The Legend of Bhagat Singh 2002

Bhagat K. Singh is born in British India in 1907, growing up under a regime that presents itself as a trading partner under the shadow of the East India Company but soon tightens its hold over the nation. From childhood, he witnesses the harsh reality of colonial rule and the violence it often spawns. The turning point comes after the brutal Jallianwala Bagh massacre, an event that hardens his resolve to fight for India’s freedom. He also encounters Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas — the satyagraha philosophy and the call for a broad non‑cooperation movement that urges Indians to discard British-made goods, withdraw from schools and colleges, and abandon government jobs. When Gandhi ultimately calls off the movement in 1922 following the Chauri Chaura incident, Bhagat’s path narrows to revolution. Undeterred, he chooses to pursue a more radical course and eventually joins the Hindustan Republic Association, embracing a life of clandestine resistance and political prison.

His family landscape shifts as well. Bhagat’s father, Kishan Singh, steps in to bail him out so he can run a dairy farm and marry a girl named Mannewali. Bhagat leaves a note behind, declaring that his love for the country must come first, and he sets out on a journey that will define his legacy.

A pivotal moment arrives when Lala Lajpat Rai is beaten to death by police during protests against the Simon Commission. In response, Bhagat joins forces with Shiviram Hari Rajguru, Sukhdev Thapar, and Chandrashekhar Azad to carry out the assassination of a police officer named Saunders. The act becomes a rallying point for many young Indians who are looking for a powerful statement against colonial rule and its injustices.

As the political climate heats up, Bhagat and his colleagues escalate their tactics. In 1929, when the British propose new laws, Bhagat, together with Batukeshwar Dutt, launches a bombing at Council House in New Delhi. The intention of the act is not to kill, but to draw the world’s attention to the cause of Indian independence; they throw bombs onto empty benches and are promptly arrested and tried in a highly publicized process. Bhagat argues that he wants to tell the world about the revolutionaries himself, rather than letting the British label them as merely violent offenders. The move elevates his status among the masses and cements his image as a committed fighter for freedom.

Inside Central Jail Lahore, Bhagat and his fellow prisoners undertake a dramatic 63‑day hunger strike to demand better conditions for political prisoners. The response from the authorities is brutal, with canings and forced feedings aimed at breaking the resolve of the inmates. The struggle inside the prison walls mirrors the wider resistance outside, galvanizing sympathy and reinforcing Bhagat’s growing aura as a leader of revolutionary ideals.

The struggle reaches a brutal apex when the renowned revolutionary Chandrashekhar Azad is ambushed at Alfred Park in Allahabad on 27 February 1931. Refusing capture, Azad takes his own life with the last bullet in his pistol, symbolizing a steadfast commitment to the cause.

Fearing the swelling tide of public support for the hunger strike, Lord Irwin orders a renewed look at the Saunders murder case. This leads to death sentences for Bhagat, [Sukhdev Thapar], and [Shiviram Hari Rajguru], escalating the pressure on the nationalist movement. Gandhi negotiates a pact with Irwin to secure the release of political prisoners, but with a crucial caveat: those involved in violence would not be released. The consequences are swift and tragic.

On 23 March 1931, Bhagat, [Sukhdev Thapar], and [Shiviram Hari Rajguru] are hanged in secrecy, their deaths sealing a controversial chapter in the Indian independence movement. Their sacrifices spark intense debates across the subcontinent and beyond, and they leave behind a complex and enduring legacy that continues to inspire generations. As the tale winds to a close, Bhagat’s name remains a powerful symbol of youthful idealism, unwavering courage, and the relentless pursuit of a free and just nation.