Lahore Central Prison executed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru on March 24, 1931. Bhagat disapproved. He wrote to the Punjab Governor on 20 March 1931 to be imprisoned and shot at the hanging site.
Bhagat wrote on 22 March 1931: “I want to live. My heart never craved avoidance. Betabi’s last test awaits.”
Bhagat, Rajguru, and Sukhdev were hung 12 hours early on 23 March 1931 at 7:33 pm. This event is 92 years old. We’re nearing the revolutionaries’ hanging and sharing their final days.
Lala’s murder and Bhagat’s oath
In 1922, Mahatma Gandhi discontinued the non-cooperation movement after Chauri-Chaura. This infuriated thousands of youth like Bhagat, Chandrasekhar, and Bismil. Bhagat joined the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) under Chandrasekhar Azad.
Lahore held a rally on October 30, 1928, to protest the Simon Commission, which Punjab Police superintendant James A. Scott had banned. Lala Lajpat Rai died 18 days after this lathicharge.
Bhagat, Sukhdev, and Rajguru planned to kill Scott and revenge Lalaji. On December 17, 1928, the three reached Lahore’s police headquarters. Sanders replaced Scott. Bhagat and Rajguru piled Scott there.
Rajguru shot the sanders first, according to former JNU professor Chaman Lal. Bhagat Singh shot Sanders.
Azad prevented Bhagat’s arrest.
Bhagat and Rajguru shot Sanders outside Islamia College and changed at DAV College. Azad had to support this strategy.
Rajguru and Bhagat Singh shot sanders. Azad heaped up the soldier as well.
The rebels’ escape from Lahore following Sanders’ killing is particularly intriguing. Bhagat Singh, Mrs. Durga Devi Bohra, and her 3-year-old son sat in the train’s first class cabin like government officials. Rajguru followed. Azad disguised the monk and traveled to Mathura after these folks escaped to Calcutta by rail.
Bhagat’s prison hunger strike
Bhagat was captured at Central Assembly, Delhi, but hung in Lahore Central Prison. Trade Dispute Bill and Public Safety Bill were considered. ‘ The “Trade Dispute Bill” had previously outlawed worker strikes. The “Public Safety Bill” might imprison British rule without convicting suspects.
Bhagat and Batukeshwar Dutt came at Asambali at 11 am on 8 April 1929 and sat in the gallery. Two explosives burst on the house’s unoccupied lot at noon, followed by Bhagat’s flames. Sir John Simon, Motilal Nehru, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, RM Jaykar, and NC Kelkar were in the House during the detonation.
After bombing Delhi Assembly, leaflets read, “The waves require a big explosion to hear them.” Bhagat and Batukeshwar’s arrest was predetermined.
Sanders case put Bhagat to Lahore prison.
Bhagat was convicted to life for the Assemblée Bomb on June 12, 1929. Bhagat surrendered the gun that killed the Sanders at Assemblée. Police lost control. This crime sent Bhagat to Mianwali Prison in Lahore.
After arriving at Lahore Prison, Bhagat demanded political prisoner status and newspaper books. Bhagat and his colleagues went on a 112-day hunger strike from 15 June to 5 October 1929 after the demand was rejected.
The Sanders murder trial began on July 10 with 14 defendants, including Bhagat, Rajguru, and Sukhdev. This case saw Bhagat, Sukhdev, and Rajguru executed on October 7, 1929.
Even hours before hanging, Bhagat studied Lenin.
According to BBC, Bhagat, Sukhdev, and Rajguru were executed early for security reasons. The jail barber told several detainees to bring Bhagat’s luggage as a sign. Barkat brought pen and comb to Bhagat’s cell. Prisoners divided the draw.
Cell 14 held Bhagat. His lawyer Pran Nath Mehta visited two hours before his execution.
Bhagat felt hanging but asked Mehta, “Did you bring my book ‘Revolutionary Lenin’?” He read the book Mehta handed him immediately. Mehta requested him to address the nation. Only two messages: Imperialism Murdabad and Inquilab Zindabad!
Bhagat then urged him to thank Nehru and Subhash Bose for my thanks. Who treated my case seriously? Mehta said Rajguru, “We’ll meet soon, carry my carrom board.”
Last time not eating a favorite meal.
Bhagat knew he would be hung on March 24. He asked the jail’s Muslim cleaner Babe to bring him meals from home in the evening prior. He never could eat them. When Bhagat learned he would be hung on the evening of 23, he said, “Will you not let me complete even a chapter of this book (Revolutionary Lenin)?”
Will not catch on hanging frames
Jailer Charat Singh whispered in Bhagat’s ear on the hanging boards to remember the Guru. Bhagat replied: I never remembered God. I have condemned God many times for the impoverished. If I apologize now, he’ll say I’m the most timid. He’s sorry because it’s ending.
Christ the hangman came from Shahdara near Lahore to hang him.
The inmates sang “Sarfaroshi’s wish is now in our hearts…”, “Inquilab Zindabad,” and “Hindustan be free” as the three reached the hanging boards. Some convicts screamed Identical slogans. Sukhdev hung the gallows first. The physicians, Lieutenant Colonels JJ Nelson and NS Sodhi, certified the trio’s death.
Terrified British smashed the prison’s back wall and stole the corpses.
Chaman Lal reported a gathering outside the jail. The British smashed the prison’s back wall in fear. The same vehicle was transported into the prison and those lifeless bodies were placed like luggage.
The Ravi was too low to hold the funeral, so the remains were burned on the Sutlej. Nevertheless, surprised individuals arrived. The Brits departed, leaving half-burned bodies. Family cremated him. A blue dome started a three-mile mourning parade. Protesting men and women wore black saris and armbands.
