119th Birth Anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh

#GS-1 #History #Freedom Struggle #Indian National Movement #Important Personalities

Key takeaways

Shaheed Bhagat Singh was born on 28th September 1907 in Banga, Punjab, and his 119th birth anniversary was celebrated in 2026.
He established the Naujawan Bharat Sabha in 1926 and joined the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in 1928.
Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly in 1929 to protest against the Public Safety Bill and the Trade Dispute Bill.
He was executed along with Rajguru and Sukhdev on 23rd March 1931 in the Lahore Conspiracy Case, a day now observed as Shaheed Diwas.

The Prime Minister paid tribute to the revolutionary freedom fighter Shaheed Bhagat Singh on his 119th Birth Anniversary.
The Prime Minister described him as a lasting inspiration, especially for India's youth.

Bhagat Singh was born on 28th September 1907 in Banga, Punjab, which is now part of Pakistan.
He came from a Sikh family that was highly active in the Indian freedom struggle.
His father, Kishan Singh, and his uncle, Ajit Singh, were both notable revolutionaries.
The British deported his uncle to Mandalay, and he later worked with the San Francisco-based Ghadar Party.

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre deeply affected Bhagat Singh, and he visited the site shortly after the tragedy occurred.
He later joined the National College in Lahore, which was founded by Lala Lajpat Rai.
At this college, he was exposed to Swadeshi and revolutionary ideas.

In 1925, Bhagat Singh joined the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA).
The organization was later renamed the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in 1928.
In 1926, he founded the Naujawan Bharat Sabha to mobilize the youth of the country for the freedom movement.
In 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw low-intensity bombs inside the Central Legislative Assembly.
This assembly protest was aimed against the Public Safety Bill and the Trade Dispute Bill.

The British convicted Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev in the Lahore Conspiracy Case.
They were charged with the 1928 killing of British police officer J.P. Saunders in Lahore.
This assassination was planned to avenge the death of leader Lala Lajpat Rai.
All three revolutionaries were hanged on 23rd March 1931 inside the Lahore Central Jail.

Bhagat Singh was a committed atheist and a socialist.
He was deeply influenced by revolutionary thinkers like Marx, Lenin, Trotsky, and Bakunin.
His famous essay "Why I Am an Atheist" reflects his strong belief in rationalism, equality, and social justice.
During the 1920s, he wrote articles for various Urdu and Punjabi newspapers in Amritsar.
He also contributed to 'Kirti', the journal of the Kirti Kisan Party, and wrote briefly for the Delhi-based Veer Arjun newspaper.
He used several pen names for his writings, including Balwant, Ranjit, and Vidhrohi.

The nation honors Bhagat Singh with the title of Shahid-e-Azam.
He popularized the famous slogan 'Inquilab Zindabad', which became a major rallying cry during the freedom struggle.
India observes Shaheed Diwas on 23rd March every year to pay tribute to the ultimate sacrifice of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev.