Each and every year Republic Day and Independence Day approaches
is a lot of witting, articles, documentary published and broadcast in News Papers,
Magazines, Blogs, Websites, social Media Pages, T.V, Radio etc on the Heroes
who contributes and fought for Independence of our India. Political speeches replete
with tales of sacrifice of our freedom fighters but almost every time the same
names get all the attention and mentioned, while innumerable others lesser known
names have been lost into forgotten pages of history. On this 67th
Republic Day I would like to focus some light on 5 Unsung Heroes of Indian
Independence who have by all means struggle for Independence of India.
1. Allah Bux Soomro ( 1990- 1943) :
Most of us not even heard of Allah
Bux, a name long ignored on both the sides of border. This man has classified
everything that secular India values today but remain an unsung hero. During the
days of Quit India Movement in 1942 he was the Premier of Sind in what is now
in Pakistan (Chief Minister was called
Premier those days) and he was the founder of Ittehad Party.
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| Allah Bux Soormo |
He was the strong believer in united
India, one whose heritage belongs to both Hindus and Muslims, together. He strongly opposed the Muslim League’s
position of the two-nation theory on the basis of religion. In 1940 he organized Azad Muslim Conference in Delhi that was attended by over 1400 delegates
from all over the nation, where he positively spoke of a united India for both
Hindus and Muslims. He always stands against on the creation of Pakistan.
Unfortunately, he didn’t find support
from either National Congress or the Muslim League, which detested him for his opposition
to their two-nation theory. He was murdered on May 4, 1943 by Professional
Killers.
2. Chandrashekhar Azad (1872-1950):
Chandarshekhar Azad was among the
great Indian freedom fighters but with passage of time slowly we have forgotten
him. His unbeatable patriotism and courage inspired others to enter the era of struggle
for freedom; he was mentor of Bhagat Singh,
another great freedom fighter of India. While he was pursuing education in Sanskrit
in Benaras he was deeply troubled by Jaliwanwala
Bagh Massacre in Amritsar in 1919. When Mahatma Gandhi Launched Non-Cooperation
Movement, Chandrashekhar Azad actively participated in revolutionary movement. He
received his first punishment at age of fifteen. Chandrashekhar was caught while indulging in
revolutionary activities. When magistrate asked him his name he said “ Azad” (Which means free), from then on
Chandrashekhar assumed the title of Azad and came to known as Chandrashekhar
Azad. He was a terror for British
Police.
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| Chandra Shekhar Azad |
Along with Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and
Rajguru He formed the Hindustan Socialist
Republic Association (HRSA), which was committed to complete Independence
and socialist principles for India’s future progress.
He involved in Kakori Train Robbery (1926), attempt to blow up the Viceroy’s Train (1926), and involved in
the Shooting of Saunders at Lahore (1928)
to avenge the killing of Lala Lajpat Rai.
He was wanted by British police dead
or alive, on 27th of February, 1931 he got surrounded by British
Police at Alfred Park where he fought alone and killed three policemen, while
he seeing no route to escape he shot himself.
3. Lala Lajpat Rai (1865- 1928):
Lal-Bal-Pal trio remember yes I am sure you have
read it in School days! Lala Lajpat Rai was of the three most most prominent
Hindu Nationalist members of Indian National Congress and others two members of
the were Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal . They formed extremist
faction of the Indian National Congress, as opposed to the moderate one led by
Goapal Krishna Gokhale. Lalaji actively participated in the struggle against partition
of Bengal.
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| Lala Lajpat Rai |
Lalaji
was arrested on May 3, 1907 for creating “turmoil” in Rawalpindi. He was put in
Mandalay jail for six months and was released on November 7,1907. He went to USA
to galvanize support for India.He
founded the Indian Home League Society of America and wrote a book called “
Young India”. The book severely indicted British rule in India and was banned
in Britain and India even before it was published.
Lala
Lajpat Rai led procession against Simon Commission. While the procession was
peaceful, British Government brutally lathi charged the procession.Lalaji
received severe head injuries and died
on 17th November in 1928.
4. Aruna Asaf Ali (1909 - 1996):
Aruna Asaf Ali was a legendary heroine of India’s freedom struggle.
Her first major political action was during Salt
Satyagrah in 1930 when she addressed public meetings and led procession. British
Government charged her for being a “Vagrant”
and sentenced her to one year imprisonment. When political prisoners were
released in the aftermath of Gandhi-Irwin pact, Aruna was not released. But public
agitation in favour of her release forced British Government to release her.
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| Aruna Asaf Ali |
She arrested again in 1932 and put in
Tihar Jail, in Tihar Jail she went on a hunger strike against the treatment
meted out to political prisoners. After her release, she dropped out of the NationaL
Movement for 10 years.
In 1942 she attended the Bombay Congress Session, where the
historic Quit India Movement resolution was passed on 8th
August. When the congress leaders were arrested on the day after this
resolution was passed, Arunaji presided over the flag-hoisting ceremony at
Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay. She became full-time activist in the Quit India
Movement and went underground to evade arrest. Her properties were seized by
the British Ruler, Government also announced Rs. 5000 reward for her capture. Meanwhile
she fell ill and Gandhiji advised her to surrender. However, she surrendered
herself only when the warrants against her cancelled on 26th January
1946.
She was elected Delhi’s first Mayor. She was awarded the Lenin Prize for Peace in 1975 and Jawahar Lal Nehru award for International Understanding for 1991,
she was awarded India’s highest civilian award,
the Bharat Ratna and was honoured
with a stamp issued by the Indian Postal
Service in 1998. She died on 29th July 1996.
5. Sukhdev Thapar (1907-1931):
He was amongst those great Indian freedom
fighters who sacrifice their life for the freedom of their country. Sukhdev was
founder member of Hindustan Socialist
Republican Association (HSRA), organised revolutionary cell in Punjab and
North India. He along with other renowed revolutionaries started “Naujawan
Bharat Sabha” at Lahore that was an organisation involved in various activities,
mainly gearing youths for freedom struggle.
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| Sukhdev Thapar |
Sukhdev himself tookactive part in
several revolutionary activities like the “Prison
Hunger Strike” in 1926, his daring yet courageous attack in the Lahore Conspiracy Case (18th
December, 1928), that shook the very foundation of the British Government,
Sukhdev was accomplice of Bhagat Singh and Shivram Rajguru, who were involved
in the assassination of Deputy Superintendent
of Police, J.P.Saunders in 1928, thus avenging the death of Lala Lajpat
Rai. After the Central Assembly Hall
bombing in Delhi (8th April, 1929), Sukhdev and his accomplice were
arrested and convicted of their crime, facing the death sentence as verdict.
On 23rd March, 1931, the
brave revolutionary Sukhdev Thapar along with Bhagat Singh and Shivaram Rajguru were hanged.
It is recalled
that great sacrifice can be made by great soul only. They were born great and
their greatness lies in the root of sacrifice they have made. A sacrifice can
be in the form of money, property and sincere service but whatever the form of
sacrifice is, sacrifice for the mother land is something greater and higher
than any gift of God.
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