सच में भूत आया

हेल्लो, दोस्तों यह ज्यादा पुरानी कहानी नहीं है। एक दिन एक लड़का जो कि एक कंपनी में काम किया करता था। उसे किसी भी बहुत प्रेत पर कोई विश्वास नहीं था।

वह भूत प्रेत को बस दिमाग का भर्म मानता था। एक दिन उसके कंपनी में कुछ काम बढ़ गया था। जिसके कारण उसे घर वापस आने में देर हो गया। वह अपने ऑफिस से देर रात को निकला।

वह अपने बाइक से था। कुछ दूर चलने के बाद उसका बाइक ख़राब हो गया। अब वह अपनी बाइक को पैदल ही लेकर चल दिया।

कुछ दूर के बाद उसे एक बस स्टॉप दिखा। वह कुछ देर वहाँ रुक गया। उसके पास एक साधु आकर बैठ गया।

साधु अपने पास एक बीड़ी रखा हुआ था। वह अजीब तरीके से उसे पी रहा था। उस लड़के की एक आदत थी कि वह किसी से भी बात करना शुरू कर देता था।

वह इस साधु से भी बात करने लगा। बात ही बात में इस लड़के ने कहा, बाबा! मैं किसी भी भूत प्रेत को नहीं मानता हू। बस सब झूठी बातें है।

साधु ने कहा, तुम भले ही भूत प्रेत को मानों या फिर न मानों लेकिन तुम यह न कहो कि भूत प्रेत नहीं होते है। यह सब कुछ होते है।

इस पर उस लड़के को थोड़ी सी हंसी आ गई। उसने कहा, भूत होते है तो क्यों हमें नहीं दिखते है। क्या आप मुझे अभी कोई भूत दिखा सकते है।

साधू को लग गया कि अब इसे जरूर ही भूत दिखाना होगा। साधू ने लड़के को श्मशान घाट की ओर चलने को कहा। फिर क्या था वह दोनों चल दिए।

रास्ते में उस लड़के को थोड़ा डर लगने लगा। फिर भी वह अपने डर को कम करके आगे बढ़ते जा रहा था।

कुछ देर के बाद वह श्मशान घाट पहुंच गए। श्मशान घाट में अभी कुछ लासे जल रही थी। साधू ने उसको एक ऐसे स्थान पर बैठाया जहा कुछ समय पहले की लास जली थी।

साधु ने जमीन में एक लोहे का कील गाड़ दिया। उसमे एक सफ़ेद धागा बांध दिया। इस धागे का अंतिम छोर उस लड़के को पकड़ने को कहा।

अब उस लड़के को हद से ज्यादा डर लग रहा था। उसकी साँस तेज हो रही थी। इसके साथ ही उसके हाथ-पैर भी काँप रहे थे। फिर भी उसने धागे को पकड़ लिया।

साधु ने कुछ बतासा को चार जगह पर रख दिया। सारे बतासे उस धागे की पास ही एक लाइन में रखे हुए थे। उसके बाद साधु ने लड़के को सावधान किया। अभी कुछ आत्मा इसको खाने को आएगी।

जब तक वह इसको खाकर चले न जा जाए तब तक तुम अपने हाथ के धागे को मत छोड़ना। यदि तुम ऐसा करते हो तो तुम्हे नुकसान हो सकता है। फिर साधु से मंत्र पढ़ना शुरू कर दिया।

कुछ मंत्र पढ़ने के बाद साधु ने उस लड़के को आँख बंद करने को कहा। फिर कुछ देर के बाद ही आँख खोलने को कहा।

जब उस लड़के ने आँख खोला तो वह जो देख रहा था। उसे उसके ऊपर विश्वास ही नहीं हो रहा था। वास्तव में वहाँ चार आत्मा थी. जो कि बतासे को खा रही थी।

लेकिन जब उसने यह देखा कि उसके पड़ोस में रहने वाले व्यक्ति की आत्मा भी वहा है। जो की कुछ दिन पहले ही मर गए थे। तो उसके हाथ से धागा छूट गया।

अब वहाँ पर वह साधु भी नहीं था। वह लड़का तेजी से श्मशान घाट से अपने घर की ओर भागने लगा। जब वह अपने घर की ओर जा रहा था तो उसे पीछे से कोई उसका नाम लेकर बुला रहा था।

उसको पीछे से कई तरह की आवाज आ रही थी। उस लड़के ने पीछे मुड़ कर नहीं देखा।

अपने घर जाने के बाद उसने यह सब कुछ अपने माता-पिता से बताया। फिर वह अपने कमरे में सो गया।

अगले दिन उसकी आँख उसी श्मशान घाट में खुली और उसी स्थान पर जहा पर उसने आत्मा को देखा हुआ था। इसके बाद वह दिमागी तौर पर बीमार रहने लगा।

Chandra Shekhar Azad life story

Chandra Shekhar Azad

Date of Birth: July 23, 1906
Birth Name: Chandra Shekhar Tiwari
Place of Birth: Bhavra village in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh
Parents: Pandit Sita Ram Tiwari (father) and Jagrani Devi (mother)
Education: Sanskrit Pathashala in Varanasi
Association: Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) later renamed Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA)
Movement: Indian Freedom Struggle
Political Ideology: Liberalism; Socialism; Anarchism
Religious views: Hinduism
Passed Away: February 27, 1931
Memorial: Chandrashekhar Azad Memorial (Shahid Smarak), Orchha, Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh
Chandra Shekhar Azad was the quintessential firebrand revolutionary who fiercely craved independence for his country. A contemporary of Bhagat Singh, Azad never quite received the same levels of adoration for his deeds, yet his actions were no less heroic. His life-long goal was to create as much problem for the British Government as he could. He was the master of disguises and evaded capture by the British police multiple times. His famous proclamation, ‘Dushmano Ki Goliyon Ka Saamna Hum Karenge, /Azad Hi Rahe Hain, aur Azad hi Rahenge’, which translates into ‘I will face the bullets of the enemies, I have been free and I’ll forever be free’, is exemplary of his brand of revolution. He embraced martyrdom like an old friend and inspired a fierce sense of nationalism in the hearts of his contemporaries.
Childhood & Early Life
Chandra Shekhar  Azad was born Chandra Shekhar  Tiwari, to Pandit Sita Ram Tiwari and Jagrani Devi on July 23, 1906 in Bhavra village in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh. Chandra Shekhar grew up with Bhils who inhabited the area and learnt wrestling, swimming along with archery. He was an ardent follower of Lord Hanuman from a young age. He practiced javelin throwing and developed an enviable physique. He received his early schooling in Bhavra. For higher studies he went to a Sanskrit Pathashala in Varanasi. As a child Chandrashekhar was wayward and preferred outdoors. As a student he was average but once in Benares, he came in contact with several young nationalists.
Revolutionary Activities
The Jallianwallah Bagh Massacre took place in 1919 and the brutal deed of British oppression had reverberating effect on the Indian Nationalist movement. The blatant disregard exhibited by the British towards basic human rights and unnecessary use of violence on a group of unarmed and peaceful people, incited a burst of hatred from the Indians directed towards the British Raj. The nation was gripped by this anti-British euphoria and Chandra Shekhar was part of a group of young revolutionaries who dedicated their lives towards a single goal – securing freedom for his beloved motherland by driving the British away from India.
Early Days: Chandrashekhar Tiwari to Chandra Shekhar Azad
The first wave of nationalist sentiments was awakened by the Non-cooperation movement declared by Gandhiji during 1920-1921. Chandra Shekhar rode this wave when he was a mere teen and participated in the various organised protests with much gusto. 16-year-old Chandra Shekhar was arrested in one of these demonstrations. When asked his name, residence and that of his father, he replied to the authorities, that his name was ‘Azad’ (free), his father’s name ‘Swatantrata’ (Freedom) and his residence as the prison cell. He was sentenced to receive 15 whiplashes as punishment. He bore those with ample nonchalance and came to be revered as Chandra Shekhar Azad from then on.
Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) & Azad
The announcement to suspend the non-cooperation movement came as a blow to the nascent Indian Nationalist Sentiments. Azad was much agitated in its aftermath and decided that a fully aggressive course of action was more suitable for his desired outcome. He met Ram Prasad Bismil, the founder of Hindustan Republican Association through Pranavesh Chatterji. He joined the HRA and concentrated his efforts on collecting funds for the association. He planned and executed daring attempts to rob government treasury to raise funds in order to further their revolutionary activities.
Kakori Conspiracy
Ram Prasad Bismil conceived the idea of looting a train carrying treasury money to fund acquiring of weapons for revolutionary activities. Bismil had noticed several security loopholes in trains carrying treasury money and a suitable plan was devised. They targeted the No. 8 Down train travelling from Shahjahanpur to Lucknow and intercepted it at Kakori. They stopped the train by pulling the chain, overpowered the guard and took 8000 rupees from the guard cabin. In the ensuing gunfight between the armed guards and the revolutionaries, one passenger died. The government declared this as murder and launched an intense manhunt to round up the involved revolutionaries. Azad evaded arrest and carried on revolutionary activities from Jhansi.
Lahore Conspiracy
Azad took a long detour and finally reached Kanpur where the headquarters of the HRA was based. There he met other firebrands like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. Pumped with renewed enthusiasm, he reorganised the HRA and renamed it as Hindustan Socialist Republican Association or HSRA together with Bhagat Singh. On October 30, 1928, Lala Lajpat Rai led a peaceful protest against the Simon Commission at Lahore. Police Superintendent James Scott ordered lathi strike to thwart the advancement of the march. Lalaji was severely injured in the process and died on November 17, 1928 as a result of the wounds. Azad and his peers held the police superintendent responsible for Lala’s death and they vowed to extract revenge. Together with Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru, he plotted the assassination of Scott. On December 17, 1928, the plan was executed but a case of mistaken identity led to the killing of John P. Saunders, an Assistant Superintendent of Police. The HSRA claimed responsibility for the event the next day and the involved people shot to the top of the British’s most wanted list. Bhagat Singh was arrested following his demonstration in the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi on April 8, 1929. When the HSRA bomb factories in Lahore and Saharanpur were busted, some of the members turned approver for the state. As a result around 21 members were arrested including Rajguru and Sukhdev. Azad along with 29 others were charged in the Lahore Conspiracy Case Trial, but he was among the few who the British authorities were unable to capture.
Martyrdom
Azad’s impact on the British Raj law enforcement faction was evident from how much effort they put to capture him, dead or alive. They even announced a reward of Rs. 30,000 on his head. The huge amount of money led to vital information on the whereabouts of Azad. On February 27, 1931 Chandrashekhar Azad was meeting with friends at Alfred Park, Allahabad. A pre-informed police surrounded the park and asked Chandrashekhar Azad to surrender. Azad fought valiantly to allow his friends safe passage and killed three policemen. Though his shooting skills were immensely sharp, he started receding and was badly injured. After nearly exhausting his ammunition and foreseeing no means of escape, he shot himself in the head with his last bullet. He upheld his vow never to be captured by the British.
Legacy
Chandra Shekhar Azad’s true legacy lies in his indomitable urge to remain free forever. His name instantly brings into fore, a one man army who shook the foundations of the British Raj.  Azad’s activities inspired awe from his contemporaries and the future generation, who whole-heartedly dedicated their lives to the freedom struggle. At the same time, he became a real problem for the British authorities. What Azad gifted to his countrymen is a fierce longing to be free of the oppressive shackles that British Imperialism was imposing. A grand departure from the non-violent route that Gandhi and the Congress adopted to attain self-rule, Azad’s way of violent usurping freedom set the patriotic sentiments of Indians on fire. He is still remembered as one of the bravest and awe-inspiring figures of Indian armed revolution. The tales of his heroic escape evading capture is the stuff of legends. He dreamt of a free India based on socialist ideals and committed himself towards realizing his dream. His contributions did not lead to immediate freedom, but his grand sacrifice intensified the fire in Indian revolutionaries to fight the British rule even more fiercely.

In Popular Culture
After independence, to commemorate the bravery of Chandrashekhar Azad, Alfred Park in Allahabad was renamed Chandrashekhar Azad Park.
Multiple patriotic films have depicted Azad’s character. In the 2002 Ajay Devgan starrer biopic of Bhagat Singh, Azad’s character was portrayed by Akhilendra Mishra. The patriotism of Azad, Rajguru, Pandit Ram Prasad Basil and Ashfaqula Khan was depicted in Rang De Basanti, a 2006 Bollywood film where Amir Khan portrayed the character of Chandra Shekhar Azad.

Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar life story

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

Born: 14 April, 1891 

Place of Birth: Mhow in Central Provinces (currently Madhya Pradesh)

Parents: Ramji Maloji Sakpal (father) and Bhimabai Murbadkar Sakpal (mother)

Spouse: Ramabai Ambedkar (1906-1935); Dr. Sharada Kabir rechristened Savita Ambedkar (1948-1956)

Education: Elphinstone High School, University of Bombay, Columbia University, London School of Economics

Associations: Samata Sainik Dal, Independent Labour Party, Scheduled Castes Federation

Political Ideology: Right winged; Equalism

Religious Beliefs: Hinduism by birth; Buddhism 1956 onwards

Publications: Essays on Untouchables and Untouchability, The Annihilation of Caste, Waiting for a Visa

Passed Away: 6, December, 1956

Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, popularly known as Babasaheb Ambedkar, was a jurist, social reformer and politician. He is also known as the Father of Indian Constitution. A well-known politician and an eminent jurist, his efforts to eradicate social evils like untouchablity and caste restrictions were remarkable. Throughout his life, he fought for the rights of the dalits and other socially backward classes. Ambedkar was appointed as India’s first Law Minister in the Cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru. He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, in 1990. 

Childhood & Early Life

Bhimrao Ambedkar was born to Bhimabai and Ramji on 14 April 1891 in Mhow Army Cantonment, Central Provinces (Madhya Pradesh). Ambedkar’s father was a Subedar in the Indian Army and after his retirement in 1894, the family moved to Satara, also in Central Provinces. Shortly after this, Bhimrao’s mother passed away. Four years later, his father remarried and the family shifted to Bombay. In 1906, 15 year old Bhimrao married Ramabai, a 9 year old girl. His father Ramji Sakpal died in Bombay, in 1912.

Throughout his childhood, Ambedkar faced the stigmas of caste discrimination. Hailing from the Hindu Mahar caste, his family was viewed as “untouchable” by the upper classes. The discrimination and humiliation haunted Ambedkar at the Army school. Fearing social outcry, the teachers would segregate the students of lower class from that of Brahmins and other upper classes. The untouchable students were often asked by the teacher to sit outside the class. After shifting to Satara, he was enrolled at a local school but the change of school did not change the fate of young Bhimrao. Discrimination followed wherever he went. After coming back from the US, Ambedkar was appointed as the Defence secretary to the King of Baroda but there also he had to face the humiliation for being an ‘Untouchable’.

Education

He cleared his matriculation in 1908 from Elphinstone High School. In 1908, Ambedkar got the opportunity to study at the Elphinstone College and obtained his graduate degree in Economics and Political Science in the year 1912 from Bombay University. Besides clearing all the exams successfully Ambedkar also obtained a scholarship of twenty five rupees a month from the Gaekwad ruler of Baroda, Sahyaji Rao III. Ambedkar decided to use the money for higher studies in the USA. He enrolled in the Columbia University in New York City to study Economics. He completed his Master’s degree in June 1915 after successfully completing his thesis titled ‘Ancient Indian Commerce’. 

In 1916, he enrolled in the London School of Economics and started working on his doctoral thesis titled “The problem of the rupee: Its origin and its solution”. With the help of the former Bombay Governor Lord Sydenham, Ambedkar became a professor of political economy at the Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in Bombay. In order to continue his further studies, he went to England in 1920 at his own expense. There he was received the D.Sc by the London University. Ambedkar also spent a few months at the University of Bonn, Germany, to study economics. He received his PhD degree in Economics in 1927. On 8 June, 1927, he was awarded a Doctorate by the University of Columbia.

Movement Against Caste Discrimination

After returning to India, Bhimrao Ambedkar decided to fight against the caste discrimination that plagued him throughout his life. In his testimony before the Southborough Committee in preparation of the Government of India Act in 1919, Ambedkar opined that there should be separate electoral system for the Untouchables and other marginalised communities. He contemplated he idea of reservations for Dalits and other religious outcasts. 

Ambedkar began to find ways to reach to the people and make them understand the drawbacks of the prevailing social evils. He launched a newspaper called “Mooknayaka” (leader of the silent) in 1920 with the assistance of Shahaji II, the Maharaja of Kolkapur. It is said that after hearing his speech at a rally, Shahu IV, an influential ruler of Kolhapur, dined with the leader. The incident also created a huge uproar in the socio-political arena of the country. 

Ambedkar started his legal career after passing the Bar course in Gray’s Inn. He applied his litigious skills in advocating cases of caste discrimination. His resounding victory in defending several non-Brahmin leaders accusing the Brahmins of ruining India, established the bases of his future battles.

By 1927, Ambedkar launched full-fledged movements for Dalit rights. He demanded public drinking water sources open to all and right for all castes to enter temples. He openly condemned Hindu Scriptures advocating discrimination and arranged symbolic demonstrations to enter the Kalaram Temple in Nashik.

In 1932, the Poona Pact was signed between Dr. Ambedkar and Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, representative of the Hindu Brahmins relinquishing reservation of seats for the untouchable classes in the Provisional legislatures, within the general electorate. These classes were later designated as Scheduled Classes and Scheduled Tribes.

Political Career

In 1936, Ambedkar founded the Independent Labor Party. In the 1937 elections to the Central Legislative Assembly, his party won 15 seats. Ambedkar oversaw the transformation of his political party into the All India Scheduled Castes Federation, although it performed poorly in the elections held in 1946 for the Constituent Assembly of India.

Ambedkar objected to the decision of the Congress and Mahatma Gandhi to call the untouchable community as Harijans. He would say that even the members of untouchable community are same as the other members of the society. Ambedkar was appointed on the Defence Advisory Committee and the Viceroy’s Executive Council as Minister for Labor. 

His reputation as a scholar led to his appointment as free India’s first Law Minister and chairman of the committee responsible to draft a constitution for independent India.

Framer of the Constitution of India

Dr. Ambedkar was appointed as the chairman of the constitution drafting committee on August 29, 1947. Ambedkar emphasized on the construction of a virtual bridge between all classes of the society. According to him, it would be difficult to maintain the unity of the country if the difference among the classes were not met. He put particular emphasis on religious, gender and caste equality. He was successful in receiving support of the Assembly to introduce reservation for members of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in education, government jobs and civil services.

Br Ambedkar & Conversion to Buddhism

In 1950, Ambedkar travelled to Sri Lanka to attend a convention of Buddhist scholars and monks. After his return he decided to write a book on Buddhism and soon, converted to Buddhism. In his speeches, Ambedkar lambasted the Hindu rituals and caste divisions. Ambedkar founded the Bharatiya Bauddha Mahasabha in 1955. His book, "The Buddha and His Dhamma" was published posthumously.

On October 14, 1956 Ambedkar organized a public ceremony to convert around five lakh of his supporters to Buddhism. Ambedkar traveled to Kathmandu to attend the Fourth World Buddhist Conference. He completed his final manuscript, "The Buddha or Karl Marx" on December 2, 1956.

Death

Since 1954-55 Ambedkar was suffering from serious health problems including diabetes and weak eyesight. On 6 December, 1956 he died at his home in Delhi. Since, Ambedkar adopted Buddhism as his religion, a Buddhist-style cremation was organized for him. The ceremony was attended by hundreds of thousands of supporters, activists and admirers.

Story of Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Date of Birth: 23 July 1856

Place of Birth: Ratnagiri, Maharashtra

Parents: GangadharTilak (father) and Parvatibai (mother)

Spouse: Tapibai renamed Satyabhamabai

Children: Ramabai Vaidya, Parvatibai Kelkar, Vishwanath Balwant Tilak, Rambhau Balwant Tilak, Shridhar Balwant Tilak, and Ramabai Sane.

Education: Deccan College, Government Law College.

Association: Indian National Congress, Indian Home Rule League, Deccan Educational Society

Movement: Indian Independence Movement

Political Ideology: Nationalism, Extremism.

Religious Beliefs: Hinduism

Publications: The Arctic Home in the Vedas (1903); Srimad Bhagvat Gita Rahasya (1915)

Passed Away: 1 August 1920 

Memorial: Tilak Wada, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra

Bal Gangadhar Tilak was an Indian social reformer and freedom activist. He was one of the prime architects of modern India and probably the strongest advocates of Swaraj or Self Rule for India. His famous declaration “Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it” served as an inspiration for future revolutionaries during India’s struggle for freedom. The British Government termed him as the "Father of Indian Unrest" and his followers bequeathed upon him the title of ‘Lokmanya’ meaning he who is revered by the people. Tilak was a brilliant politician as well as a profound scholar who believed that independence is the foremost necessity for the well being of a nation. 

Childhood & Early Life 

Keshav Gangadhar Tilak was born on July 22, 1856 in a middle class Chitpavan Brahmin family in Ratnagiri, a small coastal town in south-western Maharashtra. His father, Gangadhar Shastri was a noted Sanskrit scholar and school teacher at Ratnagiri. His mother's name was Paravti Bai Gangadhar. Following his father's transfer, the family shifted to Poona (now Pune). In 1871 Tilak was married to Tapibai who was later rechristened as Satyabhamabai.

Tilak was a brilliant student. As a child, he was truthful and straightforward in nature. He had an intolerant attitude towards injustice and had independent opinions from an early age. After graduating from Deccan College, Pune, in 1877 in Sanskrit and Mathematics, Tilak studied L.L.B. at the Government Law College, Bombay (now Mumbai). He received his law degree in 1879. After finishing his education, he started teaching English and Mathematics at a private school in Poona. Following a disagreement with the school authorities he quit and helped found a school in 1880 that laid emphasis on nationalism. Though, he was among India's first generation of youths to receive a modern, college education, Tilak strongly criticised the educational system followed by the British in India. He protested against the unequal treatment of the Indian students compared to their British peers and its total disregard for India’s cultural heritage. According to him, the education was not at all adequate for Indians who remained woefully ignorant about their own origins. He started the Deccan Educational Society with college batchmates, Vishnu Shastry Chiplunkar and Gopal Ganesh Agarkar for the purpose of inspiring nationalist education among Indian students. Parallel to his teaching activities, Tilak founded two newspapers ‘Kesari’ in Marathi and ‘Mahratta’ in English

Political career

Indian National Congress

Gangadhar Tilak joined the Indian National Congress in 1890. He soon started vocalizing his strong opposition to the moderate views of the party on self-rule. He maintained that simple constitutional agitation in itself was futile against the British. This subsequently made him stand against the prominent Congress leader, Gopal Krishna Gokhale. He wanted an armed revolt to broom-away the British. Following the partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon, Tilak wholeheartedly supported the Swadeshi (Indigenous) movement and Boycott of British goods. But his methods also raised bitter controversies within the Indian National Congress (INC) and the movement itself. 

Due to this fundamental difference in outlook, Tilak and his supporters came to be known as the extremist wing of Indian National Congress Party. Tilak’s endeavours were supported by fellow nationalists Bipin Chandra Pal of Bengal and Lala Lajpat Rai of Punjab. The trio came to be popularly referred to as the Lal-Bal-Pal. In the 1907 national session of the Indian National Congress, a massive trouble broke out between the moderate and extremist sections of the Indian National Congress Party. As a result of which, the Congress split into two factions.

Imprisonment

During 1896, an epidemic of bubonic plague broke out in Pune and the adjacent regions and the British employed extremely rigorous measures to contain it. Under directives from Commissioner W. C. Rand, the police and the army invaded private residences, violated personal sanctity of individuals, burned personal possessions and prevented individuals to move in and out of the city. Tilak protested against the oppressive nature of the British efforts and wrote provocative articles on it in his newspapers.

His article inspired the Chapekar brothers and they carried out assassination of Commissioner Rand and Lt. Ayerst on June 22, 1897. As a result of this, Tilak was imprisoned for 18 months on Sedition charges for inciting murder.

During 1908-1914, Bal Gangadhar Tilak spent had to undergo six years of rigorous imprisonment in Mandalay Jail, Burma. He openly supported the revolutionaries Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki’s efforts to assassinate Chief Presidency Magistrate Douglas Kingsford in 1908. He continued to write during his years of imprisonment and the most prominent of which is Gita Rahasya.

Following his growing fame and popularity, the British government also tried to stop the publication of his newspapers. His wife died in Pune while he was languishing in Mandalay prison.

Tilak and All India Home Rule League

Tilak returned to India in 1915 when the political situation was fast changing under the shadow of the World War I. There was unprecedented celebration after Tilak was released. He then returned to politics with a mellowed down outlook. Deciding to re-unite with his fellow nationalists, Tilak founded the All India Home Rule League in 1916 with Joseph Baptista, Annie Besant and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. By April 1916, the league had 1400 members that increased to 32,000 by 1917.

He rejoined the Indian National Congress but could not bring about reconciliation between the two opposite-minded factions.

Newspapers

Towards his nationalistic goals, Bal Gangadhar Tilak published two newspapers -'Mahratta' (English) and 'Kesari' (Marathi). Both the newspapers stressed on making the Indians aware of the glorious past and encouraged the masses to be self reliant. In other words, the newspaper actively propagated the cause of national freedom.

In 1896, when the entire nation was gripped by the famine and plague, the British government declared that there was no cause for anxiety. The government also rejected the need to start a 'Famine Relief Fund'. The attitude of the government was severely criticized by both the newspapers. Tilak fearlessly published reports about the havoc caused by famine and plague and the government's utter irresponsibility and indifference. 

Social Reforms

After completing his education, Tilak spurned the lucrative offers of government service and decided to devote himself to the larger cause of national awakening. He was a great reformer and throughout his life he advocated the cause of women education and women empowerment. Tilak educated all of his daughters and did not marry them till they were over 16. Tilak proposed Grand celebrations on ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’ and ‘Shivaji Jayanti'. He envisioned these celebrations inciting a sense of unity and inspiring nationalist sentiment among Indians. It is a sheer tragedy that for his allegiance towards extremism, Tilak and his contribution were not given the recognition, he actually deserved. 

Death

Tilak was so disappointed by the brutal incident of Jalianwala Bagh massacre that his health started declining. Despite his illness, Tilak issued a call to the Indians not to stop the movement no matter what happened. He was raring to lead the movement but his health did not permit. Tilak suffered from diabetes and had become very weak by this time. In mid-July 1920, his condition worsened and on August 1, he passed away.

Even as this sad news was spreading, a veritable ocean of people surged to his house. Over 2 lakh people gathered at his residence in Bombay to have the last glimpse of their beloved leader.

Legacy

Although Tilak nurtured strong Nationalist sentiments, he was a social conservative. He was a devout Hindu and spent a lot of his time writing religious and philosophical pieces based on Hindu Scriptures. He was one of the most popular influencers of his time, a great orator and strong leader who inspired millions to his cause. Today, Ganesh Chaturthi, started by Tilak, is considered as the prime festival in Maharastra and adjacent states. Tilak has featured in a number of biographies for being an iconic figure of Indian Freedom struggle. The Marathi newspaper started by Tilak is still in circulation although now it is a daily instead of a weekly during Tilak’s time.

Bhagat Singh life story

                          Bhagat Singh

Born: September 28, 1907 

Place of Birth: Village Banga, Tehshil Jaranwala, District Lyallpur, Punjab (in modern day Pakistan)

Parents: Kishan Singh (father) and Vidyavati Kaur (mother)

Education: D.A.V. High School, Lahore; National College, Lahore 

Associations: Naujawan Bharat Sabha, Hindustan Republican Association, Kirti Kisan Party, Kranti Dal.

Political Ideology: Socialism; Nationalism; Anarchism; Communism

Religious Beliefs: Sikhism (childhood and teen); Atheism (youth)

Publications: Why I Am An Atheist: An Autobiographical Discourse, The Jail Notebook And Other Writings, Ideas of a Nation 

Death: Executed on March 23, 1931

Memorial: The National Martyrs Memorial, Hussainwala, Punjab

Bhagat Singh is considered to be one of the most influential revolutionaries of Indian Nationalist Movement. He became involved with numerous revolutionary organizations and played an important role in the Indian National movement. He died a martyr at the age of just 23 years. Following his execution, on March 23, 1931, the supporters and followers of Bhagat Singh regarded him as a "Shaheed" (martyr).

Childhood and Early Life

Bhagat Singh was born on September 28, 1907, at Banga in Lyallpur district (now Pakistan) to Kishan Singh and Vidyavati. At the time of his birth, his father Kishan Singh, uncles Ajit and Swaran Singh were in jail for demonstrations against the Colonization Bill implemented in 1906. His uncle, Sardar Ajit Singh, was a proponent of the movement and established the Indian Patriots' Association. He was well-supported by his friend Syed Haidar Raza in organizing the peasants against the Chenab Canal Colony Bill. Ajit Singh had 22 cases against him and was forced to flee to Iran. His family was the supporter of the Ghadar party and the politically aware environment at home helped incite a sense of patriotism in the heart of young Bhagat Singh.

Bhagat Singh studied till the fifth class in his village school, after which his father Kishan Singh got him enrolled at the Dayanand Anglo Vedic High School in Lahore. At a very young age, Bhagat Singh started following Non-Cooperation Movement, initiated by Mahatma Gandhi. Bhagat Singh had openly defied the British and had followed Gandhi's wishes by burning the government-sponsored books. He even left the school to enrol at the National College in Lahore. Two incidents during his teen days shaped his strong patriotic outlook - the Jallianwala Bagh Masacre in 1919 and killing of unarmed Akali protesters at the Nankana Sahib in 1921. His family believed in the Gandhian ideology of non-violent approach to attain Swaraj and for a while Bhagat Singh also supported the Indian National Congress and the causes behind the Non-Cooperation Movement. Following the Chauri Chaura Incident, Gandhi called for the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation movement. Unhappy with the decision, Bhagat Singh, isolated himself from Gandhi's nonviolent action and joined the Young Revolutionary Movement. Thus began his journey as the most prominent advocate of violent insurgency against the British Raj.

He was pursuing B.A. examination when his parents planned to have him married. He vehemently rejected the suggestion and said that, if his marriage was to take place in Slave-India, my bride shall be only death."

In March 1925, inspired by European nationalist movements, the Naujawan Bharat Sabha was formed with Bhagat Singh, as its secretary. Bhagat singh also joined the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), a radical group, which he later rechristened as the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) along with fellow revolutionaries Chandrashekhar Azad and Sukhdev. He returned to his home in Lahore after assurances from his parents that he would not be compelled to get married. He established contact with the members of the Kirti Kisan Party and started contributing regularly to its magazine, the "Kirti". As a student, Bhagat Singh was an avid reader and he would read up about European nationalist movements. Inspired by the writings of Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx, his political ideologies took shape and he became more inclined towards a socialist approach. He also wrote in newspapers like “Veer Arjun” "under several pseudonyms.

National Movement & Revolutionary Activities 

Initially, Bhagat Singh’s activities were limited to writing corrosive articles against the British Government, printing and distributing pamphlets outlining principles of a violent uprising, aimed at overthrowing the Government. Considering his influence on the youth, and his association with the Akali movement, he became a person of interest for the government.The police arrested him in a bombing case that took place in 1926 in Lahore. He was released 5 months later on a 60,000 rupees bond. 

On 30 October 1928, Lala Lajpat Rai led an all-parties procession and marched towards the Lahore railway station to protest against the arrival of the Simon Commission. The police resorted to a brutal lathi charge to thwart the advancement of the protesters. The confrontation left Lala Lajpat Rai with severe injuries and he succumbed to his injuries on November17, 1928. As a revenge for the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh and his associates plotted the assassination of James A. Scott, the Superintendent of Police, believed to have ordered the lathi charge. The revolutionaries, mistaking J.P. Saunders, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, as Scott, killed him instead. Bhagat Singh quickly left Lahore to escape his arrest. To avoid recognition, he shaved his beard and cut his hair, a violation of the sacred tenets of Sikhism.

In response to the formulation of Defence of India Act, the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association planned to explode a bomb inside the assembly premises, where the ordinance was going to be passed. On April 8 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw a bomb onto the corridors of the assembly, shouted 'Inquilab Zindabad!' and threw pamphlet outlining their missive into the air. The bomb was not meant to kill or injure anyone and therefore it was thrown away from the crowded place, but still several council members were injured in the commotion. Following the blasts both Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt courted arrest.

1929 Assembly Incident Trial

The dramatic demonstration of protest was met with widespread criticisms from the political arena. Singh responded – “Force when aggressively applied is 'violence' and is, therefore, morally unjustifiable, but when it is used in the furtherance of a legitimate cause, it has its moral justification.”

Trial proceedings commenced in May where Singh sought to defend himself, while Batukeshwar Dutt was represented by Afsar Ali. The court ruled in favour of a life sentence citing malicious and unlawful intent of the explosions.

Lahore Conspiracy Case & Trial

Soon after the sentencing, the police raided the HSRA bomb factories in Lahore and arrested several prominent revolutionaries.Three individuals, Hans Raj Vohra, Jai Gopal and Phanindra Nath Ghosh turned approver for the Government which led to a total of 21 arrests including those of Sukhdev, Jatindra Nath Das and Rajguru. Bhagat Singh was re-arrested for the Lahore Conspiracy case, murder of Assistant Superintendent Saunders and bomb manufacturing.

Trial started against 28 accused in a special session court presided over by Judge Rai Sahib Pandit Sri Kishen, on July10, 1929.

Meanwhile, Singh and his fellow inmates declared an indefinite hunger strike in protest of the prejudiced difference in treatment of the white versus native prisoners and demanded to be recognised as ‘political prisoners’. The hunger strike received tremendous attention from the press and gathered major public support in favour of their demands. Death of Jatindra Nath Das, after 63 days long fast, led to the negative public opinions intensifying towards the authorities. Bhagat Singh finally broke 

Execution

On March 23, 1931, 7:30 am, Bhagat Singh was hanged in Lahore Jail with his comrades Rajguru and Sukhdev. It is said that the trio proceeded quite cheerfully towards the gallows while chanting their favourite slogans like “Inquilab Zindabad” and “Down with British Imperialism”. Singh and his peers were cremated at Hussainiwala on the banks of Sutlej River.

Bhagat Singh’s Thoughts & Opinions

From a very young age patriotism had taken its seed in Bhagat Singh’s conscience. He grew up to appreciate nationalism and crave a British-free independent India. Extensive reading of European literature propelled him towards forming a socialist outlook strongly desiring a democratic future for his beloved country. Although born a Sikh, Bhagat Singh veered towards Atheism after witnessing several Hindu-Muslim riots and other religious outbreaks. Singh believed that something as precious as Independence can only be achieved by a thorough cleansing of the exploitative nature of imperialism. He opined that such change can only be brought forwardby means of an armed revolution, in similar lines to the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. He introduced the slogan “Inquilab Zindabad” which sort of transformed into the war cry of the Indian Independence movement.

Popularity & Legacy

Bhagat Singh, his intense patriotism coupled with cultivated idealism, made him an ideal icon for the youth of his generation. Through his written and vocal admonition of the British Imperial Government, he became the voice of his generation. His vehement departure from the Gandhian non-violent route to Swaraj has often been criticized by many, yet through the fearless embracing of martyrdom he inspired hundreds of teens and youths to join the freedom struggle wholeheartedly. His eminence in current times is evident from the fact that Bhagat Singh was voted as the Greatest Indian, ahead of Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi, in a poll conducted by India Today in 2008.

Bhagat Singh in Popular Culture

The inspiration that Bhagat Singh still ignites within the soul of Indians can be felt in the popularity of the films and theatrical adaptations on his life. Several films like “Shaheed” (1965) and “The Legend of Bhagat Singh” (2002) were made on the life of 23-year old revolutionary. Popular songs like the “Mohe rang de basanti chola” and “Sarfaroshiki Tamanna” associated with Bhagat Singh are still relevant in inspiring patriotic emotions in the Indians. Numerous books, articles and papers have been written about his life, ideologies and legacy.

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose life story

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

part 1

ভারতবর্ষের স্বাধীনতা আন্দোলনের এক উজ্জ্বল জ্যোতিষ্ক ছিলেন সমগ্র বাংলা তথা বাঙালীর গর্ব, নেতাজী সুভাষচন্দ্র বসু | ভারতের স্বাধীন হওয়ার ক্ষেত্রে তাঁর অসামান্য অবদান আমাদের কারোরই ভোলার নয় | তিনি দেশের জন্য যা করে গেছেন, তা হয়তো অনেক রাজনৈতিক নেতারাও করেননি জীবনে |

নেতাজী সুভাষচন্দ্র বসুর জন্ম হয় ১৮৯৭ সালের ২৩শে জানুয়ারী, বর্তমান ওড়িশার কটক শহরে | তাঁর বাবার নাম ছিলো শ্রী জানকীনাথ বসু, যিনি কিনা সেইসময়ের কটক শহরের একজন বিখ্যাত আইনজীবী ছিলেন এবং মা ছিলেন শ্রীমতী প্রভাবতী দেবী |

তুমি কি জানো, তিনি কিন্তু ছিলেন তাঁর বাবা মায়ের চোদ্দ সন্তানের মধ্যে নবমতম সন্তান | তাঁর মেজদা ছিলেন শরৎচন্দ্র বসু, যিনি তাঁকে খুব ভালোবাসতেন এবং ছোট্ট নেতাজীরও খুব কাছের মানুষ ছিলেন তিনি |

নেতাজীর মধ্যে এই দেশপ্রেম ব্যাপারটা জাগে তাঁর বাবার হাত ধরেই | যদিও তাঁর বাবা একজন ব্রিটিশ শাসিত সরকারী অফিসে কর্মরত ছিলেন, তবুও তিনি তৎকালীন কংগ্রেসের সমস্ত অধিবেশনে যোগদান করতেন এবং সাধারণ মানুষের খুব সেবা করতেন | তিনি স্বদেশী এবং জাতীয় শিক্ষা প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলির পক্ষপাতী ছিলেন |

ছোটবেলা থেকেই সুভাষচন্দ্র, পড়াশোনার বিষয়ে ভীষন মনোযোগী ছিলেন, আর তাঁর প্রাথমিক শিক্ষা শুরু হয় কটকের এক প্রোটেস্ট্যান্ড ইউরোপীয় স্কুল থেকে | এরপর ১৯০৯ সালে তিনি সেখান থেকে ভর্তি হন কটকের রাভেনশো কলেজিয়েট স্কুলে |

স্কুলে পড়ার সময়, তিনি সেই স্কুলের প্রিন্সিপাল বেনিমধাব দাসের ব্যক্তিত্বের উপর বিশেষভাবে প্রভাবিত হন এবং তাঁরই সহযোগীতায় ছোট্ট সুভাষ, স্বামী বিবেকানন্দের বই পড়তে আগ্রহী হয়েও পরেন |
সুভাষচন্দ্র বোস অবশ্য পরবর্তীকালে তাঁর লেখায় এটা উল্লেখ করেছিলেন যে, স্বামী বিবেকানন্দের বাণী ও লেখা বই তাঁকে একজন স্বাধীনতা সংগ্রামীতে পরিণত করেছিলো | স্বামীজির লেখা বই পড়েই তিনি তাঁর জীবনের আসল উদ্দেশ্য খুঁজে পান |

জার্মান সেনার সাথে নেতাজী

সাল ১৯১১, যখন নেতাজী ম্যাট্রিকুলেশন পরীক্ষায় কলকাতায় প্রথমস্থান অধিকার করেন । এরপর তিনি ১৯১১ সালে ভর্তি হন কোলকাতার প্রেসিডেন্সিতে, কিন্তু সেখানে শিক্ষক ও ছাত্রদের মধ্যে ভারত বিরোধী মত পার্থক্যর জন্য ভীষন সংঘাত শুরু হয় |
সেই সংঘাতে, যেহেতু সুভাষচন্দ্র ভারতীয় ছাত্রদের পক্ষে ছিলেন তাই তাঁকে এক বছরের জন্য কলেজ থেকে বহিস্কার করে দেওয়া হয় এবং পরীক্ষা দেওয়ারও অনুমতি দেওয়া হয়না |
তারপর ১৯১৮ সালে, কলকাতা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় অধিভুক্ত স্কটিশ চার্চ কলেজ থেকে, দর্শনে সাম্মানিক সহ বি.এ পরীক্ষায় পাশ করেন তিনি |
কোলকাতায় পড়াশোনা শেষ করে সুভাষচন্দ্র বসু, কেমব্রিজ বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের অন্তর্গত ফিজউইলিয়াম কলেজে উচ্চশিক্ষার জন্য ভর্তি হন । সেখানে সিভিল সার্ভিস পরীক্ষায় চতুর্থ স্থান অধিকার করে তিনি প্রায় নিয়োগপত্র পেয়ে যান, কিন্তু বিপ্লব সচেতন দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি হওয়ার জন্য সেই নিয়োগও প্রত্যাখ্যান করেন |

..............................

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was one of the brightest astrologers of India's independence movement. His outstanding contribution to India's independence is not for any of us What he has done for the country may not have been done by many political leaders

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was born on January 27, 1970 in Cuttack town in present-day Odisha. His father's name was Shri Jankinath Basu, who was then a famous lawyer in Cuttack city and his mother was the effigy goddess.

Did you know, he was the ninth child of his parents' fourteen children His Majesty was Sharat Chandra Bose, who loved him very much, and he was also a close friend of the younger Netaji.

This patriotism between Netaji and his father was awakened Although his father served in a British-ruled government office, he attended all congressional sessions and served the common people. He favored indigenous and national educational institutions

From an early age, Subhas Chandra was very focused on study, and his primary education began at a Protestant European school in Cuttack. He then joined the Ravenshaw Collegiate School in Cuttack in the 5th

During his schooling, he was particularly impressed with the personality of Benimadhab Das, the principal of the school, and with his help, the younger Subhas, who was keen to read Swami Vivekananda's book.
Subhas Chandra Bose, however, later mentioned in his writings that Swami Vivekananda's books and writings made him a freedom fighter. Reading Swamiji's book, he finds the true purpose of his life

Netaji with the German Army

The year 1, when Netaji took first place in Calcutta in matriculation examination. He then entered the Presidency of Kolkata in the 5th, but there was a fierce conflict between the teachers and the students for anti-India differences.
In that conflict, since Subhas Chandra was in favor of Indian students, he was expelled from the college for a year and was not allowed to take the exam.
He passed the BA examination with honors in philosophy, from the Scottish Church College affiliated to the University of Calcutta.
After completing his studies in Kolkata, Subhash Chandra Bose enrolled in higher education at Physwilliam College, University of Cambridge. There, he secured a fourth position in the Civil Service Examination, but he refused the appointment to be a revolutionary point of view.....................