‘Inquilab Zindabad’.. The Revolutionary Journey of Bhagat Singh

Bhagat Singh holds a distinct place in India’s freedom struggle as one of the young revolutionaries who challenged British rule through revolutionary ideas and action, alongside the broader movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. Born on September 28, 1907, in Banga village of Punjab, Bhagat Singh grew up in a family deeply influenced by the freedom movement. His father Kishan Singh and uncle Ajit Singh were associated with the struggle against British rule. After studying at DAV School in Lahore, he joined the National College founded by Lala Lajpat Rai, where his political and revolutionary thinking developed further. In 1926, he founded the Naujawan Bharat Sabha and later played a key role in transforming the Hindustan Republican Association into the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA). The killing of British police officer John Saunders in 1928 and the 1929 Central Legislative Assembly bombing in Delhi, carried out with Batukeshwar Dutt, became defining episodes in his revolutionary career. After his arrest, Bhagat Singh used the court proceedings as a platform to express and spread his political and revolutionary ideas.

Bhagat Singh’s vision extended beyond ending British rule. He advocated social equality, an end to exploitation and a society based on socialist principles. During his imprisonment, he extensively read the works of thinkers including Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky. His essay “Why I Am an Atheist” reflected his emphasis on rational and scientific thinking. In the Lahore Conspiracy Case, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were sentenced to death, triggering widespread protests across the country. Bhagat Singh’s execution and the role of political leaders during the Gandhi-Irwin Pact period have remained subjects of historical discussion. On March 23, 1931, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were executed at Lahore Central Jail. Bhagat Singh’s sacrifice at the age of just 23 and his revolutionary ideas continue to hold a significant place in the history of India’s freedom struggle.