To commemorate the 113th birth anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, we take a look at some lesser-known facts about his life and quotes to remember him by.
Bhagat Singh was born on 28 September in 1907, Lyallpur, western Punjab, India (now in Pakistan). He died on 23 March in 1931, Lahore, Pakistan. He was a revolutionary hero of the Indian independence movement.
Bhagat Singh is etched into our hearts and history because of the sacrifices he made for our journey toward emancipation from British rule. For this reason, he continues to inspire Indians across generations for his valour, philosophy and revolutionary contribution to an entire nation.
However, because the British administrators feared the freedom fighter trio – Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev – for their resilience. They were sentenced to death in the Lahore conspiracy case for killing British police officer John Saunders. In his fight for freedom, Bhagat Singh was hanged by the British colonial rulers at just 23 years old.
10 Quotes in memory of Bhagat Singh:
-
“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”
-
“Revolution is an inalienable right of mankind. Freedom is an imperishable birth right of all”
-
“I am such a lunatic that I am free even in jail”
-
“I am full of ambition and hope and charm of life. But I can renounce everything at the time of need”
-
“If the deaf have to hear, the sound has to be very loud”
-
“Merciless criticism and independent thinking are two traits of revolutionary thinking. Lovers, lunatics and poets are made of the same stuff”
-
“One should not interpret the word ‘revolution’ in its literal sense. Various meanings and significance are attributed to this word, according to the interests of those who use or misuse it. For the established agencies of exploitation it conjures up a feeling of blood-stained horror. To the revolutionaries, it is a sacred phrase”
-
“Bombs and pistols don’t make a revolution. The sword of revolution is sharpened on the whetting stone of ideas”
-
“Labour is the real sustainer of society”
-
“People get accustomed to the established order of things and tremble at the idea of change. It is this lethargic spirit that needs be replaced by the revolutionary spirit”
Let’s take a look at some lesser-known facts about the legend (compiled by Indian Express):
- In college, he was a great actor and participated in several plays including Rana Pratap and Bharat-Durdasha.
- It is said that Bhagat Singh, in his childhood, always spoke about guns. He also wanted to grow guns in the fields to fight the British.
- When Bhagat Singh’s parents wanted him to marry, he ran away to Kanpur. He told his parents, “if I will marry in colonial India, where British Raj is there, then my bride will be my death. Therefore, there is no rest or worldly desire that can lure me now’.
- Bhagat Singh had fasted for 116 days in jail. Even during this time, he completed all his daily work which included reading and writing books, visiting court every day and even singing.
- The patriotic slogan Inquilab Zindabad, which later became the freedom movement’s calling, was coined by Bhagat Singh.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a tribute to the revolutionist on Twitter with the following translated caption:
“A tribute to him on the birth anniversary of Amar Shaheed Bhagat Singh, the heroic son of Mother Bharati. His saga of valour and valour will continue to inspire the countrymen for ages.”
Click to play the tribute below:
मां भारती के वीर सपूत अमर शहीद भगत सिंह की जयंती पर उन्हें कोटि-कोटि नमन। वीरता और पराक्रम की उनकी गाथा देशवासियों को युगों-युगों तक प्रेरित करती रहेगी। pic.twitter.com/LMy2Mlpkol
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 28, 2020
We’ve also selected a handful of tributes that have taken place across India shared on Twitter:
Happy birthday Bhagat Singh Ji .#BhagatsinghJayanti pic.twitter.com/QnD3ZMrQFY
— Sid Pareek (@iamsidpareek) September 28, 2020
Tribute To The Legendary Freedom Fighter BHAGAT SINGH On His 113th Birthday Aniversary💕
He Lived Fearlessly and sacrificed his Life at the age of 23 For the Freedom of his country ❤️
Salute To His Valour,Patriotism and Ideology❤️#BhagatsinghJayanti #bhagatsinghbirthday pic.twitter.com/eGzG6Jgi8X— Grishma Bhansali (@BhansaliGrishma) September 28, 2020
Tribute to the great freedom fighter, Shahid Veer Bhagat Singh on his birth anniversary.
PadmaShri @sudarsansand pays tribute through his beautiful Sand Art.. pic.twitter.com/tkvKaKvO4c
— PIB in Odisha (@PIBBhubaneswar) September 28, 2020
His spirit will echo in eternity.
