People's Democracy

LOK SABHA SPEAKER PAYS TRIBUTES TO SHAHEED BHAGAT SINGH AND MARTYRS OF 1857 REVOLT

‘Realise Martyrs Dreams Of A Resurgent, Egalitarian India’

Somnath Chatterjee addressing the meeting in Haansi, Haryana

LOK Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee paid glowing tributes to Shaheed Bhagat Singh and martyrs of the 1857 Revolt, who valiantly fought for India’s independence. 

Addressing a huge gathering at a function organised by the Sadbhavana Samiti in Haansi, Haryana on October 10, 2006 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Revolt of 1857 and the Birth Centenary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Chatterjee exhorted: “While remembering our martyrs and freedom fighters, we must also remember the fact that they were inspired by certain values –– the values that were meant for upholding national unity and communal harmony”.

Observing that it was the tireless endeavours and the many sacrifices of a whole gamut of martyrs which eventually paved the way for India’s independence, Chatterjee said that the martyrs not only gave up their lives for the sake of the country’s freedom but also left a message for the future generations –– a message of sacrifice, courage of conviction, a strong belief in the ultimate victory of the people in their war against oppression.

The War of 1857 was an epoch-making event in India’s struggle for freedom in which people from all walks of life, irrespective of their caste, creed, religion and language, rose against the British rule, he recalled. Quoting renowned scholar and parliamentarian, Late Hiren Mukherjee, who described the revolt of 1857 as an event which marked the genesis of nationalism in India, Chatterjee opined that there was a discerning connection between the war of 1857 and the movement launched by Shaheed Bhagat Singh for the liberation of the country. 

“When Indian immigrants in the USA and Canada formed the Ghadar Party in San Francisco in November 1913, the War of Independence of 1857 was their direct source of inspiration, so much so that the very name Ghadar, meaning mutiny, was drawn from the Great Uprising of 1857. The sacrifices made by the members of the Ghadar Party for the cause of independence inspired the whole course of our freedom struggle subsequently. The revolutionary zeal displayed by Kartar Singh Sarabha, who was in his teens when he was sent to gallows along with many fellow freedom fighters, was a big source of inspiration for Bhagat Singh and his generation of revolutionaries” observed Chatterjee. Shaheed Bhagat Singh had visualised a united India free from communalism and casteism, superstitions, reactionary values and moribund traditions, he said and added Bhagat Singh always separated religion from politics and the State. 

Lamenting about the state of affairs after almost six decades of freedom, Chatterjee said “we need to introspect and see to what extent have we been able to realise the dreams of our Founding Fathers and the Martyrs of our Freedom Movement. Their dreams about a resurgent India and an egalitarian society free from class exploitation and oppression still remain unfulfilled”. 

Expressing concern over the fact that the people of India still confront various forms of iniquities, deprivation and discrimination and the scourge of poverty, Chatterjee said that political democracy could be translated into real and meaningful socio-economic democracy only when all iniquities and deprivations are removed. He hoped that the courage of conviction, tenacity of purpose and selfless sacrifices of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and other martyrs will continue to inspire generations to come.

Somnath Chatterjee remembered the role played by the town of Haansi in the freedom struggle. “The Lal Sarak of Haansi still reminds us of how the freedom fighters of this town and the surrounding villages like Putthi Mangal Khan, Rohnat, Hazampur and Jamalpur preferred death over slavery”. While observing that the inhuman torture and the other intimidatory tactics of the colonial rulers could not kill the freedom fighters’ urge for freedom, he said that martyrs like Shaheed Hukam Chand Jain, Shaheed Mirza Munir Beig and many others would always remain a source of inspiration for the people. 

Lok Sabha speaker felicitated the Sadbhavana Samiti for its deep commitment to the lofty values of secularism, communal harmony and peace, the values cherished by the freedom fighters and the Founding Fathers. Earlier, Somnath Chatterjee paid floral tributes at the statue of Shaheed Hukam Chand Jain and also at the 1857 Martyrs’ Memorial on Lal Sarak in Haansi town. He commented that such memorials are the real centres of pilgrimage. 

Veteran journalist Prabhash Joshi, noted historian Professor Suraj Bhan, Atma Ram Gill, MP, Deepinder Singh Hooda, MP, R C Babbar, president, Sadbhawana Samiti were among those who addressed the gathering. Freedom fighters of the region were felicitated by Chatterjee on this occasion.