Overview
In 1929, Sardar Bhagat Singh, the youngest and most heroic independence fighter of India, was put on trial for an incident that happened in the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi. The entire course of India’s independence movement was altered by this trial. Let’s examine what happened during this trial that went down in Indian history as a significant event.
The Trial of Bhagat Singh
The Incident:
On April 8, 1929, Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt paid a visit to the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi. There, they declared their intention to “make the deaf hear” and threw a bomb into the assembly.
Their only objective is to get their views heard by the British government; they have no intention of hurting anyone. At that time, Bhagat Singh and his allies were protesting against several British Raj policies, most notably the Trades Dispute Bill and the Public Safety Bill. As a result of this incident, the court arrested both of them for throwing bombs and spreading leaflets of Indian Independence in the assembly.
The Charges:
Several charges were pressed against Bhagat Singh and his associates by the British government including:
- As per the Explosives Act, the charges were pressed that they possessed and used explosives.
- Another charge was declaring war against the King, as per section 121A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
- Lastly, an attempt to murder and endanger the human life charge was pressed against them as per sections 306 and 326 of the IPC.
The Trial Process:
- In May 1929, the trial started and the judges of the trial were British, and the public prosecutor represented the Crown.
- Bhagat Singh along with his associates used trial as a source to propagate their revolutionary ideas to the general public of India.
- They did not try to defend themselves and stated that their actions were justified as they didn’t harm anyone in this incident. They also claim that the court is being unreasonable to them and putting false charges against them.
- Bhagat Singh also protested against the political prisoner’s unfair treatment in the form of a hunger strike. This strike gave them more public attention and sympathy from the people of India.
The Public’s Response:
The general public of India supported and sympathized with Bhagat Singh and his associates during this trial. The public thinks of them as patriots fighting for their country’s freedom, not as a criminal.
The Verdict and Legacy:
Even getting support from the general public and the major leaders, Bhagat Singh and his associates were given the punishment of death against the Central Assembly incident. The trial signifies the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh and other freedom fighters and become a history in the Indian Independence movement.
Significance of the Trial of Bhagat Singh
This trial has a great significance in the Indian History due to several reasons:
- It highlighted how the resentment against the British rule in India was growing at a massive rate.
- After this trial, Bhagat Singh became an idol and inspiration for all future generations of freedom fighters due to their fearless firm stand against the British Raj.
- The trial exhibited the importance and power of public opinion and media in shaping the direction and views of the people present out there.
- It helps the youngsters to realize that even they are capable of fighting for the freedom of India as Bhagat Singh did.
Conclusion
The trial of Bhagat Singh became an important milestone in the path of India’s independence. This is because it has revealed to the general public what sacrifices our youth are making for India to get freedom. In addition, the unwavering spirits of the freedom fighters motivated all the Indians to fight for their rights without any fear.
