On the Martyrs' Day, the best way to know about Shaheed Bhagat Singh's strength would be to know a little about his hunger strike in the Lahore Prison.
Why do I say so? Well, this brilliant activity, which almost killed him, showed his superb acumen. The constant coverage of the inhumane treatment Bhagat Singh and his revolutionary friends faced in the prison created in the common man's mind terrible anger against the British.
Even when incarcerated, from behind bars, he thus continued his rebellion against the British injustices. He hence proved that, for a thinking freedom fighter, prison bars are no hindrance in continuing creatively his fight against the unjust imperialist power.
The historic hunger strike, which lasted for impossible hundred and sixteen days, began on June 15 to continue till October. The very duration shows his wonderful will power, endurance and mental strength.
Look at the demands behind the hunger strike, so to say, the first ever non-co-operation movement in the Indian Freedom struggle. The demands show his intelligence, idealism and inner power. First and foremost, he wanted the authorities to treat him and the other revolutionaries as political prisoners. Outright, bravely and boldly he thus asserted that, as patriots, they could not be considered/treated as common criminals. Thus he gave Indian independence struggle a great ethical height.
Next he insisted on books, newspapers as their right as political prisoners. Not only does this demand brilliantly prove his stature as an intellectual but it also shows that the much ignored revolutionary movement was not mere arson and such impulsive acts by hot-headed young men. Thus, through this demand, he accorded the revolutionary wing of the freedom struggle an intellectual stature and ethical grandeur.
The other demands were clean enviornment and decent food. Even when the British tried to inhumanely force-feed the revolutionaries which, incidentally, killed Jatindranath Das, popularly known as Jatin Das, the frail Bhagat Singh continued his hunger strike. This 'fast unto death', if necessary, proved the solidarity of these young men who refused to break down, and instead made the prison walls echo with "Inquilab Zindabad" even when facing death. Hence this tribute to the great revolutionary and his passionate colleagues.
Pratima@ Reading the brilliant and committed writings of/by Bhagat Singh makes you regret that he passed away so soon. If he were to get a few more years, he would have changed the very nature of the independence struggle.
Quote of the day: "Stone walls do not a Prison make,/Nor Iron bars a Cage;/Minds innocent and quiet take/That for a Hermitage," asserts Richard Lovelace.
Word of the day: patriotic. Patriotic refers to showing strong love, devotion, and loyalty to one’s country. It implies supporting a nation's well-being, commonly demonstrated through actions like voting, respecting symbols, or national service.
P.S.: Batukeshwar Duty's story is truly miserable. Will share it some other day.
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