Inspirational Quotes by Bhagat Singh (Indian Revolutionary)

Bhagat Singh (1907–31) was an Indian socialist revolutionary and one of the independence movement’s high-profile heroes. His two deeds of dramatic violence against the British and his execution at age 23 made him a folk hero.

Born into a Sikh family in Banga village, Lyallpur district of western Punjab in British India, now in the Faisalabad district of Pakistan, Singh attended Dayanand Anglo Vedic High School and National College, both in Lahore. Inspired by the Ghadar movement, Singh became involved in revolutionary activities as a teenager. He also worked as a reporter and editor in Amritsar for Punjabi- and Urdu-language newspapers promoting Marxist theories and socialism.

Seeking revenge for the police beating-and consequent death—of the Indian nationalist leader Lala Lajpat Rai, Singh was involved in killing John Saunders, a 21-year-old British police officer (was still in his probationary period.) Singh and his associate Shivaram Rajguru fatally shot Saunders, mistaking him to be police superintendent James Scott, whom they had planned to assassinate. Chandra Shekhar Azad, a second associate of Singh, shot dead Indian police constable Chanan Singh during the encounter.

The mainstream nationalist movement’s leaders criticized Singh for his militant stance towards the British, which stood in stark contrast to Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent methods. Singh was eventually arrested and convicted for his involvement. He was hanged at Shadman Square, Lahore.

Singh has been lionized in popular art and literature. No less than five feature films (1954, 1963, 1974, 1965, and 2002) have been made portraying his life. He remains a prominent figure in Indian iconography to the present day.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Bhagat Singh