Bhagat Singh,Rajguru and Sukhdev, revolutionaries of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association were executed by the British Indian Government on 23 March 1931.
They were sentenced to be hanged till death for their involvement in the Suanders murder case.
Apart from the murder case, Bhagat Singh was also involved in the bombing in the Central Assembly.
Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt had planned to explode a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly where the Defence of India Act was going to be passed. The purpose of the act was mainly to curb revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh and gave large power to the police.
The bomb was prepared to have no substantial power which could cause injury.It was just to create a loud noise,which would figuratively "open the ears of the deaf government".
Bhagat Singh and Dutt threw leaflets stating these reasons and gave themeselves up for the arrest. Shouting "Inquilab Zindabad" as police handcuffed them.
Getting arrested was part of the plan to spread the revolution and connect with the people during the hearings. Due to British propaganda Hindustan Socialist Republican party members were more like terrorists for the common people. The hearings acted as podium for Bhagat to share their fundamentals and motives with Indians.
As a protest against unequal treatment in the prison Bhagat and his comrades went on hunger strike for 63 days. The government had to give in to their demands,but Bhagat's motives were successful,people had started understanding his ideals. The strike made him popular outside Punjab for the first time.
The 1931 Irwin pact was a truce between Congress and British government. The pact resulted in freeing thousands of political prisoners involved in Non-cooperation movement. Gandhi,a very open admirer of Bhagat Singh's patriotism did plead for the commutation of the death sentences but was not successful.
The executions were preponed fearing backlash.But they did infact cause a stir in the region.The executions were protested in assembly and Indian politicians criticised government for not carrying out the sentence.They feared the events could jeopardise the peaceful atmosphere in the country.
Some of the snippets of the news articles published aftewards give an account of the consequences of the executions.
Sukhdev,Rajguru Bhagat Singh,who always believed in martyrdom became examples of fierce patriotism for many Indian generations to follow.
- Swapnil,Khanderao.
P.S. : The authors feel they have not been able to express the significance and importance of the martyrdom of the great revolutionaries completely with their words. But the dedication and patriotism of Bhagat, Sukhdev and Rajguru was unparalleled and we should always remember the hard-work and sufferings of all those who fought for independent India.
