By Information Bureau RSF
Ninety-Three years ago, on 23 March 1931, renowned revolutionary icon of the mass revolt, Bhagat Singh, was assassinated along with his two comrades, through the gallows at Lahore’s Central Jail by the British imperialists. He was only twenty-three years old. “Legally” the executions were to be carried out on 24 March 1931, but such was the fear of a mass insurrection amongst the imperialist masters that the three prisoners were hanged a day earlier, March 23, in the evening at 7.30 pm.
Bhagat Singh along with his comrades in arms Sukhdev and Rajguru were not just hanged but their bodies were mutilated and later burnt in the wee hours of that tragic March eve. This was a cowardly act of vengeance by the mightiest imperial power of its time. The Central Jail Lahore was later demolished, and no memorial or commemorative plaques of these valiant revolutionaries exists at the site, now known as Shadman Chowk. Despite these acts of erasing the memory of these revolutionaries to quell the inspiration of their struggle, their revolutionary legacy lives on and continues to motivate the vanguard of the new generations in this subcontinent.
Keeping up with the tradition, the Revolutionary Students Front (RSF), Jammu Kashmir National Students Federation (JKNSF), Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign (PTUDC) and Peoples Revolutionary Front (PRF) along with other progressive organizations organized different activities across Pakistan and its held areas to commemorate 93rd martyrdom day of these great revolutionaries. To make young generation aware of and to spread the revolutionary ideas of Bhagat Singh, seminars, lectures, study circles, movie sessions based on Raj Kumar Santoshi’s masterpiece “The Legend of Bhagat Singh” of Bollywood, and protests held in every big city and in different educational institutes. Many of the activities combined with the “Iftar dinner” as it is the fasting month for the Muslims. Here we are publishing a brief report of all these activities.
Our readers can read more about Bhagat Singh, his revolutionary ideas and struggle on, To Young Political Workers by Bhagat Singh, Legacies: Distorted and Obscured, Bhagat Singh’s Unfinished Struggle! and Bhagat Singh: The Legacy Lives! by Dr Lal Khan.
Shadman Chowk, Lahore
On 23rd March, at shadman chowk, the martyrdom site of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, a demonstration was organized by RSF and PSC to pay tribute to the great revolutionaries and demanded that this chowk be named after Bhagat Singh. Students, poets, lawyers, journalists and progressive youth from different walks of life participated in the demonstration. Ajit Prasad of PSC coordinated the demonstration while RSF’s central organizer Awais Qarni, PSC’s Salman Ehsas, Ahsan Javed and Jannat Bukhari and JKNSF’s leader Mujeeb Akbar spoke at the event.
University of Punjab, Lahore
On 2oth March, A seminar titled “Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s thoughts and ideas and prospect of Volunteer Socialist Federation of South Asian Subcontinent” and iftar dinner has been organized at Punjab University Lahore. PTUDC international secretary Comrade Imran Kamyana led the discussion. more than 80 Students and activists of Progressive Students Collective, Jammu Kashmir Students Council Panjab University, Pashtun Education Development Movement – PEDM , along with the comrades from RSF and JKNSF exuberantly participated in the event. After the lead off, central organizer RSF Awais Qarni and other students added to the discussion on the current scenario and the leagacy of Bhagat Singh.
Faisalabad
On 27th March, Revolutionary Students Front organized a study circle in Faisalabad (Bhagat Singh’s birthplace) under the title “Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s thoughts and ideas and prospect of Volunteer Socialist Federation of South Asian Subcontinent” to pay homage to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru. Students from Government College University, Arid Agricultural University and other institutes participated in the event while central organizer RSF Awais Qarni addressed the participants in detail about the struggle of Bhagat Singh and his comrades and the need for and importance of a socialist federation of the subcontinent in the present era. Adeeba Ali and Faisal Rumi also intervened and enriched the discussion.
University of Peshawar, Peshawar
On 23rd March, A seminar and Iftar dinner held in University of Peshawar to pay tribute to the struggle of Bhagat Singh and his comrades. A large number of students from different departments along with activists of Pakhtoon Students Federation, Gilgit Baltistan and Chitral Societies participated in the event. PTUDC leader Asif Rasheed delivered a detailed speech on the ideas and struggle of Bhagat Singh and his comrades. Namos, Islam andSahil among others intervened and enriched the discussion.
Rawalpindi
RSF and JKNSF organized a seminar and iftar dinner on Saturday, March 23, to mark the 93rd death anniversary of Comrade Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev in a local park of Rawalpindi. Various students’ organizations including NUML Gilgit-Baltistan Council and PTUDC participated in the program. Moiz Akhtar, Arooba Mumtaz, Sana, Rehman, Israr, Saad, Tayyab and Rajesh Kumar spoke and paid tribute to the struggle of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru. The participants vowed to continue the struggle till socialist victory.
Quetta
On the occasion of the 93rd death anniversary of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, revolutionary comrades of PTUDC, BNT and RSF organized an activity in Chiltan Hills, Quetta. Nadir, Abdul Rehman and Aftab spoke and paid tribute to the revolutionary martyrs.
Mirpur Khas
On the occasion of 93rd death anniversary of Bhagat Singh, a seminar was organized by RSF and PTUDC on the theme “Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s thoughts and ideas and prospect of Volunteer Socialist Federation of South Asian Subcontinent” in Mirpur Khas. Kareem Leghari, Sarmad and others shed the light on the struggle of Bhagat Singh and his comrades.
Jampur
On 23rd March, a commemorative ceremony titled “Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s thoughts and ideas and prospect of Volunteer Socialist Federation of South Asian Subcontinent” was held in Jampur to pay tribute the great revolutionaries. Abdul Rauf Lond, Masrat Abbas, Majeed Pitafi, Khalil Bhatti, Asad Amin, Allah Bakhsh Baloch and Razaq Shahid spoke on the occasion. While Zahid Mastoi, Saleem Ansab, Abdul Qayyum Amal, Habibullah Tariq and Abdul Karim Mohsin paid tribute to the revolutionaries with revolutionary poetry.
Hyderabad
A study circle was organized at Qasimabad, Hyderabad under the title “Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s thoughts and ideas and prospect of Volunteer Socialist Federation of South Asian Subcontinent”. Essar Das and Sarang Jam of PTUDC, Dr Vinod Kumar and Rahul of RSF and Fayyaz Theenu spoke on the occasion. Youth and students from various educational institutions participated in the study circle and paid tribute to the revolutionary struggle of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru.
Jamshoro
A seminar was organized in Jamshoro on “Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s thoughts and ideas and prospect of Volunteer Socialist Federation of South Asian Subcontinent”. Essar Das and Haji Shah of PTUDC, Dr Vinod Kumar and Shakeela of RSF spoke on the occasion. Students and youth from Mehran University, University of Sindh, LUMS and other educational institutes participated in the seminar and paid tribute to the revolutionary struggle of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru.
Sialkot
On 24th March, a program was organized by PTUDC and RSF Sialkot to pay tribute to the revolutionary struggle of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, which was chaired by Ayaz Tipu while Babar Patrus and Ahsan Malik spoke at the event. Workers, civil society, lawyers and students participated and the program formally concluded with workers Internationale.
Dadu
On 23rd March, a program was organized by the Revolutionary Students Front (RSF) Dadu to pay tribute to Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his comrades, which was attended by a large number of students and youth. Speaking on the occasion, the young speakers said that Bhagat Singh had rightly said that if the subcontinent is divided in the name of religion, then our back will be broken while extinguishing the fire of hatred here. Now one billion people of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are languishing in poverty. Therefore, there is only one solution to the salvation of the working class, yesterday and even today, the socialist revolution. The program was addressed by Shahmir Ali, Imran Ali Zounr, Parel Channa, Badruddin Panwar, Farooq Baroo, Shah Mohammad Panwar, Muhammad Morel, Ali Korai and Anwar Panwar.
Multan
On the occasion of the 93rd martyrdom anniversary of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, a screening of Rajkumar Santoshi’s masterpiece Indian film “The Legend of Bhagat Singh” was organized in Multan to introduce the youth to the life and revolutionary ideas of Bhagat Singh. Later, the discussion was further taken forward by the PTUDC and RSF comrades.
Sadiqabad
A program titled “Today’s Youth and Bhagat’s Ideology” was organized in Sadiqabad. PTUDC Central General Secretary Qamar uz Zaman Khan and central leader PTUDC Haider Chughtai spoke at the event while young comrade Shavez chaired the session. Comrades of PTUDC, RSF, PSF and other progressives from different walks of life attended and paid tributes to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev.
Tando Gulam Ali
On March 23, in Tando Ghulam Ali, Badin a program was organized by PTUDC and RSF on the occasion of the death anniversary of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. Ratan Kumar, Maqbool Leghari, Karim Leghari, Ali Ghulam Jalalani, Abdul Jabbar, and Sajjad Shah spoke at the event and paid tribute to the great revolutionaries.
Talhar
RSF and PTUDC organised a programme at Talhar on the occasion of the death anniversary of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. Amir, Gopal Sham, Ayub, Munawar Raho, Sajjad Lashar, Chetan and Karim Leghari spoke and paid tribute to the great revolutionaries.
Kahna, Lahore
On the eve of March 24th, on the occasion of the 93rd martyrdom anniversary of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, a screening of Rajkumar Santoshi’s masterpiece Indian film “The Legend of Bhagat Singh” and iftar dinner was organized at Labour Colony, Kahna, Lahore to introduce the youth and workers to the life and revolutionary ideas of Bhagat Singh. Later, the discussion was further taken forward by the PTUDC and RSF comrades.
Karachi
On March 25, on the occasion of 93rd martyrdom day of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his comrades a seminar was organized by The Struggle, Red Lawyers and Revolutionary Students Front at New Bar Room, Karachi. Advocate Hatim Khan chaired the session while Aimil Khan Kasi Advocate, Hussain Elahi Advocate, Rehman Khan Korai Advocate and Hanif Baloch Senior Journalist and Columnist spoke at the event and Sarang Jam of PTUDC summed up the seminar by shedding light on the struggle of Bhagat Singh and his comrades of Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA).
Pakistan held Jammu Kashmir
On the occasion of 93rd martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, Jammu Kashmir National Students Federation (JKNSF) and Peoples Revolutionary Front (PRF) along with PTUDC commemorated activities in different station of Pakistan held Kashmir to pay tribute to great revolutionaries.
Rawalakot
Jammu Kashmir National Students Federation (JKNSF) and PRF organized a seminar in Rawalakot titled “Struggle of Bhagat Singh and Socialist Federation of the Subcontinent” on the occasion of 93rd death anniversary of Comrade Bhagat Singh and his comrade. Zubair Latif, Badar Rafiq, Mujeeb Khan, Omer Abdullah, Altamsh Tassaduq and Bilal Amin spoke at the event and paid tribute to the great revolutionaries. The seminar concluded with the workers Internationale.
Muzaffarabad
JKNSF and PRF organized a seminar in Muzaffarabad titled “Struggle of Bhagat Singh and Socialist Federation of the Subcontinent” to mark the 93rd death anniversary of Comrade Bhagat Singh and his comrades. Rashid Shiekh, Naveed Ishaq, Murawat, Azaan spoke and paid tribute the revolutionary martyrs. The seminar concluded with workers Internatioanle.
Bagh
JKNSF and PRF organized a seminar titled “Struggle of Bhagat Singh and Socialist Federation of the Subcontinent” in Bagh on the occasion of 93rd death anniversary of Comrade Bhagat Singh and his comrades on Saturday, March 23. Rashid Shiekh, Adnan, Rashid Baghi, Bushra Aziz and other spoke at the event and shed light on the struggle of Bhagat Singh and his comrades.
Hajira
JKNSF and PRF organized a seminar in Hajira titled “Struggle of Bhagat Singh and Socialist Federation of the Subcontinent” on the occasion of 93rd death anniversary of Comrade Bhagat Singh on Saturday, March 23. Abrar Latif, Saima Batool, Saif, Moni and other spoke at the event and paid tribute to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru and other comrades.
Khaigala
On the occasion of the 93rd martyrdom anniversary of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, the JKNSF and PRF Khaigala organized a screening of Rajkumar Santoshi’s masterpiece Indian film “The Legend of Bhagat Singh” to introduce the youth to the life and revolutionary ideas of Bhagat Singh. Bhagat Singh’s revolutionary struggle, the partition of the subcontinent, the continuation of the imperialist capitalist system and the current economic and political crisis were also discussed.
Kotli
Jammu and Kashmir National Students Federation Kotli organized a seminar titled “Bhagat Singh’s Struggle and Socialist Federation of the Subcontinent” on the occasion of Bhagat Singh’s 93rd death anniversary. At the end of the seminar, a movie session “The Legend of Bhagat Singh” was held and later an Iftar dinner was also held.
Ali Sojal
On the occasion of 93rd death anniversary of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru, JKNSF and PRF organized a study circle titled “Ideology and Thoughts of Bhagat Singh and Voluntary Socialist Federation of South Asia Sub-Continent”.
