Bhagat Singh was not only a freedom fighter but also a thinker and an intellectual. S. Irfan Habib
has done a great service
by bringing us in touch with
Bhagat Singh’s thoughts and
vision of independent India. And it
makes us think: Where have we deviated
after Independence?
Bhagat Singh was born on 28th
September , 1907 and one of the articles
included in this book was published in 1924 when he was just 17 years old. This was on
Universal Brotherhood. He was hanged on March 23, 1931 when he
was 23 years 6 months old. Most of the writings were of the period 1928 to 1931
when he was between 21 years to 23 years .But at such a young age , his intellectual
maturity is commendable, to say the least.
The longest
article is “ Why I am an Atheist ?”(about
15 pages) written in 1930.It conveys his
views on religion and God.
Another long
piece is about his statement in the
Sessions Court dated 6 June , 1929 and the statement filed in the Lahore High
Court where he explained the intentions behind throwing the bombs .He says :’’ Bombs and
pistols do not make revolution. The
sword of revolution is sharpened on the
whetting stone of ideas. This is what we wanted to emphasise.. . . . .It was
very necessary to give the timely warning
that the unrest of the people is increasing and that
the malady may take a serious
turn, if not treated in time and properly.”
This book has
20 writings/articles by one of the most brilliant and courageous
minds India has ever produced. In the last part of the book, some Excerpts from
Bhagat Singh”s Jail Notebook have been given .The writing are in 135 pages and
the excerpts are in 57 pages.
S. Irfan Habib ,
the editor Has taken a
commendable initiative in compiling and editing these writings of
Bhagat Singh which will make every Indian understand the vision and the thoughts of the great
martyr and freedom fighter.
I recommend every
Indian, especially the youth, to read
this book
