Bhagat Singh Birth Anniversary

Current Context : 117th Bhagat Singh’s birth anniversary will be observed on September 28.

About Bhagat Singh

BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE:

• Born on September 28, 1907in Banga, Punjab, which is now part of Pakistan.
• He was the second son of Kishan Singh Sandhu and Vidya Vati.
• Influenced by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and British atrocities from a young age.

POLITICAL ASSOCIATIONS:

• A prominent member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), a left-wing revolutionary organization aimed at gaining India’s independence.
• Founded Naujawan Bharat Sabha in 1926 to rally youth, peasants, and workers against British rule.
• Connected with the Kirti Kisan Party, which advocated for farmers’ rights and socialism.

KEY REVOLUTIONARY ACTIONS:

• Defied British Rule: Known for his early defiance, including burning British textbooks.
• Assassination of Saunders: Involved in the assassination of John Saunders(mistakenly targeted instead of James Scott) to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai.
• Central Legislative Assembly Bombing: Along with Batukeshwar Dutt, Bhagat Singh threw non-lethal bombs in the Assembly to protest oppressive laws, distributing pamphlets before surrendering.

ROLE IN PRISON AND IDEOLOGY:

• Undertook a hunger strike demanding better treatment for Indian political prisoners, inspiring the nation.
• Propagated socialism and secularism, identifying British imperialism’s divide-and-rule policy as a core issue to counter.

LEGACY:

• Executed on March 23, 1931, along with Rajguru and Sukhdev, becoming a martyr.
• Bhagat Singh’s vision of a secular and socialist India continues to inspire generations.