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Sunday, September 25, 2016

Chandra Shekhar Azad Indian Freedom Fighter

CHANDRASEKHAR AZAD
Date of birth: 23rd July, 1906 and Date of Death: 27th February, 1931
Chandrasekhar Azad was a great Indian freedom fighter and revolutionary thinker.  Revered for his audacious deeds and fierce patriotism, he was the mentor of Bhagat Singh, the famous Indian martyr.  Chandrasekhar Azad is considered one of the greatest Indian freedom fighter along with Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru, Ram Prasad Bismil, and Ashfaqulla Khan.  Chandrasekhar Azad’s parents were Pandit Sita Ram Tiwari and Jagrani Devi.  He received his early schooling in Bhavra District Jhabua (Madhya Pradesh).  For higher studies he went to the Sanskrit Pathashala at Varanasi.  Young Azad was one of the young generations of Indians when Mahatma Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement.  But many were disillusioned with the suspension of the struggle in 1922 owing to the Chauri Chaura massacre of 22 policemen.  Although Gandhi was appalled by the brutal violence, Azad did not feel that violence was unacceptable in the struggle, especially in view of the Amritsar Massacre of 1919, where Army units killed hundreds of unarmed civilians and wounded thousands in Amritsar.  Young Azad and contemporaries like Bhagat Singh were deeply and emotionally influenced by that tragedy.  As a revolutionary, he adopted the last name ‘Azad’, which means “Free” in Urdu.  There is an interesting story that while he adopted the name “Azad” he made a pledge that the Police will never capture him alive.  Azad and other had committed themselves to absolute independence by any means.  He was most famous for the Kakori Rail Dacoity in 1925and the assassination of the assistant superintendent of Police John Poyaniz Saunders in 1928.  Azad and his compatriots would target British officials known for their oppressive actions against ordinary people, or for beating and torturing arrested freedom fighters.  Azad was also a believer in socialism as the basis for a future India, free of social and economic oppression and adversity.  Bhagat Singh joined Azad following the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, an Indian leader who was beaten to death by police officials.  Azad trained Singh and others in covert activities, and the latter grew close to him after witnessing his resolve, patriotism and courage.  Along with fellow patriots like Rajguru and Sukhdev, Azad and Singh formed the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, committed to complete Indian Independence and socialist principles of for India’s future progress.  Betrayed by an informer on 27th February, 1931, Azad was encircled by British troops in the Alfred Park, Allahabad.  He kept on fighting till the last bullet.  Azad is a hero to many Indians today.  Alfred Park was renamed Chandrasekhar Azad Park, as have been scores of schools, colleges, roads and other public institutions across India.

One of the most famous revolutionaries from the present-day Uttar Pradesh, he was arrested during the Non-Cooperation movement, and was flogged for ridiculing the court during trial by declaring his name as Azad, his father’s as Swatantra and his home as prison.  From thence he became famous as Azad.  He was actively associated with the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army and was involved in a number of revolutionary and terrorist cases such as Kakori Conspiracy, Lahore Conspiracy, etc.  At Alfred Park, Allahabad, while fighting alone with the police it is said that he shot himself dead with the last bullet he had in his pistol, after exhausting all his ammunition.
Chandra Shekhar Azad Indian Freedom Fighter
CHANDRA SEKHAR AZAD:
Date of Birth: July 23, 1906 and Date of death: February 27, 1931
Chandrashekhar Azad was born on July 23, 1906 in Badarka village of Unnao district in Uttar Pradesh. His parents were Pandit Sitaram Tiwari and Jagarani Devi. Pandit Sitaram Tiwari was serving in erstwhile estate of Alirajpur (situated in present day Madhya Pradesh) and Chandrashekhar Azad’s childhood was spent in the village Bhabra . On the insistence of her mother Jagrani Devi, Chandrashekhar Azad went to Kashi Vidyapeeth, Benaras for studying Sanskrit.
Young Chandra Shekhar was fascinated by and drawn to the great national upsurge of the non-violent, non-cooperation movement of 1920-21 under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. When arrested and produced before the magistrate, he gave his name as 'Azad', his father's name as 'Swatantra' and his residence as 'prison'. The provoked magistrate sentenced him to fifteen lashes of flogging. The title of Azad stuck thereafter.
After withdrawal of the non-cooperation movement, Azad was attracted towards revolutionary activities. He joined the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA) and was involved in the Kakori Conspiracy (1926), the attempt to blow up the Viceroy's train (1926), the Assembly bomb incident, the Delhi Conspiracy, the shooting of Saunders at Lahore (1928) and the Second Lahore conspiracy.
Azad was on the wanted list of the police. On 27February 1931, in the Alfred Park, Allahabad, when an associate betrayed him, well-armed police circled Azad. For quite some time he held them at bay, single-handedly with a small pistol and few cartridges. Left with only one bullet, he fired it at his own temple and lived up to his resolve that he would never be arrested and dragged to gallows to be hanged.

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