On This Day 28th Sep 1907 : Shaheed Bhagat Singh Jayanti
Celebrating Shaheed Bhagat Singh Jayanti: The Revolutionary Who Changed India’s Fight for Independence
The Birth of a Revolutionary
On September 28, 1907, in the small village of Banga in Punjab, India, a child was born who would one day rattle the pillars of the British Empire. This child was Shaheed Bhagat Singh, a name that still reverberates with the spirit of courage and patriotism. Coming from a family of freedom fighters, he was raised listening to stories of resistance and becoming aware of the the sacrifice that was so freely given. These experiences fired his imagination envisioning a free India and a spirit that would one day become revolution.
Early Life and Inspiration
Bhagat Singh’s early life was inspired by the most powerful fuel, the stories of men and women who stood defiant against the British. His whole family, from his father to his uncles, were participants in the defiance and resistance. Young Bhagat was not satisfied by the tales alone. He studied global revolutions and the literature of resistance. By his teens, he was convinced that his life’s work would be to lead the change that the country so desperately needed.
Bhagat Singh started out as an admirer of Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement, which launched in 1920. The movement’s sudden conclusion in 1922, as a consequence of the Chauri Chaura incident, made Bhagat Singh disillusioned with the idea of political confrontations based on non-violence and catalysed a transformation toward the ideology of revolutionary nationalism.
A Sharp Mind and a Fearless Heart
What really set Bhagat Singh apart was his rare combination of bravery and intellect. He recognised that the struggle for freedom also required strong ideas and not just courageous acts. He authored various pieces, delivered several speeches, and motivated the youth of India to fight against oppression. His speeches and writings, while succinct, possessed the necessary vigour that could stir thousands.
The Central Legislative Assembly Protest
One of the most notable acts of his activism happened in 1929, when Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt tossed non-lethal bombs into the Central Legislative Assembly. Their intention was to get the attention of the ‘legal’ rulers to the loud and free call of the people. The two did not try to escape and instead, declared slogans of independence, showing the world that their activism was for justice, and not for violence.
Martyrdom at the Age of 23
Even while in prison, Bhagat Singh did not cease activism. He undertook a hunger strike, demanding that Indian prisoners have their rights respected. His determination did not wane, as he continued to read about the future of his country and writing his thoughts down. He was executed on March 23; 1931, along with Rajguru and Sukhdev, at merely 23 years. The British believed they were silencing a firebrand of Indian nationalism, but instead, they created a martyr. His name would reverberate through generations.
Legacy of Shaheed Bhagat Singh
Bhagat Singh’s ideals continue to motivate the youth of India even after over ninety years. He demonstrated that real patriotism involves both action and sacrifice. The respect he envisioned for an India that would be built on justice, equality, and freedom continues to be our guiding spirit.
On this Bhagat Singh Jayanti, we celebrate the fearless man who wore the iconic hat and remember the vision he died for—a free, dignified India for every citizen.
References
-
Letters and Writings of Shaheed Bhagat Singh – National Archives of India
-
Tributes to Shaheed Bhagat Singh – Ministry of Culture, Government of India
