78th Independence Day: How Five Patriots Sacrificed Their Lives for India’s Freedom
On 15th August 2024, India will celebrate its 78th Independence Day, a day of immense pride and reflection for every citizen
On the 15th of August 2024, India will mark its 78th Independence Day—a day steeped in profound significance and reverence for every citizen of the nation. This day heralds the dawn of a new epoch, symbolising the moment when India cast off the chains of British colonial rule and embraced freedom with fervour and hope.
As I prepare to bid farewell, I’m proud to be part of #HarGharTiranga for my last Independence Day in #IncredibleIndia. The spirit of this vibrant nation will forever be in my 💙.
भारत और इज़राइल की दोस्ती इसी तरह बढ़ती रहे| 🇮🇳🇮🇱#IndependenceDay #IndependenceDay2024… pic.twitter.com/sGR3vGACXQ
The road to independence was neither easy nor without its sacrifices. It was paved with the blood, sweat, and tears of countless freedom fighters, whose indomitable spirit and unwavering determination became the bedrock of India's struggle for sovereignty. Some faced the gallows with unflinching bravery, while others bore the brutalities inflicted by the British Raj. Today, as we honour our independence, we also remember and pay tribute to five such valiant souls who laid down their lives for the nation's cause, some of whom were barely in their twenties when they met their tragic fate.
🇮🇳इस स्वतंत्रता दिवस पर, आइए हम सभी अपने राष्ट्र की गरिमा को सदैव बनाए रखने की शपथ लें। #Independenceday #IndependenceDay2024 #India #IndependenceDayIndia pic.twitter.com/71nhMHF4QS
— Dev Fitness Expert (@onlinegymclass) August 13, 2024Mangal Pandey: The Spark of Rebellion
Mangal Pandey, often revered as the first hero of India's freedom struggle, was born in Nagwa village, Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. At the tender age of 22, in 1849, he enlisted in the British East India Company’s army, serving as a soldier in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry at the Barrackpore cantonment in West Bengal. The introduction of cartridges greased with cow and pig fat—a move deeply offensive to both Hindu and Muslim soldiers—became the catalyst for Pandey's rebellion. On the 9th of February 1857, Mangal Pandey took a stand, refusing to use these cartridges, an act of defiance that enraged the British authorities.
On the 29th of March 1857, when British officer Major Hudson attempted to disarm him, Mangal Pandey retaliated with lethal force, killing him. Lieutenant Baugh, who tried to intervene, also fell to Pandey’s resistance. This brave act of defiance marked the beginning of an uprising that would eventually ignite the flame of revolution across the country. Mangal Pandey’s rebellion was short-lived, however, as he was executed on the 8th of April 1857 at the age of 30, but his sacrifice had already sowed the seeds of freedom in the hearts of millions.
Bhagat Singh: The Young Martyr
Bhagat Singh, a name synonymous with courage and patriotism, was born on the 28th of September 1907 in Banga, Lyallpur district, Punjab. At just 23 years of age, he became a martyr for the cause of Indian independence, his legacy forever etched in the annals of history. The horrors of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre left an indelible mark on the young Bhagat Singh, driving him to abandon his studies at Lahore’s National College and dedicate himself to the struggle for freedom. He founded the Naujawan Bharat Sabha, a youth organisation aimed at mobilising the youth of India towards the cause of independence.
Disillusioned by Mahatma Gandhi's decision to withdraw support for violent retaliation following the Chauri Chaura incident in 1922, Bhagat Singh joined forces with Chandrashekhar Azad's Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. The execution of Ram Prasad Bismil and other revolutionaries following the Kakori conspiracy only fuelled his resolve. In 1928, Bhagat Singh, along with Rajguru, assassinated Assistant Superintendent J.P. Saunders in Lahore, avenging the death of Lala Lajpat Rai.
Later, in a dramatic act of defiance, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly in New Delhi, shouting revolutionary slogans before voluntarily surrendering to the authorities. Bhagat Singh was subsequently tried in the infamous 'Lahore Conspiracy Case' and was hanged on the night of the 23rd of March 1931, at the tender age of 23. His sacrifice became a rallying cry for freedom, inspiring generations to come.
Chandrashekhar Azad: The Unyielding Revolutionary
Chandrashekhar Azad, born on the 23rd of July 1906 in Bhavra, Alirajpur district, Madhya Pradesh, was a firebrand revolutionary whose name became a symbol of resistance against British rule. At the age of 14, he moved to Banaras to pursue his studies in Sanskrit, but the call of the nation soon drew him into the vortex of the freedom struggle. He became an active participant in Gandhi's non-cooperation movement in 1920-21, but his path diverged as he embraced a more radical approach.
Azad played a crucial role in several revolutionary activities, including the Kakori train robbery in 1926, an attempt to blow up the Viceroy's train, and the assassination of Saunders in 1928 as an act of revenge for the death of Lala Lajpat Rai. On the 27th of February 1931, while meeting with his comrades in Alfred Park, Allahabad, Azad found himself surrounded by the police. In a fierce gunfight, he killed three policemen but, when left with only one bullet, he chose to end his life rather than be captured. At just 25 years old, Chandrashekhar Azad became a martyr, embodying the spirit of fearlessness and self-sacrifice.
Rajguru: The Fearless Assassin
Shivaram Hari Rajguru, known simply as Rajguru, was born on the 24th of August 1908 in Kheda village, Pune. Following his father’s death when he was only six, Rajguru moved to Banaras to study Sanskrit. It was here that he crossed paths with Chandrashekhar Azad and joined the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. Rajguru became an integral part of the plot to assassinate British officer J.P. Saunders, an act that earned him a place among India’s revered martyrs.
Alongside Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev, Rajguru participated in the assembly bomb blast in New Delhi, an act of symbolic defiance against British rule. He was arrested and, like his comrades, was sentenced to death. On the 23rd of March 1931, at the age of 23, Rajguru was hanged, his sacrifice becoming a beacon of hope and inspiration for the nation.
Sukhdev: The Silent Patriot
Sukhdev Thapar, born on the 15th of May 1907 in Ludhiana, Punjab, was another young revolutionary who gave his life for the cause of Indian independence. Orphaned before birth, Sukhdev was deeply influenced by the teachings of Lala Lajpat Rai and soon became an active member of Chandrashekhar Azad’s revolutionary group. He was a key figure in the plot to assassinate Saunders and played a leading role in the movement to protest against the mistreatment of political prisoners.
Sukhdev’s commitment to the cause of freedom was unwavering, and he stood shoulder to shoulder with Bhagat Singh and Rajguru in their fight against British oppression. On the 23rd of March 1931, at the age of 23, Sukhdev was hanged alongside his comrades, his life becoming a testament to the power of youthful determination and patriotic fervour.