Bhagat Singh: Terrorist, Martyr or Hero???

This is a very inflammable topic. It is at this point where value judgment takes over factual stuff. In reality, fact is a euphemism in this case, because it has to do with History. History is such that people comment what has been done and propose alternatives that could HAVE been implemented. History by its nature is one-sided, belonging to the victor, but open to multiple interpretations.

This is the case of a freedom fighter named Bhagat Singh. He can be interpreted in these ways, but i am trying to avoid value judgment. According to the British, a terrorist. According to the Congress Party and Mr. Mahatma Gandhi, an extremist. Among the masses, a hero and a revolutionary. The problem is that we dont know whether he was all of them or just one of those personalities. There can be no denying the fact that he was a freedom fighter, who was way ahead of his times. At the age of 23, he formulated ideas and visions that were to be true in 30-40 years post independence in India.

He wanted to establish a socialist state, by which every person in India would have a fair share of food, water, shelter and clothing. He would abolish castocratic societies as well as eliminating differences between Hindu and Muslim. His own set of ideals would have resulted in an Ideal India which many dream, but could it have been reality was anyone's guess.

After his death, we got independence, but at a terrible price. India was split into India and Pakistan, which the British hastily drew up. A mixed economy was formed, backed up by a very rigid bureaucratic system, in which no one benefited. Today, although we are termed one of the fastest growing, we are plagued with inequality. Rural India is suffering from agriculture collapse, while Urban India is coping with infrastructure problems. The wealth seems to be concentrated in the cities, but it has not trickled to the rest of the country.

India has become Corporate in a way. The British may have left, and we are left with an acceptable cultural imperialism from the west. India is India, but in a way it is probably suffering from an Identity crisis. Bhagat Singh, if alive today, would have lamented the developments, for the rich have gotten richer and poorer have gotten poorer. The Brain drain from India still continues, if a youth for equality member has to be believed. Indians spend 5 billion rupees to send their children or loved ones abroad.

As for many supporters of Bhagat Singh who label Mr. Gandhi a traitor who ruined India, i would just like to say this could be true or it could be unfortunate. True because he may have not made enough efforts to save Bhagat Singh. In order to establish himself as a power base, he appeased the British and probably send them to the gallows. A film about Bhagat Singh shows this angle. I am only speculating because it is dangerous to believe everything in a film. But, i blame the people of India for losing their conscience in starting the riots which led to partition.

Mr Gandhi is blamed, but i blame the people who started this riot, as well as the British. The conscience of India died that day, and we became the British. Bhagat Singh unfortunately falls into multiple interpretations, but he was ahead of his times probably. Today, a leader and thinker like him is missing. People today have become hedonistic and apathic. This will make things hard for this generation, as the older generation have set about a mindset which makes the young fall back if the task is daunting.

A terrorist, a Martyr or a hero, it is all non-determinable. People just dont care, because we have taken our freedom for granted. We all salute Bhagat Singh and Mr Gandhi to some extent, but we now have to make their dream come true to a little extent, because we are probably degenerating into something which the freedom fighters never wanted. The new young generation has to ensure that. They must ensure that India is India, a unique country where things CAN be possible.