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| − | {{epname|Singh, Bhagat}}
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| − | {{Infobox revolution biography
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| − | |name=Bhagat Singh <BR> {{Unicode|ਭਗਤ ਸਿੰਘ}} <BR> {{Unicode| بھگت سنگھہ}}
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| − | |lived=September 28, 1907–March 23, 1931
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| − | |placeofbirth=[[Faisalabad|Lyallpur]], [[Punjab region|Punjab]], [[British India]]<!--NOT Pakistan; there was no Pakistan until 1947, a good 40 years after Singh's birth—>
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| − | |placeofdeath=[[Lahore]], [[Punjab region|Punjab]], [[British India]]<!--NOT Pakistan; there was no Pakistan until 1947, a good 16 years after Singh's death. He died before any Pakistani movement gained momentum and was opposed to religious division. —>
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| − | |image=[[Image:Bhagat21.jpg]]
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| − | |caption=Bhagat Singh at the age of 21
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| − | |movement=[[Indian Independence movement]]
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| − | |organizations=[[Naujawan Bharat Sabha]], [[Kirti Kissan Party]] and [[Hindustan Socialist Republican Association]]
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| − | '''Bhagat Singh''' ([[Punjabi]]: ਭਗਤ ਸਿੰਘ بھگت سنگھہ, {{IPA2|pə˨gət̪ sɪ˦ŋg}}) (September 28,<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070101/region.htm Tribune Chandigarh: ''In memory of Bhagat Singh'']</ref> 1907–March 23, 1931) fought an [[India]]n freedom fighter, considered one of the most famous [[revolutionary|revolutionaries]] of the [[Indian independence movement]]. For that reason, Indians often refer to him as ''Shaheed'' Bhagat Singh (the word ''[[martyrdom in Islam|shaheed]]'' means "[[martyr]]"). Many believe him one of the earliest [[Marxism|Marxists]] in India.<ref>[http://pd.cpim.org/2006/0319/03192006_surjeet.htm Communist Party of India (Marxist)]</ref> He had been one of the leaders and founders of the [[Hindustan Socialist Republican Association]] (HSRA).
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| − | Born to a family which had earlier been involved in [[revolutionary]] activities against the [[British Raj]] in India, Bhagat Singh, as a teenager, having studied European revolutionary movements, had been attracted to [[anarchism]] and [[communism]].<ref>[http://www.revolutionarydemocracy.org/rdv3n1/bsingh.htm Revolutionary Democracy: ''Bhagat Singh and the Revolutionary Movement'']</ref> He became involved in numerous revolutionary organizations. He quickly rose in the ranks of the [[Hindustan Republican Association]] (HRA) and became one of its leaders, converting it to the HSRA. Singh gained support when he underwent a sixty three day fast in jail, demanding equal rights for Indian and British political prisoners. Hanged for shooting a police officer in response to the killing of veteran social activist [[Lala Lajpat Rai]], his legacy prompted youth in India to begin fighting for Indian independence and also increased the rise of socialism in India.<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010321/edit.htm#6 Tribune India: ''What if Bhagat Singh had lived'']</ref>
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| − | Bhagat Singh, given the title "Shaheed" or [[martyr]], grew up at an exciting time for the [[Indian Independence Movement|Independence movement]]. During his life time, [[Mahatma Ghandi]] developed his [[Non Violence|non-violence philosophy]] to deal with Indian independence. His philosophy, based in [[Hindu]] thought and practice, had compatibility with [[Buddhism]], [[Jainism]], [[Islam]], and [[Christianity]]. Bhagat Singh joined Ghandi as a boy, putting into practice Ghandi's non violent resistance teaching. Whereas Ghandi went the way of the spiritual teachings of [[Hinduism]], [[Buddha]], and [[Christ]], Singh went the way of [[Marx]], [[Engels]], and violence. Singh, an [[atheist]] and a [[Marxist]]s, rejected Ghandi's commitment to God and peaceful resistance.
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| − | That Bhagat Singh felt angry about British colonial rule is not surprising. Most [[British rule in India|Indians hated British rule]]. If Singh could have over thrown the [[British Raj|British colonial government]] and installed his own brand of [[communism]] and [[atheism]], India would have been cast into the dark ages. Instead, India by and large rejected Singh's approach and embraced Ghandi's. Due to that wise national decision, India is a vibrant, rapidly developing, spiritually directed nation of 1 billion people.
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| − | ==Early life==
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| − | [[Image:Bhagat17.jpg|thumb|Bhagat Singh at the age of 17]]
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| − | Bhagat Singh had been born into a [[Sandhu]] family to Sardar Kishan Singh Sandhu and Vidyavati in the Khatkar Kalan village near Banga in the [[Faisalabad District|Lyallpur district]]<ref>[http://in.com/people/2005/03/18/singh.html Bhagat Singh Biography]</ref> of [[Punjab region|Punjab]] on September 28, 1907. [[Singh]]'s given name of Bhagat meant "devotee." His had been a patriotic [[Sikh]] family, participating in numerous movements supporting independence of India.<ref>[http://www.bharatadesam.com/people/bhagat_singh.php Bharat Desam Biographies: ''Bhagat Signh'']</ref> The Hindu reformist [[Arya Samaj]] influenced his father. His uncles, Ajit Singh and Swaran Singh, as well as his father, both took part in the [[Ghadr]] Party led by [[Kartar Singh Sarabha]]. Ajit Singh fleed to [[Iran]] because of pending cases against him while Swaran Singh died from hanging.<ref>[http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/itihas/sbsingh.htm Martyrdom of Sardar Bhagat Singh] ''by Jyotsna Kamat''. Cited by [[University of California]] Berkely Library on [http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/SSEAL/SouthAsia/india_colonial.html South Asian History]</ref>
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| − | As a child, the [[Amritsar Massacre|Jalianwala Bagh Massacre]] that took place in Punjab in 1919 deeply affected him.<ref>[http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/itihas/sbsingh.htm Martyrdom of Sardar Bhagat Singh] ''by Jyotsna Kamat''. Cited by [[University of California]] Berkely Library on [http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/SSEAL/SouthAsia/india_colonial.html South Asian History]</ref> When [[Mahatma Gandhi]] started the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920, he became an active participant at the age of 13. He had great hopes that Gandhi would bring freedom in India. But he felt disappointed when Gandhi called off that movement following the [[Chauri Chaura]] riot in 1922. At that point he had openly defied the [[British Raj|British]] and had followed Gandhi's wishes by burning his government-school books and any British-imported clothing. In 1923, Bhagat famously won an essay competition set by the Punjab Hindi Sahitya Sammelan. That grabbed the attention of members of the Punjab Hindi Sahitya Sammelan including its General Secretary Professor Bhim Sen Vidyalankar. At that age, he quoted famous Punjabi literature and discussed the ''Problems of the Punjab''. He read a lot of poetry and literature written by Punjabi writers, [[Allama Iqbal]], a Indian freedom fighter from [[Sialkot]] became his favorite poet.<ref>[http://www.shahidbhagatsingh.org/index.asp?link=problem_of_pb Bhagat Singh Documents ''Problems of the Punjab'']</ref>
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| − | In his teenage years, Bhagat Singh studying at the National College in Lahore, running away from home to escape early marriage, and became a member of the organization ''Naujawan Bharat Sabha'' (Translated to 'Youth Society of India'). In the Naujawan Bharat Sabha, Singh and his fellow revolutionaries grew popular amongst the youth. He also joined the [[Hindustan Republican Association]] at the request of Professor Vidyalankar, then headed by [[Ram Prasad Bismil]] and [[Shahid Ashfaqallah Khan|Ashfaqulla Khan]]. He may have had knowledge of the [[Kakori train robbery]]. He wrote for and edited [[Urdu]] and [[Punjabi]] [[newspapers]] published from [[Amritsar]].<ref>[http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/itihas/sbsingh.htm Jyotsna Kamat, Martyrdom of Sardar Bhagat Singh]</ref> In September 1928, a meeting of various revolutionaries from across India had been called at [[Delhi]] under the banner of the ''Kirti Kissan Party''. Bhagat Singh served as the secretary of the meeting. His carried out later [[revolutionary]] activities as a leader of that association. The capture and hanging of the main HRA Leaders necessitated his and [[Sukhdev]] quick promotion to higher ranks in the party.<ref>[http://www.bharatadesam.com/people/bhagat_singh.php Bharat Desam Biographies: ''Bhagat Signh'']</ref>
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| − | ==Later revolutionary activities== <!--Feel free to change this heading if you think of something better—>
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| − | ===Lala Lajpat Rai's death and the Saunders murder===
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| − | The [[British government]] created a [[Simon Commission|commission]] under [[John Allsebrook Simon, 1st Viscount Simon|Sir John Simon]] to report on the current political situation in India in 1928. The Indian political parties boycotted the commission because Indian had been excluded from representation, protests erupting through out the country. When the commission visited Lahore on October 30, 1928, [[Lala Lajpat Rai]] led the protest against the commission in a silent non-violent march, but the police responded with violence. The police chief beat Lala Lajpat Rai severely and he later succumbed to his injuries. Bhagat Singh, an eyewitness to that event, vowed to take revenge. He joined with other revolutionaries, [[Shivaram Rajguru]], Jai Gopal and [[Sukhdev Thapar]], in a plot to kill the police chief. Jai Gopal had been assigned to identify the chief and signal for Singh to shoot. In a case of mistaken identity, Gopal signaled Singh on the appearance of J. P. Saunders, a Deputy Superintendent of Police. Thus, Singh shot Saunders, instead of Scott.<ref>[http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/itihas/sbsingh.htm Jyotsna Kamat, ''Martyrdom of Sardar Bhagat Singh'']</ref> He quickly left [[Lahore]] to escape the police. To avoid recognition, he shaved his beard and cut his hair, a violation of one of the sacred tenets of [[Sikhism]].
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| − | ===Bomb in the assembly===
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| − | In the face of actions by the revolutionaries, the British government enacted the Defence of India Act to give more power to the police. The Act, defeated in the council by one vote, purposed to combat revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh. The Act later passed under the ordinance that claimed the Act served the best interest of the public. In response to that act, the [[Hindustan Socialist Republican Association]] planned to explode a bomb in the assembly where the ordinance would be passed. Originally, Azad attempted to stop Bhagat Singh from carrying out the bombing; the remainder of the party forced him to succumb to Singh's wishes, deciding that Bhagat Singh and [[Batukeshwar Dutt]], another revolutionary, would throw the bombs in the assembly.<ref>[http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/itihas/sbsingh.htm Jyotsna Kamat, ''Martyrdom of Sardar Bhagat Singh'']</ref>
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| − | On April 8, 1929, Singh and Dutt threw bombs onto the corridors of the assembly and shouted "''Inquilab Zindabad!''" ("Long Live the Revolution!"). A shower of leaflets stating that it takes a loud voice to make the deaf hear followed.<ref>[http://www.shahidbhagatsingh.org/index.asp?link=april8 Bhagat Singh Writings ''Leaflet Thrown in the Central Assembly Hall'']</ref> The bomb neither killed nor injured anyone; Singh and Dutt claimed they deliberately avoided death and injury, a claim substantiated both by British [[forensics]] investigators who found that the bomb too weak to cause injury, and the bomb had been thrown ''away'' from people. Singh and Dutt gave themselves up for arrest after the bomb.<ref>[http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/itihas/sbsingh.htm Jyotsna Kamat, ''Martyrdom of Sardar Bhagat Singh'']</ref> He and Dutt received life sentences to '[[Penal transportation|Transportation for Life]]' for the bombing on June 12, 1929.
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| − | ===Trial and execution===
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| − | [[Image:The Tribune front page of Bhagat Singh's execution.jpg|thumb|right|250px| Front page of ''[[The Tribune]]'' announcing Bhagat Singh's execution.]]Shortly after his arrest and [[trial]] for the Assembly bombing, the British came to know of his involvement in the murder of J. P. Saunders. The courts charged Bhagat Singh, [[Rajguru]], and [[Sukhdev]] with the [[murder]]. Bhagat Singh decided to use the court as a tool to [[propaganda|publicize]] his cause for the independence of India. He admitted to the murder and made statements against the British rule during the trial.<ref>[http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/itihas/sbsingh.htm Jyotsna Kamat, ''Martyrdom of Sardar Bhagat Singh'']</ref> The judge ordered the case carried out without members of the HSRA present at the hearing. That created an uproar amongst Singh's supporters as he could no longer publicize his views.
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| − | While in jail, Bhagat Singh and other prisoners launched a hunger strike advocating for the rights of prisoners and under trial. They struck to protest better treatment of British murderers and thieves than Indian political prisoners, who, by law, would receive better conditions. They aimed through their strike to ensure a decent standard of food for political prisoners, the availability of books and a daily newspaper, as well as better clothing and the supply of toilet necessities and other hygienic necessities. He also demanded political prisoners' exemption from forced labor or undignified work.<ref>[http://www.shahidbhagatsingh.org/index.asp?link=hunger_strike Bhagat Singh Documents: Bhagat Singh and BK Dutt's Demands from the British Government] </ref> During that hunger strike that lasted 63<!--NOT 133 or any other number; see reference—> days and ended with the British succumbing to his wishes, he gained much popularity among the common Indians. Before the strike his popularity had been limited mainly to the [[Punjab region]].<ref> [http://pd.cpim.org/2006/0319/03192006_surjeet.htm Communist Party of India (Marxist): ''Bhagat Singh Remains Our Symbol of Revolution'']</ref>
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| − | Bhagat Singh also maintained a diary, eventually filling 404 pages. In that diary he made numerous notes relating to the quotations and popular sayings of various people whose views he supported. The views of [[Karl Marx]] and [[Friedrich Engels]] held a prominent in his diary.<ref>[http://www.shahidbhagatsingh.org/index.asp?linkid=30 Shahid Bhagat Singh: ''Jail Note Book of Shahid Bhagat Singh'']</ref> The comments in his diary led to an understanding of the philosophical thinking of Bhagat Singh.<ref name="jailquotes">[http://www.shahidbhagatsingh.org/index.asp?link=quotes1 Shahid Bhagat Singh: ''Bhagat Singh quotes from his jail note book'']</ref> Before dying he also wrote a pamphlet entitled "Why I am an atheist," to counter the charge of vanity for rejecting God in the face of death.
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| − | On March 23, 1931, the British hanged Bhagat Singh in [[Lahore]] with his fellow comrades Rajguru and Sukhdev. His supporters, who had been protesting against the hanging, immediately declared him as a ''shaheed'' or martyr.<ref>[http://pd.cpim.org/2006/0423/04232006_bhagat%20singh.htm CPIM: ''Bhagat Singh Memorial Day Observed'']</ref> According to the Superintendent of Police at the time, V.N. Smith, the time of the hanging had been advanced:
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| − | <blockquote>Normally execution took place at 8 am, but it was decided to act at once before the public could become aware of what had happened...At about 7 pm shouts of Inquilab Zindabad were heard from inside the jail. This was correctly, interpreted as a signal that the final curtain was about to drop.<ref> [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20051211/spectrum/main1.htm ''The Tribune India'': ''Excerpts out of Martyrdom of Shaheed Bhagat Singh'']</ref></blockquote>
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| − | Singh had been cremated at [[Hussainiwala]] on banks of [[Sutlej]] river. Today, the [[Bhagat Singh Memorial]] commemorates freedom fighters of India.<ref>[http://pd.cpim.org/2006/0423/04232006_bhagat%20singh.htm CPIM: ''Bhagat Singh Memorial Day Observed'']</ref>
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| − | ==Ideals and opinions==
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| − | [[Image:Bhagat20.jpg|thumb|Bhagat Singh in jail at the age of 20]]
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| − | ===Marxism===
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| − | Bhagat Singh's political thought evolved gradually from Gandhian [[nationalism]] to revolutionary [[Marxism]]. By the end of 1928, he and his comrades renamed their organization the [[Hindustan Socialist Republican Association]]. He had read the teachings of [[Karl Marx]], [[Friedrich Engels]], and [[Vladimir Lenin]] and believed that, with such a large and diverse population, India could only survive properly under a [[socialist]] regime. Those ideals had been introduced to him during his time at the National College at Lahore and he believed that India should re-enact the [[October Revolution|Russian revolution]]. In the case that India rejected socialism, he believed that the rich would only get richer and the poor would only get poorer. That, and his militant methods, put him at odds with Gandhi and members of the Congress. He became the first socialist leader in India to make any gain. Even today, socialist leaders sometimes refer back to him as the founder of Indian socialism.<ref>[http://pd.cpim.org/2006/0319/03192006_surjeet.htm CPIM ''Bhagat Singh remains our symbol of revolution'']</ref>
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| − | ===Atheism===
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| − | While in a condemned cell in 1931, he wrote a pamphlet entitled ''Why I am an Atheist'' in which he discussed and advocated the philosophy of [[atheism]]. That pamphlet arose as a counter to criticism by fellow revolutionaries for his failure to acknowledge religion and God while in a condemned cell, the accusation of [[vanity]]. He supported his own beliefs and claimed that he used to be a firm believer in The Almighty, but rejected the myths and beliefs that others held close to their hearts. In that pamphlet, he acknowledged that [[religion]] made death easier, but declared unproved [[philosophy]] a sign of human weakness.<ref>[http://www.sacw.net/DC/CommunalismCollection/ArticlesArchive/bhagatSinghATHIEST.htmlBhagat Singh,''Why I am an Atheist'': Bhagat Singh (People's Publishing House, New Delhi, India)]</ref>
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| − | ===Death===
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| − | Bhagat Singh had been known to have an appreciation of [[martyr]]dom. [[Kartar Singh Sarabha]] had been his mentor as a young boy.<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010321/edit.htm#6 Tribune India ''What if Bhagat Singh had lived'']</ref> Many Indians consider Singh a martyr for acting to avenge the death of [[Lala Lajpat Rai]], also considered a martyr. In the leaflet he threw in the Central Assembly on 8th April 1929, he stated that ''It is easy to kill individuals but you cannot kill the ideas. Great empires crumbled while the ideas survived''.<ref>[http://www.shahidbhagatsingh.org/index.asp?link=april8 Bhagat Singh Documents ''Leaflet thrown in the Central Assembly Hall, New Delhi '']</ref> After engaging in studies on the Russian Revolution, he wanted to die so that his death would inspire the youth of India to unite and fight the British Empire.<ref>[http://www.bharatadesam.com/people/bhagat_singh.php Bharat Desam Biographies: ''Bhagat Signh'']</ref>
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| − | While in prison, Bhagat Singh and two others had written a letter to the Viceroy asking him to treat them as prisoners of war and hence to execute them by [[firing squad]] rather than by [[hanging]]. Prannath Mehta, Bhagat Singh's friend, visited him in the jail on March 20, four days before his execution, with a draft letter for clemency, but he declined to sign it.<ref..[http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1808/18080910.htm ''Frontline'': Paresh R. Vaidya, Of Means and Ends.]</ref>
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| − | ==Conspiracy theories==
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| − | Many [[conspiracy theories]] exist regarding Singh, especially the events surrounding his death.
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| − | ===Mahatma Gandhi===
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| − | One of the most popular ones theories contents that [[Mahatma Gandhi]] had an opportunity to stop Singh's execution but refused. That particular theory has spread among the public in modern times after the creation of modern films such as ''The Legend of Bhagat Singh'', which portray Gandhi as someone strongly at odds with Bhagat Singh and supporting his hanging.<ref>''[[The Legend of Bhagat Singh]]'' (2002 film)</ref> In a variation on that theory, Gandhi actively conspired with the British to have Singh executed. Both highly controversial theories have been hotly contested. Gandhi's supporters say that Gandhi too little influence with the British to stop the execution, much less arrange it. Furthermore, Gandhi's supporters assert that Singh's role in the independence movement posed no threat to Gandhi's role as its leader, and so Gandhi would have no reason to want him dead.
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| − | Gandhi, during his lifetime, always maintained a great admiration of Singh's [[patriotism]], but that he simply disapproved of his violent methods. He also said that he opposed Singh's execution (and, for that matter, [[capital punishment]] in general) and proclaimed that he had no power to stop it. On Singh's execution, Gandhi said, "The government certainly had the right to hang these men. However, there are some rights which do credit to those who possess them only if they are enjoyed in name only."<ref>M. K. Gandhi, The collected works of Mahatma Gandhi. I - XC, 1884 - 1948. (Delhi: Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. 1979), vol. 45, pp. 359-61.</ref> Gandhi also once said, on capital punishment, "I cannot in all conscience agree to anyone being sent to the gallows. God alone can take life because He alone gives it."
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| − | Gandhi had managed to have 90,000 political prisoners, members of movements other than his [[Satyagraha]] movement, released under the pretext of "relieving political tension," in the [[Gandhi-Irwin Pact]]. According to a report in the Indian magazine ''[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]]'', he did plead several times for the commutation of the death sentence of Bhagat Singh, [[Rajguru]] and [[Sukhdev]], including a personal visit on March 19, 1931, and in a letter to the Viceroy on the day of their execution, pleading fervently for commutation, without knowing that the letter would be too late.<ref>[http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1808/18080910.htm ''Frontline'': Paresh R. Vaidya, Of Means and Ends.]</ref>
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| − | Lord Irwin, the Viceroy, later said: <blockquote>
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| − | As I listened to Mr. Gandhi putting the case for commutation before me, I reflected first on what significance it surely was that the apostle of non-violence should so earnestly be pleading the cause of the devotees of a creed so fundamentally opposed to his own, but I should regard it as wholly wrong to allow my judgment to be influenced by purely political considerations. I could not imagine a case in which under the law, penalty had been more directly deserved.<ref>.[http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1808/18080910.htm ''Frontline'': Paresh R. Vaidya, Of Means and Ends.]</ref>
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| − | </blockquote>
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| − | ===Saunders family===
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| − | On October 28, 2005, K.S. Kooner's and G.S. Sindhra's book entitled, ''Some Hidden Facts: Martyrdom of Shaheed Bhagat Singh—Secrets unfurled by an Intelligence Bureau Agent of British-India'' [''[[sic]]''] released. The book asserted that Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev had been deliberately hanged in such a manner as to leave all three in a semi-conscious state, so that all three could later be taken outside the prison and shot dead by the Saunders family, a prison operation codenamed "Operation Trojan Horse." Scholars have expressed skeptism of the book's claims.<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20051211/spectrum/main1.htm The Sunday Tribune] ''Was Bhagat Singh shot dead?''</ref>
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| − | ==Legacy==
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| − | ===Indian independence movement===
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| − | Bhagat Singh's death had the effect that he desired and he inspired thousands of youths to assist the remainder of the [[Indian independence movement]]. After his hanging, youths in regions around [[Northern India]] rioted in protest against the [[British Raj]].<ref>[http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/itihas/sbsingh.htm Jyotsna Kamat, ''Martyrdom of Sardar Bhagat Singh'']</ref>
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| − | ===Modern day legacy===
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| − | The [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] itself acknowledges Bhagat Singh's contribution to Indian society<ref>[http://www.cpindia.org/ Communist Party of India 25th January 2006, letter to Manmohan Singh]</ref> and, in particular, the future of [[socialism]] in India. To celebrate the centenary of his birth, a group of intellectuals have set up an institution to commemorate Singh and his ideals.<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070101/region.htm The Tribune Chandigarh ''In memory of Bhagat Singh'']</ref>
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| − | Several popular [[Bollywood]] films have been made capturing the life and times of Bhagat Singh.<ref>[http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/06/03/stories/2002060300500100.htm ''The Hindu'' "...A non-stop show"]</ref> The oldest, ''Shaheed'', released in 1965, starred [[Manoj Kumar]] as Singh. Two major films about Singh released in 2002, ''[[The Legend of Bhagat Singh]]'' and ''23rd March 1931: Shaheed''. ''The Legend of Bhagat Singh'' represents [[Rajkumar Santoshi]]'s adaptation, in which [[Ajay Devgan]] played Singh and [[Amrita Rao]] featured in a brief role. Guddu Dhanoa directed ''23 March 1931: Shaheed'', starring [[Bobby Deol]] as Singh, with [[Sunny Deol]] and [[Aishwarya Rai]] in supporting roles.
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| − | The 2006 film ''[[Rang De Basanti]]'' (starring [[Aamir Khan]]) drew parallels between revolutionaries of Bhagat Singh's era and modern Indian youth. It covers Bhagat Singh's role in the Indian freedom struggle, revolving around a group of college students and how they each play the roles of Bhagat's friends and family.
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| − | The patriotic [[Urdu language|Urdu]] and [[Hindi language|Hindi]] songs, ''[[Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna]]'' (translated as "the desire to sacrifice") and ''Mera Rang De Basanti Chola'' ("my light-yellow-colored cloak"; Basanti referring to the light-yellow color of the [[Mustard plant|Mustard flower]] grown in the Punjab and also one of the two main colors of the Sikh religion as per the Sikh ''rehat meryada''(code of conduct of the Sikh Saint-Soldier) ), while created by [[Ram Prasad Bismil]], largely associate with Bhagat Singh's martyrdom and have been used in a number of Bhagat Singh-related films.<ref>[http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/06/03/stories/2002060300500100.htm ''The Hindu'' "...A non-stop show"]</ref>
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| − | In September 2007 the governor of Pakistan's Punjab province announced that a memorial to Bhagat Singh will be displayed at Lahore museum, according to the governor “Singh was the first martyr of the subcontinent and his example was followed by many youth of the time."<ref>[http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C09%5C02%5Cstory_2-9-2007_pg7_33 ''Daily times Pakistan'': "Memorial will be built to Bhagat Singh, says governor"]</ref>
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| − | ==Criticism==
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| − | Both his contemporaries and people after his death criticized Bhagat Singh because of his violent and revolutionary stance towards the British, his opposition to the [[pacifism|pacifist]] stance taken by the [[Indian National Congress]] and particularly [[Mahatma Gandhi]].<ref>[http://www.punjabilok.com/misc/freedom/sukh_togandhi.htm Punjabi Lok ''Sukhdev's letter to Gandhi'']</ref> The methods he used to make his point—shooting Saunders and throwing non-lethal bombs—stood in opposition to the non-violent [[Gandhism|non-cooperation]] used by Gandhi.<ref>[http://www.punjabilok.com/misc/freedom/sukh_togandhi.htm Punjabi Lok ''Sukhdev's letter to Gandhi'']</ref> The British accused him of having knowledge of the [[Kakori train robbery]].<ref>[http://www.sacw.net/DC/CommunalismCollection/ArticlesArchive/bhagatSinghATHIEST.htmlBhagat Singh,''Why I am an Atheist'': Bhagat Singh (People's Publishing House, New Delhi, India)]</ref>
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| − | Bhagat Singh has also been accused of being too eager to die, as opposed to staying alive and continuing his movement. It has been alleged that he could have escaped from prison if he so wished, but he preferred that he die and become a legacy for other [[youth]]s in India. Some lament that he may have done much more for India had he stayed alive.<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010321/edit.htm#6 Tribune India: ''What if Bhagat Singh had lived'']</ref>
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| − | == Quotations ==
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| − | {{wikiquote}}
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| − | <!-- If you want to add more quotes, please consider adding to wikiquote (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Bhagat_Singh) —>
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| − | :''"The aim of life is no more to control the mind, but to develop it harmoniously; not to achieve salvation here after, but to make the best use of it here below; and not to realise truth, beauty and good only in contemplation, but also in the actual experience of daily life; social progress depends not upon the ennoblement of the few but on the enrichment of democracy; universal brotherhood can be achieved only when there is an equality of opportunity - of opportunity in the social, political and individual life."'' — from Bhagat Singh's prison diary, p. 124
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| − | ==See also==
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| − | *[[Hindustan Socialist Republican Association]]
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| − | *[[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
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| − | *[[Sukhdev Thapar]]
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| − | *[[Chandrashekar Azad]]
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| − | *[[Udham Singh]]
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| − | *[[Rajguru]]
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| − | *''[[Shaheed (1965 film)| Shaheed]]''
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| − | ==References==
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| − | {{reflist|2}}
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| − | {{wikisource}}
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| − | ==References==
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| − | * Bhagat Singh. Routledge India, 2008. ISBN 9780415446082.
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| − | * Gandhi, M. K. 1979. The collected works of Mahatma Gandhi. I - XC, 1884 - 1948. Delhi: Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. OCLC 85966948.
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| − | * Sanyal, Jatinder Nath, Bhagat Singh, Kripal Chandra Yadav, and Babar Singh. Bhagat Singh A Biography. Shahid-i-azam series, vol. 3. Gurgaon: Hope India, 2006. ISBN 9788178710594
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| − | * Singh, Bhagat, and M. M. Juneja. Selected Collections on Bhagat Singh. Hissar: Modern Publishers, 2007. OCLC 156902585.
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| − | ==External links==
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| − | *[http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/freedomfighters/bhagathsingh/index.htm Bhagat Singh at freeindia.org]. Retrieved December 16, 2007.
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| − | *[http://www.shahidbhagatsingh.org/ Bhagat Singh Biography and Contains letters written by Bhagat Singh]. Retrieved December 16, 2007.
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| − | *[http://www.boloji.com/spirituality/051.htm Why I Am An Atheist, an essay by Bhagat Singh]. Retrieved December 16, 2007.
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| − | {{IndiaFreedom}}
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| − |
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| − | <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] —>
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| − | {{Persondata
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| − | |NAME=Singh, Bhagat
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| − | |ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
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| − | |SHORT DESCRIPTION=Indian Freedom Activist
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| − | |DATE OF BIRTH=September 27, 1907
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| − | |PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Faisalabad|Lyallpur]], [[Punjab region|Punjab]], [[British India]]
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| − | |DATE OF DEATH= March 23, 1931
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| − | |PLACE OF DEATH=[[Lahore]], [[Punjab region|Punjab]], [[British India]]
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| − | }}
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| − | {{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Bhagat}}
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| − | [[Category:History]]
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| − | [[Category:Biography]]
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| − | [[Category:Politicians and reformers]]
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| − | {{credits|168543591}}
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