1.
Madan Lal Dhingra March, 1928 ‘Kirti’ (Original Punjabi)
(Madan Lal Dhingra-Shaheed Bhagat
Singh wrote a series called ‘Azadi ki bheint Shahaadatein’ (‘Sacrifices for
Liberty’) in Kirti from March 1928 to October 1928. While the people of Punjab
were acquainted with Indian martyrs through these essays, at the same time,
these essays help one gauge the questions arising in the minds of Bhagat Singh
and his friends. The series of essays were written under the author name as
‘Vidrohi’ (‘Rebel’). In August 1928 the aim of this series of essays was
described in these words: “Our aim is to write a chronological narrative of the
agitations by the leaders even while publishing their biographies so that our
readers can understand how consciousness was born in Punjab, and how the was
work carried on and to what purpose, and what was the ideology for which those
martyrs gave up their lives.” A summarized version of this essay was
published in ‘Chand’ in the ‘Phansi’ issue (November 1928)
There is no need to
reiterate the fact that no other state made as many sacrifices for the freedom of the country as did the
state of Punjab. As the twentieth century dawned, a new wave of unrest spread
through India which manifested itself in the form of agitation for ‘Swadeshi’.
Even then it was Punjab that was able to match Bengal. When the pain of
watching the chains of slavery tighten day by day grew too intense, then a
large number of young men, inflamed with a passion for patriotism, were no
longer satisfied with mere lectures and proposals; and some ardent souls
launched a movement to change
the epoch. This agitation succeeded in attracting patriotic young men and these
moths hovering around the flame of liberty even gave up their lives; and by
showing fearlessness towards death, revived memories of their elders.
In his poem ‘Vidrohi’ (‘The Rebel’), Bengal’s
revolutionary poet, Nazrul Islam describes how unique such epoch-changing or
rebels are. He has painted a wonderful picture of the hearts, minds,
temperaments, and desires of these rebellious braves who go hand in hand with
death, helpers of the poor, soldiers of freedom, enemies of slavery, foes of
tyrants, oppressors and willful rulers. At the very beginning he says –
Speak up, warrior!
Say – My head is held high,
The Himalayan peak
bows its head
As it gazes at my
head held high!
Then he has
described his firmness and gentleness. At places, he dances with death, at
times, he is bent upon destroying the entire world in one blow. He crackles
like lightning. He is sweet as music. He weeps in the midst of widows, slaves,
the destitute, poor, hungry and the wretched. While describing the wondrous
greatness of such wondrous lives, he makes the rebel say at the end –
I, the rebel, am
now weary of battle; I shall find peace
Only the day the
cries of the oppressed don’t rend the sky,
When the tyrant’s
terrible sword no longer slices the battleground,
That is the day I
shall find peace.
Such great rebels,
who take on the entire world and throw themselves into the fire, forget all
personal comfort and ease, they enhance the beauty of the world and adorn it
further; and it is with their sacrifice that the world becomes a better place.
Such brave souls are present in every country in every age. Even in
Hindustan/India these gods who deserve to be worshipped have always taken
birth, are being born and will continue to do so. In Hindustan/India, it has
been Punjab that has produced a greater number of such gems, and the first such martyr
of the twentieth century was Shri Madan Lal Ji Dhingra.
He was not such a
leader that his biography would be published while he was alive and distributed
and sold for a couple of annas. He
was not an avatar either, one whose ‘greatness’ was predicted. So many of the
events in his life are not even known to us; so that we are able to shout, ‘Talented ones show
some early signs’.
He was a
poor and unfortunate rebel. His
father refused to recognize him as his son. Patriots and sycophants alike, even
the popular leader in those days, Bipin Chandra Pal, abused him roundly in the
newspapers. Then tell me, how in those circumstances, can one be successful in
stringing together any facts regarding his life?
We have sat down
to write his life-story in such difficult circumstances. Over a period of time
we might even forget their names; that is why we are presenting this narrative
with the few facts that are available.
He was perhaps a
resident of Amritsar. He belonged to a good family. He went to England for
further studies after his graduation. It is said that there he indulged in pleasures of life. This cannot be
stated with certainty, but it is not inconceivable either. He was of a very romantic and sensitive temperament;
that we do find evidence of. A famous detective of Scotland Yard in England,
Mr. E.T. Woodhall, published his diary in the weekly newspaper, Union Jack. In the March 1925 issue, he
wrote about Mr. Madan Lal Dhingra. This detective had been assigned to watch
him. He writes –
“Dhingra was an
extraordinary man. Dhingra’s passion for flowers was remarkable.” (Originally
in English)
He further writes
that Dhingra would go and sit in a beautiful corner in a garden and gaze like a
poet at a flower for hours and sometimes a very keen glint would flash in his
eyes. Noticing this, E.T. Woodhall writes –
“There is a man to
keep an eye on. He will do something desperate someday.” (Originally in
English)
We mentioned
earlier that he might have got trapped in the pleasures of life. The story ahead is that the impact of the
Swadeshi movement reached England and as soon as Mr. Savarkar reached there, he
started an organization by the name of India House. Madan Lal also became a
member of that.
In the meantime, in
India the epoch-changing people had established secret societies because open
revolt was being crushed. So much so that in 1908, a case was filed as the Alipore Bomb
Conspiracy. Mr. Kanhai and Mr.
Satyendra Nath were given death by hanging. Dhirendra and Ulhaskar were
also sentenced to death by
hanging at that time. These items of news reached England and
these hot-blooded young men were inflamed. It is said that Shri Savarkar and
Madan Lal Dhingra discussed these issues till very late into the night. To test
his courage to give up even his life for the country, Savarkar asked Madan Lal
to place his hand on the ground and stabbed his palm with a poker, but this
Punjabi brave did not even let out the slightest squeal. The poker was pulled
out. The eyes of both of them filled with tears. They embraced each other. Ah!
What a beautiful time that was! How invaluable and rare were those tears! How
beautiful a union! What greatness! How would we mere mortals know, we who are
afraid of even the idea of death, how can we understand how noble, pure and
heroic are those who sacrifice their lives for the sake of their country and
community!
From the next day
Dhingra did not go to India House or Savarkar’s organization, and went and
joined the Indian students’ organization, run by Sir Curzon Wyllie, who organized both the
Indian students and a special secret police to crush the puny efforts of the
Indians to attain liberty. This Sir Wyllie was also the aide-de-camp of the
Secretary of State for India. This incited the men in the India House and they
began to call them traitors, conspirators, but Savarkar managed to pacify their anger by saying that
after all was said and done, they had made great efforts to run their organization as well, so
they should thank them. Anyway, some time passed without much happening.
There was a
meeting in the Jahangir Hall of the Imperial Institute on the 1st of
July, 1909. Sir Curzon Wyllie
was also attending it. He was talking to a couple of people when suddenly
Dhingra whipped out a pistol and aimed it at his head. Curzon Sahib let out a
scream in fear, but before anything could be done, Madan Lal pumped two bullets
straight into his heart and put him to eternal sleep. He was caught after a
struggle. And this was a sensational act in the eyes of the entire world.
Everyone began to curse and abuse him. His father sent a telegram from Punjab
saying that he refused to recognize such a traitor, rebel and killer as his
son. Indians held many meetings. Tall speeches were given. Many resolutions were passed; all of them against Dhingra. But
even at that time there was a brave man, Savarkar, who supported him
unreservedly. First he did not allow the resolution against him to be passed
saying that the case was sub-judice and that they could not blame him in the
existing circumstances. Finally they began to vote on this resolution, and when the President, Shri Bipin Chandra Pal asked if it could be taken as
passed unanimously, Savarkar Sahib stood up and began his oration. Just then an
Englishman punched him in the face and said – “Look! How straight the English
fist goes.” He had barely finished speaking when an Indian youth struck him a
blow with a club on the
Englishman’s head and said – “Look! How straight the Indian club goes.” There
was a furore. The meeting was suspended. The resolution could not be passed.
Anyway!
The case was in
the court. Madan Lal was very pleased. He seemed very much at peace. He was
smiling in the face of death. He was fearless. Ah! He was a brave rebel. The
speech that he gave at the end is proof of his goodness, patriotism and
ability. We present it in his words. It was published in the Daily News dated the 12th of
August.
“I admit the other
day; I attempted to shed blood as a humble revenge for the inhuman hangings and
deportation of patriotic Indian youth. In the attempt I have consulted none but
my own conscience; I have conspired with none but my duty.”
“I believe that a
nation held down by foreign bayonet is in a perpetual state of war. Since open
battle is rendered impossible to disarmed races, I attacked by surprise, since
guns were denied to me I drew forth my pistol and fired.”
“As a Hindu, I
felt that wrong to my country is insult to God. Her cause is the cause of Shri
Rama; her service is the service of Shri Krishna. Poor in wealth and intellect,
a son like me has nothing else to offer but his own blood, and so I have
sacrificed the same on her altar.”
“The only lesson
required in India at present is to learn how to die, and the only way to reach
is by dying ourselves. Therefore I die and I glory in my martyrdom.”
My only prayer to
God is – “May I be reborn of the same mother and May I redie in the same sacred
cause, till the cause is successful, and she stands free for the good of
humanity and to the glory of God – Bande Matram.” (Originally in English)
History shall
remember the 16th of August, 1909. That day, the brave Dhingra, the
one that made the voice of the Indian epoch-changing party in England resound,
walked blithely to the gallows. Mrs. Agnes Smedley mentions this incident and
writes – “He walked to the scaffold with his head high and shook off the hands
of those who offered to support him, saying that he was not afraid of death.” (Originally
in English)
Ah! He shrugged
off the hands of those trying to offer him support and said, “I am not afraid
of death.” Ah! Glory be to the immortal victory over death!”
“As he stood on
the scaffold he was asked if he had a last word to say. He answered – “Bande
Matram.” (Originally in English)
Such love for his
mother! As he stood on the gallows, he was asked – ‘Do you wish to say
anything?’ And the answer given was “Bande Matram! Mother India, I salute you.”
The brave warrior went to the gallows; his corpse was buried inside itself and
the Indians were not given permission to cremate his body and perform the last
rites. Glory
to his memory is blessed.
Many salutes to the priceless diamond of a dead country!
(From The Bhagat Singh Reader published by HarperCollins)
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