80 years ago on 23rd march, 1931 a young 23 year old guy sacrificed himself willingly for the freedom struggle of India. Today is the 80th death anniversary of Sardar Bhagat Singh (along with Rajguru & sukhdev), who undoubtedly is one of the most influential revolutionaries of the Independence movement of India. Bhagat Singh joined the freedom movement at young age of 14 years and became attracted to anarchism and Marxist ideologies. Bhagat Singh was one of the most prominent faces of Indian freedom struggle. He was a revolutionary ahead of his times. By Revolution he meant that the present order of things, which is based on manifest injustice must change. Bhagat Singh studied the European revolutionary movement and was greatly attracted towards socialism. He realised that the overthrow of British rule should be accompanied by the socialist reconstruction of Indian society and for this political power must be seized by the workers.
In 1929 Bhagat singh planned to explode a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly, against an act which give more power to the police and suppress common man. He later along with Batukeshwar dutt threw a light non-lethal bomb onto the vacant corridors of the assembly; the bomb neither killed nor injured anyone. Refusing to run away from the scene, Bhagat Singh gave himself up deliberately for arrest after the bombing stating “it takes a loud voice to make the deaf hear”
Bhagat Singh was charged with the murder. Bhagat Singh decided to use the court as a tool to publicise his cause for the independence of India. While in jail, Bhagat Singh and other prisoners launched a 63 days hunger strike advocating for the rights of prisoners and those facing trial. The reason for the strike was that British murderers and thieves were treated better than Indian political prisoners, who, by law, were meant to be given better rights. The aims in their strike were to ensure a decent standard of food for political prisoners, the availability of books and a daily newspaper, as well as better clothing and the supply of toiletry necessities and other hygienic necessities. He also demanded that political prisoners should not be forced to do any labour or undignified work.
Despite great popular pressure and numerous appeals by political leaders of India, Bhagat Singh and his associates were hanged in the early hours of March 23, 1931.
