Why in News?

The Prime Minister paid tribute to revolutionary freedom fighter Shaheed Bhagat Singh on his 119th Birth Anniversary (28 September), calling him a lasting inspiration for India's youth.

Key Facts About Bhagat Singh

Early Life

  • Born on 28 September 1907 in Banga, Punjab (now in Pakistan) into a Sikh family active in the freedom struggle.
  • Father: Kishan Singh; Uncle: Ajit Singh (deported to Mandalay, later associated with the Ghadar Party, San Francisco).

Formative Experiences

  • Deeply affected by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (1919); reportedly visited the site soon after.
  • Joined National College, Lahore, founded by Lala Lajpat Rai, where he encountered Swadeshi and revolutionary ideas.

Revolutionary Politics

  • 1925: Joined the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), reorganised in 1928 as the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA).
  • 1926: Founded the Naujawan Bharat Sabha to mobilise youth for the freedom movement.
  • 1929: Along with Batukeshwar Dutt, threw low-intensity bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly to protest:
  • The Public Safety Bill (suppressing political activities, enabling deportations).
  • The Trade Dispute Bill (curbing workers' right to strike).

Trial and Execution

  • Convicted in the Lahore Conspiracy Case for the 1928 killing of British police officer J.P. Saunders — carried out to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai (lathi-charged during the Simon Commission protest).
  • Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged on 23 March 1931 in Lahore Central Jail.
  • 23 March is observed annually as Shaheed Diwas (Martyrs' Day).

Ideology and Writings

  • Firm atheist and socialist, influenced by Marx, Lenin, Trotsky and Bakunin.
  • Wrote "Why I Am an Atheist", reflecting belief in rationalism, equality and social justice.
  • Wrote for Urdu and Punjabi newspapers in Amritsar, the Kirti Kisan Party's journal 'Kirti', and briefly for Veer Arjun (Delhi).
  • Used pseudonyms such as Balwant, Ranjit and Vidhrohi.

Legacy

  • Honoured as Shahid-e-Azam.
  • Popularised the slogan 'Inquilab Zindabad' (Long Live the Revolution), a rallying cry of the freedom struggle.

Significance

  • Represents the revolutionary stream of the Indian national movement, distinct from Gandhian non-violence.
  • His ideas on secularism, socialism and rationalism remain relevant to debates on youth, nationalism and social justice.

PYQ Reference

Gandhi-Irwin Pact (2020): Included invitation to Congress for the Round Table Conference, withdrawal of ordinances related to the Civil Disobedience Movement, and acceptance of Gandhiji's suggestion for enquiry into police excesses — but release of only prisoners not charged with violence. Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 4 only.