Independence Day - Political Freedom vs Social Freedom

On the account of 77th year of Indian independence, this article is in remembrance of the freedom fighters of our country and at the same time is a reminder on the need for social freedom even today after 76 years of independence. There have been communal riots and caste-based violence in India over the past few months which made me think that there is still a long way India must travel to overthrow all forms of oppression similar to how our freedom fighters overthrew the British dominance.

There is no doubt the resilient and persistent efforts of our freedom fighters in the struggle against the 89-year British rule in India needs to be celebrated. But, the freedom of the country should mean the freedom of each individual citizen of India. The struggle for political independence finds a place in the history textbooks of schools in India. The struggle for social freedom also has a parallel history which is not reiterated enough. This struggle has been prevalent right from the pre-independence era and is still an unrealized dream. 

The constitution of India declares India as secular and deems all its citizens equal. But, the fundamental right to equality is questioned every single time when a caste-based harrassment or violence comes to limelight. The unjust hierarchical structure of caste system is deep-rooted in Indian societies, in people's beliefs and mindset. The class-based inequalities which is universal combines with the caste-based inequalities in India. The recent riots in Manipur, violence in Haryana and the caste based brutality in Nanguneri in Tamilnadu reflects the pity state of the society we live in. The penetration of this caste pride to the level that it gets carried over to the next generation is the danger our society poses.

Most of the incidents of caste based violence stem out from the unnecessary pride that the upper castes hold and the self-inflicted inferior feeling that the lower castes suffer from due to the inveterate age-old beliefs. 

Dr. Ambedkar, one of the prominent leaders India had and his writings against the social order and the social injustice stay relevant even today. Bhagat Singh, the socialist icon of India and his principles and beliefs against the class inequalities is also need of the hour. Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent struggle against the britishers and preachings on religious unity stand as a testimony to the harmony he dreamt of.

While we celebrate the history of freedom struggle and the leaders who brought about the uprising of people against the British rule, we will also acknowledge the need to carry forward the awareness about fight for social freedom. Let us unite together and be the voice against any form of oppression - be it class-based or caste-based or gender-based. 

Happy Independence day! 

Remembering Martyr Bhagat Singh on his death anniversary!

With the dream of attaining independence for India, many sacrificed their lives without witnessing their dream getting realised. But, their principles and propaganda kindled the spark among the masses to carry the fight until the dawn of freedom on Aug 15th 1947 even without their physical presence. March 23rd marks the death anniversary of one such freedom fighter.

An individual who stood by his principles even when facing the gallows at an young age of 23. An avid reader who spent most of his short lived life in the midst of books. A revolutionary who stood against imperialism and made the voice of socialism reverberate across the country. An atheist who believed in rationalism and questioned the fallacy of age old beliefs. A freedom fighter who could have been the socialist icon India needed if not for the unjust trial and death sentence.

A personality who should be studied and celebrated more!

“Bhagat Singh”

To get to know Bhagat Singh, I read “Bhagat Singh - The Eternal Rebel”, a book written by Prof. Malvinder Jit Singh. It is a biography of Bhagat Singh that captures in detail various events of his life - both personal and political. 

Though he has a cult following in India at present, there is often an image of pistol brandishing angry young man portrayed on him. This book reveals the true nature of Bhagat Singh and how he despite being an “extremist” in the freedom struggle, valued human lives and never believed in bloodshed.

His contrasting tranformation into a communist hailing from a family with Arya Samaj connection shows the independent intellect in him. The biography also puts forth Bhagat Singh as a voracious reader and how some of his favourite reads had an impact on his thinking and the activities he was involved in.

This book details how Bhagat Singh was drawn towards communism - he and his colleagues wanted to organize the peasants, labourers and working class across the nation to raise their voice against the imperialists. This is evident when Bhagat Singh and BK Dutt involved themselves in the assembly bombing incident as a sign of protest against the passing of trade dispute bill which imposed restrictions on workers from organizing and conducting strikes for their demands. 

The sufferings of Bhagat Singh and his colleagues in jail and the unjust treatment they received in the judicial proceedings are touched upon here and the resistance they have shown to make their stand by withstanding the pain is astonishing. 

Some of the articles written by Bhagat Singh in newspapers, books and his jail notebook also find a place in this book. One of the articles on untouchables written by him indicates that Bhagat Singh opposed not just the social hierarchy but also the caste hierarchy. This specific article resonates Dr. Ambedkar's take on the unjust hierarchical structure prevalent in Indian society.

Even while facing the gallows, his courage while anticipating death, his undying thirst for freedom of the country, his determination to stand by his principles and rationalist approach are inspiring. There is no denial that Bhagat Singh can never be ignored in youth politics. 

To quote Bhagat Singh from one of his books “Why I am an atheist?” -

“A God-believing Hindu might be expecting to be reborn as a king, a Muslim or a Christian, might dream of the luxuries to be enjoyed in paradise and the reward he is to get for his sufferings and sacrifices. But what am I to expect? I know the moment the rope is fitted round my neck and rafters removed, from under my feet. That will be the final moment – that will be the last moment. I, or to be more precise, my soul, as interpreted in the metaphysical terminology, shall all be finished there. Nothing further. A short life of struggle with no such magnificent end, shall in itself be the reward if I have the courage to take it in that light. That is all. With no selfish motive, or desire to be awarded here or hereafter, quite disinterestedly have I devoted my life to the cause of independence, because I could not do otherwise. The day we find a great number of men and women with this psychology who cannot devote themselves to anything else than the service of mankind and emancipation of the suffering humanity; that day shall inaugurate the era of liberty.”

Death is inevitable. The acceptance of death as an undeniable reality and leading a meaningful life that is not only restricted to personal upliftment but also extended to the betterment of the society is what Bhagat Singh’s short lived life teaches us. 

Remembering "Bhagat Singh" on his death anniversary (Mar 23rd).

Remembering Bhagat Singh on his death anniversary - 23 March 2022

An individual who stood by his principles even when facing the gallows. An avid reader who spent most of his short lived life in the midst of books. A revolutionary who stood against imperialism and made the voice of socialism reverberate across the country. An atheist who believed in rationalism and questioned the fallacy of age old beliefs. An extremist who valued human life and never believed in bloodshed unlike the pistol brandishing angry young man image portrayed by many. A freedom fighter who could have been the socialist icon India needed if not for the unjust trial and death sentence. 

A personality who should be studied and celebrated more!

Remembering "Bhagat Singh" on his death anniversary.

"Bhagat Singh - The Eternal Rebel" by Prof. Malvinder Jit Singh

This book written by Prof. Malvinder Jit Singh is a biography of Bhagat Singh that captures in detail the various events of his life - both personal and political.

Though he has a cult following in India at present, there is often an image of a pistol brandishing angry young man portrayed on him. This book reveals the true nature of Bhagat Singh. It talks about how he valued human lives and never believed in bloodshed, despite being an extremist in the freedom struggle.

His contrasting transformation into a communist hailing from a family with Arya Samaj connection shows the independent intellect in him. The biography also puts forth Bhagat Singh as a voracious reader. It explains how some of his favourite reads had an impact on his thinking and the activities he was involved in.

This book details how Bhagat Singh was drawn towards communism - he and his colleagues wanted to organize the peasants, labourers and working class across the nation to raise voice against the imperialists. This is evident when Bhagat Singh and BK Dutt involved themselves in the assembly bombing incident as a sign of protest against the passing of trade dispute bill which imposed restrictions on workers from organizing and conducting strikes for their demands.

The sufferings of Bhagat Singh and his colleagues in jail, and the unjust treatment they received in the judicial proceedings are touched upon here; the resistance they had shown, by withstanding the pain, in order to make their stand is astonishing.

Some of the articles written by Bhagat Singh in newspapers, books and his jail notebook also find a place in this book. One of the articles on untouchables written by him indicates that Bhagat Singh opposed not just the social hierarchy but also the caste hierarchy. This particular article resonates Dr. Ambedkar's take on the unjust hierarchical structure prevalent in Indian society.

His courage even while facing the gallows and while anticipating death, his undying thirst for the freedom of the country, his determination to stand by his principles and his rationalist approach are inspiring. There is no denial that Bhagat Singh can never be ignored in youth politics.

"Inquilab Zindabad"