Bhagat Singh was hanged
I have always admired the person who have taught this world the invaluable lessons of non-violence and satyagraha and also instilled confidence in people of a nation, that was so diverse in terms of caste, colour, religion, economic status, occupational beliefs; that we could achieve independence from the mightiest government (at that time) with these non-violent instruments. The above statement itself speaks of a very trying task that this man did and that too maintaining his respect within common masses, leaders and representatives of various political parties and most importantly with the people he was fighting against, the Britishers. But, on his pious clothes, there lies a large blot of not stopping the hanging of three revolutionaries, whose identities are still used as an epitome of revolution in this country till today, the inquilabis Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Hari Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar. We all know, even they wanted their deaths so that instead of three, millions of Bhagata, Sukhdev and Rajguru stand up and put themselves all in the cause of independence of their motherland.
When we read the history or see movies (Shaheed, The legend of Bhagat Singh), we get to know that the whole country, in one voice, was with them and wanted them to live. Be it the revolutionaries, be it Subhash Chandra Bose and his followers, Mohd. Ali Jinnah (who was sitting in the assembly upon which harmless bomb was thrown by Bhagat Singh and Bakhteshwar Dutt) who commended the efforts of 63 day long hunger strike, and even the proponents of Mahatma Gandhi and his ideology of ahimsa firmly stood with three of them. The rift between Congress party was clear. When J.L. Nehru and M.K. Gandhi was in talks of dominion status, the demand of Purna Swaraj (complete imdependence) spread like a wildfire in Congress party and in a very short time, Congress passed Purna Swaraj resolution in Lahore Session of 1929.
When the government decided to hang three of these, million of letters (some even written by blood) reached the authorities along with the request by all the leaders in an unanimous and a firm tone to stop this heinous crime. Hindus, Muslims, Congress Party, Muslim League, Right win-gist all of them sent their request to Viceroy. Still, they were hanged. Many of text directs that Gandhi could have stopped the hanging by not signing Gandhi-Irwin pact of 1931. BUT HE DID NOT. I was always concerned by the fact how could he have not stopped that, why he did not refuse to sign the pact. He signed the pact on 5 March and still he had 19 days to stop it but what the hell was he doing. I searched a lot and found some of the information that satiate my soul and tries to answer some of the questions in a logical way, though in an incomplete manner, may be. And I quote an uncle, who is knowledgeable and at a reputed post in administrative deptt,
“Gandhi was aware of the fact that Bhagat won’t change his path and he was scared of the paths and ways Bhagat would follow in future so he was not coming forward, but when Congress also started supporting him, Gandhi met 6 times with Lord Irwin and presented an agreement: “Bhagat Singh has to favour Britishers and become non-violent”
Gandhi never wanted Bhagat to lay down in front of Britishers, but still sent his P.A. to Bhagat to present this agreement, Bhagat refused it completely, without discussing with Sukhdev and Rajguru. He replied “Britishers may kill me, but they cannot kill my ideas. They can crush my body, but they will not be able to crush my spirit.” (Ref : a source on internet which again gives a reference for credibility {at house of commons, British library and museum} and resonates with Uncle). Gandhi felt so proud ,he again had meeting with Irwin and pressurized him. Somehow, Irwin was manipulated and he cancelled the hanging. The written order to stop hanging was to reach on 24th early morning but the local officers hanged them on 23rd march 1931 at 7:15pm. To stop country wide protests, the Britishers in Lahore spread rumor that Gandhi did nothing in this context. “
I am still searching for the right and proof full answer to this question, but with a possibility of above context being right, I somehow, does not allow the respect of this venerate man to fall by even a tinge in my context.
INQUILAB ZINDABAD
