DYFI Observes 75th  Martyrdom Anniversary

of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev

Pushpendra Tyagi

ON March 23, Khatkar Kalan, the birth place of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh witnessed a large turnout of people. The occasion was the 75th anniversary of the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. Bhagat Singh was born on 27 September, 1907 in this village. After paying homage at the statue of Bhagat Singh, people, young, old and children were eager to have a look at the ancestral house of Bhagat Singh which is almost a Kilometre away from the statue.

Throughout the country March 23 was observed as the Anti-Imperialist Day by DYFI. The Central Executive Committee organized its All India programme at Khatkar Kalan. The CEC had initially planned to commemorate the 75th martyrdom anniversary by organizing a Jatha of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Youth Brigade from Khatkar Kalan to Lahore, the place of his martyrdom. But, when the Pakistan authorities refused Visa to DYFI delegation, it decided to postpone the Jatha. The DYFI Central leadership led the procession and garlanded the statue of Bhagat Singh and paid its tributes to the memory of great martyrs. Then the procession raising the slogans of ‘Inquilab Zindabad, Samrajyavad murdabad’, ‘Amar Shaheedon ka paigam, Jari Rakhna Hai Sangram’ reached the venue. The big pandal was packed with people, majority of whom were women. Tapas Sinha, All India general secretary of DYFI inaugurated the programme. Addressing the gathering he said that observing the anniversaries of martyrs is not a mere ritual for us as it has become for others. For us, he said, such occassions provide an opportunity to renew our commitment to carry forward the legacy of our martyrs. He said that we are the real inheritors of the revolutionary legacy of Bhagat Singh. To propagate the message of anti-imperialism, socialism and secularism amongst the people of our country particularly the youth, he announced a year long programme and campaign of DYFI. He reiterated the DYFI’s demand to have a statue of legendary hero of our freedom struggle in side the Parliament. Prof. Balwant Singh, secretary of CPI (M) Punjab state committee was the special guest in this programme. He released the special issue of DYFI organ Youth Stream and a Calendar printed by the DYFI CEC. Addressing the gathering Prof.Balwant Singh emphasized the need of the youth movement to save the independence of our country which was won by the martyrs like Bhagat Singh by sacrificing their lives. Central committee member of the CPI (M), Charanjit Singh Virdi was also present. The Editor of Youth Stream and Treasurer of DYFI, Pushpendra Tyagi, DYFI Vice-President Tikender Singh, Secretary of DYFI Bihar state committee Umesh Prasad, Secretary of Maharashtra state committee Shailendra Kamble, Secretary of Haryana state committee Dinesh Siwach also addressed the gathering on this occasion. Ashanand, Secretary of Punjab state committee of DYFI presided over the programme. A poster printed by Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT) commemorating the 75th martyrdom anniversary was also released on this occasion. Various cultural programmes on the patriotic themes were also performed by different cultural groups.