March 23, 1931 is a day written in the blood of the eternal young martyrs Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev who sacrificed at the altar of freedom for the country. It was on this day these young freedom fighters were hanged by the British on the charge of terrorism against the British Empire.
They were not terrorists, but the true sons of the country. They were young and wanted mother India to be free. It is to be remembered that Bhagat Singh was only 23 years old when his life was cut short by the hangman’s knot.
Bhagat Singh very well knew that he will be hanged. But he and his comrades were not afraid. What Bhagat Singh told to his comrades, before the sentence was pronounced shows how these comrades thought about the punishment.
I am quoting below the following from the Book on Bhagat Singh written by his comrade and another accused, Com. shiv Verma, who escaped hanging.
“Then Bhagat Singh laughed and said: Our punishment will be ” To be hanged by neck till we are dead. This is reality Comrades. I know it. You also know it. Then, why shut the eyes to it?”
He continued ” This is the highest award for patriotism, and I am proud that I am going to get it. They think that by destroying my terrestrial body they will be safe in this country. They are wrong. They will kill me, but they can not kill my ideas. They can crush my body, but they will not be able to crush my spirits. My ideas will haunt he British like a curse till they are forced to run away from here.”
” But this is only one side of the picture. The other side is equally bright. Bhagat Singh dead will be more dangerous to the British enslavers than Bhagat Singh alive. After I am hanged, the fragrance of my revolutionary ideas will permeate the atmosphere of this beautiful land of ours. It will intoxicate the youth and make him mad for freedom and revolution, and that will bring the doom of the British imperialists nearer. This is my firm conviction. I am anxiously waiting for the day when I will receive the highest award for my services to the country and my love for my people.”
Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged on 23rd March 1931.
Bhagat Singh was correct. The spirit never dies. And it did not die in this case also. The whole nation revolted and the freedom came much earlier than expected.
( Excerpts from ” Bhagat Singh on the path of liberation” by Shiv Verma”)
Red Salutes to Shahid Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev!
