The life, revolutionary activities and martyrdom of Shaheed Bhagat Singh for a free India is always an inspiration to generations and generations of the people of India.
I was going through the book “Bhagat Singh on the Path of Liberation”, edited by Shri Shiv Verma, a comrade-in-arms who was with Bhagat Singh in his activities and also in jail for a long period. The book was presented to me by Com.Rani Devi Prasad recently when I went to Chennai to attend a Convention.
The book is not the history of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. It is mostly articles written by him in the jail and also earlier. There is a 404 pages notes made by Bhagat Singh from the books he read in the jail. All these were either officially or through secret method brought out and kept by his comrades. But manuscripts of four books written by him in jail and brought out secretly – (1) The Ideal of Socialism (2) Autobiography (3) History of Revolutionary Movement in India and (4) At the Door of Death – were unfortunately destroyed. But many other articles are available and published in this book.
Within a short life of 23 years (1908-1931) Shaheed Bhagat Singh has achieved more than what can be done in a long life span. His family and surroundings, which were part of the freedom movement helped him to take the revolutionary path. He is referred to as terrorist by the British Rulers, but he was not a terrorist; He was a Revolutionary well studied in the path of Marxism and Leninism and followed the path unwaveringly till his end. Bhagat Singh endowed the Revolutionary Movement with three Slogans: (1) Long live Revolution (2) Long Live Proletariat and (3) Down With Imperialism. His writings published in the book fully confirm this.This book is not only worth reading, but is a must to read to understand the sacrifices made by a generation of young Revolutionaries who sacrificed every thing for the freedom of the motherland. It will inspire any Indian. My thanks to Comrade Rani Prasad for presenting the book to me.
The Certificate of Death of Bhagat Singh issued by the Superintendent of Lahore jail, reproduced in the book, is given below for record:

“I hereby Certify that the sentence of death passed on Bhagat Singh has been duly executed, and that the said Bhagat Singh was accordingly hanged by the neck till he was dead at Lahore Central
Jail on Monday the 23rd day of March 1931 at 7 P.M, that the body remained suspended for a full hour, and was not taken down until life was ascertained by a medical officer to be extinct; and that no accident, error or other misadventure occurred.”
Shaheed Rajguru and Sukhdev also were executed in the same way.

I will conclude with two quotations from the writings of Bhagat Singh which has been proved fully by time.

” My Name has become a symbol of Indian Revolution. The ideal and sacrifices of the Revolutionary Party have elevated me to a height beyond which I will never be able to rise if I live”.

” Bhagat Singh dead will be more dangerous to the British enslavers than Bhagat Singh alive. After I am hanged, the fragrance of my revolutionary ideas will permeate the atmosphere of this beautiful land of ours. It will intoxicate the youth and make him mad for freedom and revolution, and that will bring the doom of the British imperialists nearer. This is my firm conviction. I am anxiously waiting for the day when I will receive the highest award for my services to the country and my love for my people.”

How True. Generations after generations will remember and inspire from the great sacrifice of these martyrs.
Red Salute to the Martyrs!