Bhagat Singh Biography: A Heroic Journey

“Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna, Ab Hamare Dil Mein Hai
Dekhna Hai Zor kitna Bazu-E-Qatil Mein Hai”

(The Desire for Revolution is Now in Our Hearts,
We shall see how much strenght lies in the arms of the enemy)

-Shaheed Bhagat Singh

Bhagat Singh Biography: Full name Bhagat Singh (Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh) was born on September 28, 1907, in Lyallpur (now in present-day Pakistan), Bhagat Singh hailed from a Sikh family. His father, Sardar Kishan Singh Sandhu, and his uncles, Arjan Singh and Ajit Singh, actively participated in India’s struggle for independence.

At the time of Bhagat Singh’s birth, his father and uncles were imprisoned due to their involvement in the agitation against the Canal Colonization Bill in 1907.

After attending a village school, Bhagat Singh enrolled in an Anglo-Vedic school in Lahore, which was run by the Arya Samaj. Later, in 1923, he joined the National College in Lahore, founded by the prominent independence activist Lala Lajpat Rai. The college aligned with Mahatma Gandhi’s call for non-cooperation with British-subsidized educational institutions.

Inspired by his family’s commitment to progressive politics, Bhagat Singh actively participated in India’s freedom struggle. He even visited the site of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, where General Dyer had ordered the killing of thousands of unarmed demonstrators. 

Bhagat Singh Biography

Name	Bhagat Singh
Born	September 28, 1907
Died	March 23, 1931 (executed)
Role	Indian anti-colonial revolutionary
Notable Acts	Mistaken murder of a British police officer in 1928
	Symbolic bombing of the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi
	Hunger strike in jail
Achievements	Martyr and folk hero in Northern India
	Inspired India’s independence movement
	Urgent introspection within the Indian National Congress
	Borrowed ideas from Bolshevism and anarchism

Bhagat Singh Biography: Early Life and Influences

Year	Event
1907	Born on September 28 in the village of Banga, Punjab. His family’s involvement in the Indian freedom struggle influenced him from an early age.
1916	At age 9, visited the site of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which fueled his desire for freedom.
1919	Witnessed the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar, solidifying his resolve to fight against British rule.
1920	Enrolled at Dayanand Anglo Vedic High School in Lahore, influenced by Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s teachings on nationalism and social reform.
1921	Participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi, later disillusioned with non-violence.
1923	Joined National College in Lahore, actively participating in extra-curricular activities.
1924	Associated with the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), committed to armed struggle against British rule.

Bhagat Singh’s Revolutionary Ideals  and Contributions to Freedom Struggle

• Bhagat Singh stands out among India’s revolutionary freedom fighters.
• His name is often the first mentioned when discussing revolutionaries.
• In 1926, he founded the Naujawan Bharat Sabha.
• This organization aimed to rally peasants and workers for revolution against British rule.
• Bhagat Singh served as its secretary.
• In 1928, he co-founded the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) with Sukhdev, Chandrashekhar Azad, and others.
• Lala Lajpat Rai’s death in 1928 prompted Bhagat Singh and his friends to seek vengeance.
• However, they mistakenly assassinated another police official, J. P. Saunders, during the Lahore Conspiracy Case.

Central Assembly Bombing:

• Bhagat Singh participated in the case.
• On April 8, 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw a bomb in the Central Assembly in Delhi from the Visitors’ Gallery.
• They also distributed pamphlets and chanted pro-revolutionary slogans.
• Their goal was to spread their message of revolution and anti-imperialism.
• No one was harmed during the incident, as their intention was not physical harm.
• Their stated objective was “to make the deaf hear.”
• Bhagat Singh, inspired by French anarchist Auguste Vaillant, masterminded the event. Vaillant had been executed in Paris for a similar act.
• In the ensuing trial, both Bhagat Singh and BK Dutt received a life sentence for their actions. 

Bhagat Singh Biography: Execution

• Bhagat Singh, along with Rajguru, Sukhdev, and others, faced arrest and charges in the Saunders murder case.
• The trial began in July 1929.
• While imprisoned in Lahore, the young leaders initiated a hunger strike to demand better treatment as political prisoners.
• Jawaharlal Nehru and other leaders visited them, expressing concern for their distress.
• Bhagat Singh fasted for 116 days, ending it at his father’s and Congress leaders’ request.
• The trial was one-sided, resulting in the death sentences for Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev.
• Despite widespread condemnation, national leaders’ appeals for a reduced sentence went unanswered.
• Authorities had scheduled the hanging of the trio for March 24, 1931; however, they carried out the execution a day earlier in Lahore Jail. They secretly cremated the remains afterward.
• Bhagat Singh’s final words, “Down with British imperialism,” left a lasting impact, inspiring many to join the freedom struggle.
• People observe March 23rd as “Martyrs’ Day” or “Shaheed Diwas” to honor Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev.

Lesser-Known Facts From Bhagat Singh Biography

• Bhagat Singh was deeply affected by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. He even skipped school to visit the site, collecting mud mixed with Indian blood in a bottle, which he worshipped throughout his life.
• During college, Bhagat Singh was an accomplished actor. He played various roles in plays like ‘Rana Pratap’ and ‘Bharat-Durdasha’.
• From a young age, Bhagat Singh spoke passionately about guns. He envisioned growing them in fields to fight against British rule. His focus was on driving the British out of India.
• When his parents wanted him to marry, Bhagat Singh fled to Kanpur. He declared that marrying in colonial India, under British rule, would be akin to marrying death. He then joined the “Hindustan Socialist Republican Association.”
• Bhagat Singh admired socialism and studied socialist revolutions led by Lenin. He famously said, “They may kill me, but not my ideas. They can crush my body, but not my spirit.”
• In his final letter, Bhagat Singh requested that he be shot instead of hanged, arguing that being arrested during wartime invalidated hanging as a legitimate punishment. He bravely expressed his love for the nation.
• Along with his associates, Bhagat Singh threw low-grade explosive bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly. Their intention was not to harm anyone physically.
• While in jail, Bhagat Singh went on a hunger strike. Remarkably, he continued his daily activities, including singing, reading, and attending court proceedings.
• Bhagat Singh coined the powerful slogan “Inquilab Zindabad,” which became synonymous with India’s armed struggle for independence.
• Bhagat Singh was hanged an hour before the official time on March 23, 1931. His fearlessness in the face of “British imperialism” was evident.
• During a jail visit by his mother, Bhagat Singh laughed heartily. The jail officials were astonished by his open laughter despite his impending execution.
• Despite being born a Sikh, Bhagat Singh cut his hair and shaved his beard to avoid identification and arrest for his involvement in a murder case.
• During his imprisonment, Bhagat Singh fasted for 116 days, engaging in activities like singing, reading, and writing.
• After witnessing Hindu-Muslim riots following Gandhi’s disbandment of the Non-Cooperation Movement, Bhagat Singh began questioning prevailing religious ideologies, eventually identifying as an atheist.

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Quotes by Bhagat Singh

• But mere faith and blind faith is dangerous: it dull the brain and makes a man reactionary.
• Revolution is an inalienable right of mankind. Freedom is an imperishable birthright of all. Labour is the real sustainer of society.
• They may kill me but they cannot kill my ideas. They can crush my body, but they will not be able to crush my spirit.
• Bombs and pistols do not make a revolution. The sword of revolution is sharpened on the whetting stone of ideas.
• May the sun in his course visit no land freer, happier, more lovely, than this our own country.

Bhagat Singh Biography: Modern-Day Legacy

Bhagat Singh’s death achieved the impact he desired, inspiring thousands of young people to join the ongoing Indian Independence movement. Following his execution, protests erupted across Northern India, directed against both the British Raj and the perceived indifference of the Congress.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) recognizes Bhagat Singh’s significant contribution to Indian society, particularly his influence on the future of socialism in the country. To commemorate Singh and his ideals on the centenary of his birth, a group of intellectuals established an institution in his honor.

Numerous popular Bollywood films have portrayed the life and legacy of Bhagat Singh. The 2006 film “Rang De Basanti” draws parallels between revolutionaries of Bhagat Singh’s era and contemporary Indian youth. It’s worth noting that through his organization Naujawan Bharat Sabha, Bhagat Singh trained young people to resist the British Raj. He envisioned them as courageous and patriotic, qualities he felt were lacking in modern times.

Bhagat Singh Biography – For UPSC

Early Life and Background:

• Born on September 28, 1907, in Banga (now in Pakistan).
• From a Sikh family with a history of political activism.
• Inspired by revolutionary leaders and events like the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Ideological Influence:

• Advocated for a socialist and anti-imperialist ideology.
• Inspired by the Russian Revolution and the ideas of Marxism.
• Believed in armed revolution to overthrow British colonial rule.

Key Revolutionary Acts:

• Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Protest (1929): Participated in protests against British atrocities.
• Assembly Bombing (1929): Threw bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi to protest British laws, aiming to make a statement without causing harm.
• Assassination of J.P. Saunders (1928): Killed the British police officer responsible for Lala Lajpat Rai’s death, symbolizing resistance against British oppression.

Philosophical Views and Writings:

• “Why I Am an Atheist” – One of his key writings that reflects his rejection of religious orthodoxy.
• Believed in youth empowerment and saw himself as part of a larger social revolution.

Trial and Execution:

• Arrested for his role in the Saunders killing, tried and sentenced to death.
• Executed on March 23, 1931, along with Rajguru and Sukhdev, despite widespread protests and international appeals.

• Martyrdom: His execution made him a martyr, deeply influencing the Indian independence movement.

Legacy:

• Bhagat Singh became a symbol of revolutionary nationalism and selfless sacrifice.
• Inspired future generations of freedom fighters, especially youth movements.
• Widely remembered for his courage, intellectual contributions, and unwavering commitment to the nation’s freedom.

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