Personal Information
- Place of Birth: Banga village, Lyallpur district (now Faisalabad, Pakistan), Punjab, British India (September 27, 1907)
- Place of Death: Lahore Central Jail, Lahore (now Pakistan) (March 23, 1931)
- Nationality: India
- Era: Indian Independence Movement (1920s–1931), British Colonial Period
Summary
Biography
Bhagat Singh was born on September 27, 1907, into a patriotic Jat Sikh family in Banga village, Punjab, with father Kishan Singh and mother Vidyavati; his uncles Ajit and Swaran were imprisoned during Partition of Bengal protests, shaping his early nationalism. The 1919 Jallianwala Bagh Massacre at age 12 radicalized him, leading to school protests and joining Non-Cooperation Movement; he fled home post-Chauri Chaura (1922), studying at National College, Lahore, influenced by Kartar Singh Sarabha, Lenin, Trotsky, and Bakunin.
Revolutionary Activities
In 1926, Singh founded Naujawan Bharat Sabha for youth radicalization and joined Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), renamed Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in 1928 under his influence, advocating armed revolution for socialism. To avenge Lala Lajpat Rai's lathi-charge death (1928), he, Rajguru, and Sukhdev mistakenly killed Assistant Superintendent John Saunders on December 17, 1928, fleeing Lahore.
On April 8, 1929, Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw non-lethal bombs in Central Legislative Assembly, Delhi, shouting "Inquilab Zindabad" and "Down with Imperialism" to protest Public Safety Bill and Trade Disputes Bill, allowing arrest to publicize grievances. Imprisoned, they led 116-day hunger strike demanding equality for Indian prisoners.
Trial and Execution
Lahore Conspiracy Case convicted them for Saunders' murder; despite protests, Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev were sentenced to death, hanged prematurely on March 23, 1931, at 7:30 PM, bodies cremated secretly at Husainiwala. Singh wrote "Why I am an Atheist" in jail, rejecting religion for rationalism.
Legacy
Bhagat Singh's martyrdom sparked protests, influencing Congress radicals and 1946 Royal Indian Navy mutiny; he symbolizes youthful defiance. For Veergatha, he fits freedom fighters like Bose, ideal for inspirational biographies.
Major Achievements of Bhagat Singh
- Founded Naujawan Bharat Sabha (1926), popularized "Inquilab Zindabad" slogan.
- Reorganized HRA into HSRA (1928), advocating socialist revolution.
- Avenged Lala Lajpat Rai by killing John Saunders (1928).
- Bombed Central Legislative Assembly (1929) to protest repressive laws.
- Led hunger strike in jail for political prisoners' rights.
- Became martyr at 23, inspiring mass anti-British sentiment
