism: "Rang de basanti cholaa, maye rang de!"
(Dye my robe in the color of spring/sacrifice, O Mother!).
Their sacrifice ignited a spark that could not be
extinguished. The British Raj had hoped to crush the spirit of rebellion, but
they had only fueled the flames of freedom. Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev
became immortal symbols of courage, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to the
cause of India's independence. Their names echoed in every village, in every
city, in every heart yearning for freedom.
The British Raj eventually crumbled, and India achieved
independence in 1947. The blood spilled by Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev
had watered the seeds of freedom, nourishing a new nation that would rise from
the ashes of colonial slavery.
Their legacy continued to inspire generations, a powerful
reminder that freedom is never free, and that it often requires the ultimate
sacrifice. Rang de basanti cholaa. The color of sacrifice. The color of
revolution. The color of a free India. It was a song not just of death, but of
eternal life, forever etched in the heart of a grateful nation.
Here are some of his revolutionary thoughts that continue to
resonate with the people of India:
- "Bombs
and pistols do not make a revolution. The sword of revolution is sharpened
on the whetting-stone of ideas" – This statement emphasises
that true revolution is not about violence alone, but about challenging
and changing outdated ideas through revolutionary thinking.
- "I
emphasise that I am full of ambition and hope and full charm of life. But
I can renounce all at the time of need, and that is the real
sacrifice." – Bhagat Singh believed in sacrificing personal
desires for the greater good of the country.
- "I
am a man and all that affects mankind concerns me." This
thought highlights Bhagat Singh's deep empathy for the struggles of people
everywhere and his commitment to fight for human rights.
- "They
may kill me, but they cannot kill my ideas. They can crush my body, but
they will not be able to crush my spirit." - Bhagat Singh's
defiance in the face of death demonstrates the enduring power of
revolutionary thought, which cannot be silenced.
- "If
the deaf are to hear, the sound has to be very loud." –
Bhagat Singh understood that sometimes, to bring about change, one must
speak loudly and forcefully.
- "Every
tiny molecule of ash is in motion with my heat. I am such a lunatic that I
am free even in jail." – This reflects Bhagat Singh’s
determination and unyielding spirit, even in the face of adversity.
- "Any
man who stands for progress has to criticize, disbelieve and challenge
every item of the old faith." – This thought stresses the
importance of progressive thinking and challenging the status quo for the
development of society.
- "Life
is lived on its own…others' shoulders are used only at the time of
funeral." – Bhagat Singh's assertion here advocates for
personal responsibility and the pursuit of one’s ideals, no matter the
consequences.
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