• Latest
  • Most Read
Bhagat Singh

15th June 1929: When Bhagat Singh shook the Mahatma and The British

7 years ago
MOJO Story hacked

Barkha Dutt’s MOJO Story was not hacked. It was a digital victim card

14 hours ago
BBC tax evasion

BBC tax evasion: Income Tax Department finally crushes BBC’s pride

15 hours ago
Malini Parthasarathy resigns

Malini Parthasarathy resigns The Hindu, but with a departing salvo at N Ram

17 hours ago
Bollywood remake

Bollywood films remade in various languages

20 hours ago
Meet SP Singla, the “mastermind” of Bhagalpur collapse

Meet SP Singla, the “mastermind” of Bhagalpur collapse

1 day ago
Balasore Tragedy: The heroes vs vultures

Balasore Tragedy: The heroes vs vultures

1 day ago
Nitish Kumar is the uncrowned king of broken bridges

Nitish Kumar is the uncrowned king of broken bridges

1 day ago
Goyal Best. Nitish Worst – A Comparative Analysis of Railways Ministers since 1998

Goyal Best. Nitish Worst – A Comparative Analysis of Railways Ministers since 1998

2 days ago
Dear relatives of freedom fighters, just being a relative doesn’t make you the know it all

Dear relatives of freedom fighters, just being a relative doesn’t make you the know it all

2 days ago
Clear, unambiguous and brutal: Draupadi Murmu’s message to CJI

Clear, unambiguous and brutal: Draupadi Murmu’s message to CJI

2 days ago
5 Actors who ruined a Franchise as Replacement

5 Actors who ruined a Franchise as Replacement

5 days ago
Rolls Royce Controversy

Rolls Royce Controversy: Another UPA scam on the cards

5 days ago
Rahul Gandhi speech: BJP’s star campaigner is back in action!

Rahul Gandhi speech: BJP’s star campaigner is back in action!

5 days ago
Sportspersons careers

5 Indian Sportspersons Who Destroyed Their Own Careers

5 days ago
Bending rules to save the corrupt, the Congress way

Bending rules to save the corrupt, the Congress way

5 days ago
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Brand Partnerships
TFI Official Merchandise
TFI हिन्दी
TFI Global
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Tfipost.com
  • Premium
  • Politics
    • All
    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
    MOJO Story hacked

    Barkha Dutt’s MOJO Story was not hacked. It was a digital victim card

    BBC tax evasion

    BBC tax evasion: Income Tax Department finally crushes BBC’s pride

    Malini Parthasarathy resigns

    Malini Parthasarathy resigns The Hindu, but with a departing salvo at N Ram

    Meet SP Singla, the “mastermind” of Bhagalpur collapse

    Meet SP Singla, the “mastermind” of Bhagalpur collapse

    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
  • Economy
    • All
    • Business
    • Economy1
    • Finance
    Report on India: Morgan Stanley gives double thumbs up to Modinomics

    Report on India: Morgan Stanley gives double thumbs up to Modinomics

    India's GDP

    Nominal GDP Growth at 16.1%? National Statistical Office releases India’s Economic accomplishment

    Vada Pav is Just the Tip of the Iceberg: A look into the rich culinary delights of Maharashtra

    India’s Resilience: A Zero Percent Chance of Recession

    Indian PSUs

    Once a butt of all jokes, Indian PSUs are posting better results than Fortune 500 companies

    • Business
    • Finance
  • Defense
    • All
    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
    new CBI director Praveen sood biography

    Who is Praveen Sood the New CBI Director: Professional Background, Achievements and Significance of the Appointment

    Paramjit Singh Panjwar shot dead

    Paramjit Singh Panjwar shot dead: Keep calm and trust the Indian Armed Forces

    Swarm satellites

    India’s Bold Step towards Satellite Swarm Intelligence: A New Era in Space Technology

    INS Vikrant gets historic 1961 bell of 1st warship from ex-Navy vice chief

    INS Vikrant gets historic 1961 bell of 1st warship from ex-Navy vice chief

    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
  • Geopolitics
    • All
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
    Modi is the boss

    Modi is the boss: “Vedic Mantras” and an ocean of crowd: PM Modi’s Australia tour will echo till eternity

    PM Modi Extends a Diplomatic Olive Branch: A Special Message for Zelensky

    PM Modi Extends a Diplomatic Olive Branch: A Special Message for Zelensky

    NIA High Commission in UK

    NIA will probe the attack on Indian embassy, in UK!

    UK Student Visa rule new

    UK Student Visa Rules: International Students Barred from Bringing Families

    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
  • Knowledge
    • All
    • Culture
    • Education
    • History
    • Indology
    5 failed Inventions

    5 Inventions that failed to serve their purpose

    What Do You Mean by Bhulekh Uttar Pradesh & Why Should You use It?

    What Do You Mean by Bhulekh Uttar Pradesh & Why Should You use It?

    5 Accidental Inventions

    5 Accidental Inventions that have become essential in our lives

    Sengol Tamil Nadu real picture

    What is Sengol: Tamil Nadu Connection, History, Significance and why it is to be installed in New Parliament

    • Culture
    • History
    • Indology
  • Law
  • Lounge
    • All
    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Food
    • Games
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Satire
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    Bollywood remake

    Bollywood films remade in various languages

    Dear relatives of freedom fighters, just being a relative doesn’t make you the know it all

    Dear relatives of freedom fighters, just being a relative doesn’t make you the know it all

    5 Actors who ruined a Franchise as Replacement

    5 Actors who ruined a Franchise as Replacement

    Sportspersons careers

    5 Indian Sportspersons Who Destroyed Their Own Careers

    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Food
    • Health
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    • Satire
No Result
View All Result
Tfipost.com
  • Premium
  • Politics
    • All
    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
    MOJO Story hacked

    Barkha Dutt’s MOJO Story was not hacked. It was a digital victim card

    BBC tax evasion

    BBC tax evasion: Income Tax Department finally crushes BBC’s pride

    Malini Parthasarathy resigns

    Malini Parthasarathy resigns The Hindu, but with a departing salvo at N Ram

    Meet SP Singla, the “mastermind” of Bhagalpur collapse

    Meet SP Singla, the “mastermind” of Bhagalpur collapse

    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
  • Economy
    • All
    • Business
    • Economy1
    • Finance
    Report on India: Morgan Stanley gives double thumbs up to Modinomics

    Report on India: Morgan Stanley gives double thumbs up to Modinomics

    India's GDP

    Nominal GDP Growth at 16.1%? National Statistical Office releases India’s Economic accomplishment

    Vada Pav is Just the Tip of the Iceberg: A look into the rich culinary delights of Maharashtra

    India’s Resilience: A Zero Percent Chance of Recession

    Indian PSUs

    Once a butt of all jokes, Indian PSUs are posting better results than Fortune 500 companies

    • Business
    • Finance
  • Defense
    • All
    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
    new CBI director Praveen sood biography

    Who is Praveen Sood the New CBI Director: Professional Background, Achievements and Significance of the Appointment

    Paramjit Singh Panjwar shot dead

    Paramjit Singh Panjwar shot dead: Keep calm and trust the Indian Armed Forces

    Swarm satellites

    India’s Bold Step towards Satellite Swarm Intelligence: A New Era in Space Technology

    INS Vikrant gets historic 1961 bell of 1st warship from ex-Navy vice chief

    INS Vikrant gets historic 1961 bell of 1st warship from ex-Navy vice chief

    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
  • Geopolitics
    • All
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
    Modi is the boss

    Modi is the boss: “Vedic Mantras” and an ocean of crowd: PM Modi’s Australia tour will echo till eternity

    PM Modi Extends a Diplomatic Olive Branch: A Special Message for Zelensky

    PM Modi Extends a Diplomatic Olive Branch: A Special Message for Zelensky

    NIA High Commission in UK

    NIA will probe the attack on Indian embassy, in UK!

    UK Student Visa rule new

    UK Student Visa Rules: International Students Barred from Bringing Families

    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
  • Knowledge
    • All
    • Culture
    • Education
    • History
    • Indology
    5 failed Inventions

    5 Inventions that failed to serve their purpose

    What Do You Mean by Bhulekh Uttar Pradesh & Why Should You use It?

    What Do You Mean by Bhulekh Uttar Pradesh & Why Should You use It?

    5 Accidental Inventions

    5 Accidental Inventions that have become essential in our lives

    Sengol Tamil Nadu real picture

    What is Sengol: Tamil Nadu Connection, History, Significance and why it is to be installed in New Parliament

    • Culture
    • History
    • Indology
  • Law
  • Lounge
    • All
    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Food
    • Games
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Satire
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    Bollywood remake

    Bollywood films remade in various languages

    Dear relatives of freedom fighters, just being a relative doesn’t make you the know it all

    Dear relatives of freedom fighters, just being a relative doesn’t make you the know it all

    5 Actors who ruined a Franchise as Replacement

    5 Actors who ruined a Franchise as Replacement

    Sportspersons careers

    5 Indian Sportspersons Who Destroyed Their Own Careers

    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Food
    • Health
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    • Satire
No Result
View All Result
Tfipost.com
No Result
View All Result

HOME » Knowledge » History » 15th June 1929: When Bhagat Singh shook the Mahatma and The British

15th June 1929: When Bhagat Singh shook the Mahatma and The British

Animesh Pandey
by Animesh Pandey
15 June 2016
in History
0
Bhagat Singh
651
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

TFI remembers Hutatma Bhagat Singh on his 114th birth anniversary. Not many have good memory in India. For them, if someone has subjugated the British, it is only the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, and his alleged cronies, including his most devoted student Jawahar Lal Nehru. Tales like that of Surjya Sen’s liberation of Chattogram (Chittagong now) and the annihilation of the British army at Jalalabad Hills normally remains forgotten, with only a few history nerds who actually know about it. But one story stands out. The confluence of revolution with true Satyagraha, that gave both the British and Gandhi a taste of their own medicine. 87 years have passed since, but 15th June shall remain etched in history as the day, when two revolutionaries, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt, began their historic hunger strike, which lasted a record 116 days.

It all began on Monday, 8th April 1929, when protesting against the draconian Public Safety Bill and Trade Disputes Bill, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt dropped bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly (now the Constitutional Hall of the Parliament). They did not try to escape in the chaos, and willingly surrendered to the police. Tried under Section 124 of the Indian Penal Code, they were accused of waging war against the King and his ‘just’ subjects, by the imperial courts, and sentenced to transportation for life, or in short, ‘Life Imprisonment’.

However, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt were rearrested in connection with the Saunders case, and their sentences were withheld until the final verdict in the Lahore Conspiracy Case (the name given to Saunders encounter case). This was the reason why Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt, who were lodged in the jail of New Delhi, were transferred to the jails of Lahore. While Bhagat was imprisoned in the Mianwali Jail, Batukeshwar was imprisoned in the Borstal jail.

In the jails of Lahore, Bhagat Singh noticed a stark difference from that of the jails of New Delhi. According to the law, Bhagat Singh and his comrades were political prisoners, and were treated the same in New Delhi, with the necessities supplied to them, even though grudgingly. Here, Bhagat Singh was not even given the basic cleanliness. He was treated as a C class prisoner, just any other prisoners. Initially disturbed, Bhagat Singh then took a decision that was to go down in history as one of the boldest; that of a hunger strike.

Now Gandhiji was well known for his nonviolent struggle. His hunger strikes were as common for the British as paying their taxes. But Bhagat Singh’s strike was different. This was a strike unto death. With this, they would not only expose the callousness of British imperialism, but also expose the double standards of Mahatma Gandhi and his alleged cronies in Indian National Congress. Bhagat’s strike was not futile either. All he wanted was equal rights for the Indian political prisoners, who were not given any necessities, while the British prisoners, even if in for a petty crime, were accorded with all privileges, from well ventilated rooms, to clean clothes, newspapers, nutritious food, etc.

Soon enough, the news of the strike spread like wildfire.  Unlike what is told to us, Gandhi disapproved of the revolutionaries move from the start. He feared that it would dominate his movement for independence, thus defeating his purpose of alleged compromise. He wanted to make sure that there was almost no support to the movement of Bhagat Singh. However, he failed. If not for the elders, at least the youth was mesmerized by Bhagat Singh’s struggle.

When the first proceedings of the Lahore Conspiracy Case began, on 10th July 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt had to be carried to the court, handcuffed on the stretcher.

The fellow comrades were moved by the duo’s act, and decided to carry his struggle forward. While everyone else volunteered to join the strike, one man initially hesitated to do so.

That was Jatindra Nath Das, an alumnus of Vidya Sagar College, Calcutta (now Kolkata). He was not against the strike altogether, but was against the enthusiasm, because in his opinion, death in hunger strike was worse than that by the gallows. It would be inching towards death, bit by bit, which would be intolerable for most of them. In such case, withdrawing from the battle would be imminent, but that was not the cup of tea for the revolutionaries. However, once he joined, it was Jatindra Da who sustained till the very end.

The news of the popularity of the hunger strike alarmed the British authorities. They tried their usual gimmicks: false promises of listening to their wishes, which bit the dust. Then, the authorities placed different types of delicacies in their cells, in order to test the revolutionaries’ temptation. None budged even an inch. Then, the British replaced the pitchers of water with milk, so that either the revolutionaries remained thirsty, or were compelled to break their strike. However, this plan, too failed miserably.

Irritated and terrified, the British imperialists now resorted to force feeding. However, the revolutionaries were prepared as well. Some had maverick, rather macabre ways up their sleeve to prevent the authorities from having their way. One revolutionary, Kishori Lal Rattan, swallowed a fistful of red chillies to clog the passage of the tube used for force feeding. Another named Ajoy Ghosh, swallowed some flies alive to induce vomiting that would further prevent the force feeding. Jatindra Da, in his struggle, kicked so hard, that two policemen were later found nursing their injured private parts! That was the intensity with which our heroes carried on the struggle, within the Lahore Central Jail, where all the convicts were transferred.

What both British and Gandhiji feared had finally come true. What leaders, what common folk, the whole of India had swarmed in support of these young heroes, whose average age was less than 25 years. Even someone like Mohammad Ali Jinnah, was in full support of the revolutionaries. Leaders like Moti Lal Nehru, Jawahar Lal Nehru, and Gopi Chand Bhargava protested against the Imperial Legislative Assemblies. One of the revolutionaries, Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna, who was about to be released, started the hunger strike in support of these revolutionaries. He was imprisoned for another 3 years by the British authorities as a result. Even though Gandhiji allegedly hated it, the trusted members of the Congress party too silently supported him, if not openly.

The revolutionaries, however, faced a tragedy, when victory knocked at their doors. After 63 days of intense struggle, Jatindra Nath Das passed away, on Friday, 13th September 1929. Given his condition, the jail committee ordered an unconditional release. However, the Punjab Governor refused, offering to release him on bail. Jatindra Da’s death appalled the nation. The whole of India went into mourning. Bhagat Singh himself was reduced to tears, and he wept bitterly on Jatindra Da’s death. Fellow comrade Durgwati Devi, affectionately addressed by the revolutionaries as Durga Bhabhi, gave a shoulder to the hearse of Jatindra Da, all the way from Lahore to Calcutta. Eminent patriot and revolutionary leader Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose himself sent a financial assistance of Rs. 600/- (Rs. 60000 to 75000/- as of today, approximately), to bring Jatindra Da’s hearse home.

Jatindra Da’s death not only steeled the revolutionaries’ resolve, it also defeated the British face down. Ultimately, they gave in, accepting the demands of the revolutionaries. Some say they never won their struggle. If that was so, how was Bhagat Singh, who was a C class prisoner, according to the jail manual, bestowed with clean clothes, newspapers, pen, papers and books? How did Sukhdev have the privilege of having a carom board in his final days? This means, that the revolutionaries had won! However, it took Bhagat’s father, Kishan Singh, to break Bhagat Singh’s strike, on 5th October 1929,a record 116 days since he first took it up with Batukeshwar Dutt on 15th June 1929. Even though Bhagat and two of his comrades were hanged later, his victory for Indian prisoners is something that deserves to be mentioned.

At a time, when people like Kanhaiya Kumar start equating themselves with the likes of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev etc., they forget that these revolutionaries never back tracked from their ideals, like Umar Khalid did, running away from the police. The revolutionaries were no mere flukes. They were hardcore, committed individuals, who could die for the ideals, something that was rare to see, even in a leader like Mahatma Gandhi. It is to them that I pay this tribute. Their resolve can be seen through this quote:-

‘Use yeh fikr hai hardam, naya tarz e zafa kya hai….

Hamein yeh Shauq Hai, Dekhein Sitam ki Inteha kya Hai’

(They are worried with what next trouble is in store for them,

We enjoy seeing, what is the limit of torture for us!)

Source:-

Lahore Conspiracy Case, Proceedings, as retrieved by Sukhdev’s brother, Mathura Das Thapar

Without Fear, by Kuldip Nayar

Tags: Bhagat SinghDurgwati DeviJatindra DasLahore Conspiracy CaseMahatma GandhiSaunders Murder Case
Share27TweetSend
Previous Post

Donald Trump’s bold statement in times of Political Correctness

Next Post

Who will be India’s next Cricket Coach?

Animesh Pandey

Animesh Pandey

Lead Editor, TFI Media Vidyarthi of History, Cinema Buff, Akhand Bharat Parmo Dharma

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms of use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

  • Most Read
  • Comments
  • Latest
Xi Jinping, coronavirus, Shinzo Abe, china, Japan, coornavirus, COVID-19, Wuhan Virus

‘Pack up and get out of there,’ Japan to spend $2.2 billion to get Japanese companies to exit China

9 April 2020
ajay devgn karan johar

The man who bullied the Bully – How Ajay Devgn made Karan Johar’s monopoly a joke and forced him to apologize

22 June 2020
Huawei, China, Trump, USA, Xi Jinping

‘Our survival is at stake now,’ Chinese Telecom giant Huawei crumbles after US ban on Semiconductor exports

19 May 2020
T-Series Sonu Nigam Divya Khosla Kumar Bhushan Kumar

T-Series forced to take down Atif Aslam’s video, Divya Khosla trolled. T-Series has a bad day in office

25 June 2020
Meat Ban

A Jain responds to Meat Ban in Mumbai

Public Sector Bank, Government, Bill

Dear bank employees, continue your stride but PSBs will be privatized

anti-Hindi

Anti-Hindi Forever?- In search of a National Language!

Dear Liberals – your Beef Parties are not protests, they just intend to displease the Majority

Dear Liberals – your Beef Parties are not protests, they just intend to displease the Majority

MOJO Story hacked

Barkha Dutt’s MOJO Story was not hacked. It was a digital victim card

6 June 2023
BBC tax evasion

BBC tax evasion: Income Tax Department finally crushes BBC’s pride

6 June 2023
Malini Parthasarathy resigns

Malini Parthasarathy resigns The Hindu, but with a departing salvo at N Ram

6 June 2023
Bollywood remake

Bollywood films remade in various languages

6 June 2023

Popular This Week

5 Actors who ruined a Franchise as Replacement
Cinema

5 Actors who ruined a Franchise as Replacement

by TFIPOST News Desk
2 June 2023
Sportspersons careers
Sports

5 Indian Sportspersons Who Destroyed Their Own Careers

by TFIPOST News Desk
2 June 2023
Wrestlers Protest
Politics

Modi govt. has done what it should have done a long ago with the Toolkit Gang

by Animesh Pandey
2 June 2023
Inspector Avinash
Cinema

“Inspector Avinash”: Randeep Hooda Shines in a Hidden Gem of a Web Series

by Animesh Pandey
31 May 2023
Clear, unambiguous and brutal: Draupadi Murmu’s message to CJI
Politics

Clear, unambiguous and brutal: Draupadi Murmu’s message to CJI

by Pratyush Madhav
5 June 2023

©2023 TFI Media Private Limited

  • Terms of use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
No Result
View All Result
  • Premium
  • Politics
    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
  • Economy
    • Business
    • Finance
  • Defense
    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
  • Geopolitics
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
  • Knowledge
    • Culture
    • History
    • Indology
  • Law
  • Lounge
    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Food
    • Health
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    • Satire
TFI Official Merchandise
TFI हिन्दी
TFI Global
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Brand Partnerships

©2023 TFI Media Private Limited

Follow us on Twitter

and never miss an insightful take by the TFIPOST team

Follow @tfipost