[Reader-list] Remembering Chandreshkhar Azad on his birth anniversary

Pawan Durani pawan.durani at gmail.com
Fri Jul 23 11:25:35 IST 2010


http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/chandrashekhar-azad.html

Born: July 23,1906
Martyrdom: February 27, 1931
Achievements: Involved in Kakori Train Robbery (1926), the attempt to
blow up the Viceroy's train (1926), and the shooting of Saunders at
Lahore (1928) to avenge the killing of Lala Lajpatrai; formed
Hindustan Socialist Republican Association with fellow compatriots
Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru.

Chandrashekhar Azad was a great Indian freedom fighter. His fierce
patriotism and courage inspired others of his generation to enter
freedom struggle. Chandrasekhar Azad was the mentor Bhagat Singh,
another great freedom fighter, and along with Bhagat Singh he is
considered as one of the greatest revolutionaries that India has
produced.

Chandra Shekhar Azad was born on July 23,1906 in village Bhavra in
Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh. His parents were Pandit Sitaram
Tiwari and Jagarani Devi. He received his early schooling in Bhavra.
For higher studies he went to the Sanskrit Pathashala at Varanasi. He
was an ardent follower of Hanuman and once disguised himself as a
priest in a hanuman temple to escape the dragnet of British police.

Chandrashekhar Azad was deeply troubled by the Jallianwala Bagh
Massacre in Amritsar in 1919. In 1921, when Mahatma Gandhi launched
Non-Cooperation movement, Chandrasekhar Azad actively participated in
revolutionary activities. He received his first punishment at the age
of fifteen. Chandra Shekhar was caught while indulging in
revolutionary activities. When the magistrate asked him his name, he
said "Azad" (meaning free). Chandrashekhar Azad was sentenced to
fifteen lashes. With each stroke of the whip the young Chandrasekhar
shouted "Bart Mata Kid Jai". From then on Chandrashekhar assumed the
title of Azad and came to known as Chandrashekhar Azad. Chandrashekhar
Azad vowed that he would never be arrested by the British police and
would die as free man.

After the suspension of non-cooperation movement Chandrashekhar Azad
was attracted towards more aggressive and revolutionary ideals. He
committed himself to complete independence by any means.
Chandrashekhar Azad and his compatriots would target British officials
known for their oppressive actions against ordinary people and freedom
fighters. Chandrashekhar Azad was involved in Kakori Train Robbery
(1926), the attempt to blow up the Viceroy's train (1926), and the
shooting of Saunders at Lahore (1928) to avenge the killing of Lala
Lajpatrai.

Along with Bhagat Singh and other compatriots like Sukhdev and
Rajguru, Chandrashekhar Azad formed the Hindustan Socialist Republican
Association (HRSA). HRSA was committed to complete Indian independence
and socialist principles for India's future progress.

Chandrashekhar Azad was a terror for British police. He was on their
hit list and the British police badly wanted to capture him dead or
alive. On February 27, 1931 Chandrashekhar Azad met two of his
comrades at the Alfred Park Allah bad. He was betrayed by an informer
who had informed the British police. The police surrounded the park
and ordered Chandrashekhar Azad to surrender. Chandrashekhar Azad
fought alone valiantly and killed three policemen. But finding himself
surrounded and seeing no route for escape, Chandrashekhar Azad shot
himself. Thus he kept his pledge of not being caught alive.


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