On March 23, 1931, Bhagat Singh, the fearless revolutionary who dedicated his life to the fight for independence, was hanged at the Central Jail, then located at Shadman Chowk, Lahore.
At just 23 years, five months, and 25 days old, he embraced ‘martyrdom’, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations. According to senior Indian lawyer A.G. Noorani: ‘Every rule in the book was violated (by the British Raj)’, in the trial of Bhagat Singh.
Bhagat Singh's journey toward revolution began at the tender age of 12 when he witnessed the horrors of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919. The brutal orders of British General Dyer, who commanded his troops to fire upon unarmed protestors, left an indelible mark on his young mind. It was the beginning of a lifelong commitment to the cause of freedom. In 1920s, he wrote for both Urdu and Punjabi newspapers in Amritsar.
Born in Banga village, Jaranwala, Faisalabad, Bhagat Singh was raised in a family that was ideologically devoted to revolutionary ideals. Later, Pakistani Punjab government renovated his house in Faisalabad and now tourists’ including Sikh Yatrees visited the site to pay homage to the revolutionary youth.
His passion for knowledge and intellect were unparalleled—during his 716 days of imprisonment, he read an astounding 300 books, immersing himself in revolutionary philosophy. Hours before his execution, he was found reading ‘State and Revolution’ by Vladimir Lenin, a testament to his unwavering resolve.
His actions shook the British Empire. On December 17, 1927, he and his comrade Sukhdev mistakenly assassinated JP Saunders instead of Superintendent of Police (SP) James Scott, whom they held responsible for the death of Lala Lajpat Rai. Althought Bhagat Singh had broken with his mentor Lala Lajpat Rai as he had turned communal because Bhagat was advocating an idea of collective struggle to end British Raj in Sub-continent.
To evade capture, Bhagat Singh fled to Calcutta but later resurfaced with an act of defiance that cemented his name in history—throwing bombs in the Indian Central Assembly Hall in Delhi on April 8, 1929, while chanting Inquilab Zindabad! (Long Live the Revolution). Bhagat distributed pamphlets incisive with act ‘to send a message ‘it takes a loud voice to make the dead hear’.
Bhagat Singh also penned ‘Why I am an Atheist’.
After his execution, his body was not handed over to the people, who longed to pay tribute. Instead, the then British Indian government chopped and cremated his body in Hussainwala village, Kasur, a land that was later ceded to India from Pakistan in exchange for 12 villages near Sulemanki Headworks. His Samadhi (monument) still stands there, a reminder of his sacrifice.
As we remember Bhagat Singh on this day, his words continue to echo through time: "Lovers, lunatics, and poets are made of the same stuff." "Revolution is an inalienable right of mankind. Freedom is an imperishable birthright of all."
"It is easy to kill individuals but you cannot kill ideas. Great empires crumbled, while ideas survived."
Quaid-e-Azam and Bhagat Singh
In September 1929, during speeches in the assembly, Muhammad Ali Jinnah fiercely criticized the government, captivating the house with his powerful words. According to The Tribune, his remarks were met with repeated applause from the spellbound audience. Defending the dignity of those who protested through hunger strikes, Jinnah declared, “The man who goes on a hunger strike has a soul. He is moved by that soul and he believes in the justice of his cause. He is not an ordinary criminal who is guilty of cold-blooded, sordid, wicked crime.” His speech not only condemned the government's actions but also highlighted his deep commitment to justice and the rights of political prisoners.
Lahore Conspiracy Case and Unfair Trail
The then governor-general issued an ordinance that barred the Lahore High Court from confirming the death sentence or issuing a writ of habeas corpus. Three judges of the Lahore High Court were appointed to the tribunal. Two of them were Englishmen. On Oct 7,1930 the tribute published a 300-page judgement. According to A.G. Noorani — author of the book ‘The Trial of Bhagat Singh: Police of Justice’ — the tribunal which acted as an accomplice of the state was set up by an ordinance that has no precedent in the annuals of the law.
Noorani said a committee of the Lahore High Court Bar Association dated June 19, 1930, published a detailed report and exposed the Lahore Conspiracy case flaws. It was signed by Gokal Chand Nartang, Manak Chand, Barkat Ali and Sir Allama Mohammed Iqbal.
Bhagat Singh Gallery at Poonch House Lahore
Punjab government in Dec 2024 set up a gallery in Singh’s memory. Poonch House in Lahore is now home to the gallery. The infamous trial of the Bhagat Singh was held at Poonch House. The gallery has photos of Bhagat Singh and his family while the actual courtroom is being renovated. The move has gained immense respect across the border by the intelligentsia.
One of the documents displayed at the Bhagat Singh gallery at Poonch House about the execution of the death sentence of Singh reads: “I (superintendent of the jail) hereby certify that the sentence of death passed on Bhagat Singh has been duly executed and that the said Bhagat Singh was accordingly hanged by neck till he was dead at Lahore Jail on 9 pm Monday the 23rd day of March 1931. The body was not taken down until life was ascertained by a medical officer to be extinct; and that no accident, error or other misadventure occurred.”
Read more: Punjab ministers praise Bhagat Singh’s fight against British
Pakistan and Punjab governments needed to retrial the case of Bhagat Singh and prove his innocence to correct the judicial murder of the revolutionary Shadman Chowk in Lahore should also be renamed in honour of Bhagat Singh and his story should also be introduced as pre-partition personalities in the textbook syllabus.
For many years, activists in Lahore have been urging the Supreme Court of Pakistan to reopen the case of Singh and give him justice like it was done for former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
