The Dravidar Kazhagam founder ‘Periyar’ E.V. Ramasamy (EVR), who admired Bhagat Singh’s political views, felt the manner in which he implemented his plans was erroneous and drew on his sacrifice to oppose Mahatma Gandhi.

He wrote an editorial hailing the sacrifice of Bhagat Singh in his journal, Kudiarasu , of March 29, 1931, saying he gave his life for the noble cause of showing to India, nay to the world, the real equality and peace.

Historian Chaman Lal, who has compiled rare documents on Bhagat Singh, found the editorial written by Periyar in Kudiarasu . At his request, an English translation was done and published in the Rationalist .

EVR wrote:“The day when Gandhi said God alone guides him, that Varnashramadharma is superior system fit to govern the affairs of the world and that everything happening according to God’s will, we came to the conclusion that there is no difference between Gandhism and Brahminism. We also concluded unless the Congress party that subscribes to such philosophy and principle is abolished it will not be good to the country. But now this fact has been found out at least by some of the people. They have gained wisdom and courage to call for the downfall of Gandhism. This is a great victory to our cause.

“If Bhagat Singh had not died by hanging, there would not have been any chance for this victory to take place in a popular manner. We even venture to say that Gandhism would have gained more ground if he had not been hanged. Bhagat Singh had not fallen sick, suffered and died as it normally happens with people. He gave his life for the noble cause of showing to India, nay to the world, the path of equality and peace. We applaud and sing of his martyrdom from the depth of our heart. At the same time we request those in our government to find out and hang four true persons like Bhagat Singh in each of the provinces.”

Known for his forthright expression of views, EVR said he was sad because he could not get the rare chance, which, he said, had delivered Bhagat Singh from the agony of watching the activities of the “idiots and fools who selfishly seek their honour.”

EVR reiterated that he was in full agreement with Bhagat Singh’s ideas, but felt “he had erred a little in choosing the means to translate his principles into practice.”

“The issue is whether a man has done his duty or not. The issue is not whether the action has borne fruit. Yet we agree that we should do our duty, taking into account the time and place of the action. We are sure time, place and the general trend not hostile to the principle upheld by Bhagat Singh. Though it occurs to our mind that he has erred a little in choosing the means to translate his principle into practice. We will never at anytime be emboldened to say that his principle is flawed one,” he argued, saying “we would not have called him an honest man if he had not conducted himself only in the way he had found just.”

Periyar also recalled Bhagat Singh’s letter to the Punjab Governor to reiterate his support for the ideas of socialism and atheism.

Prof. Lal also obtained Bhagat Singh’s article ‘Why I am an atheist’ in Tamil translated by P. Jeevanandam, which was published by Periyar in Kudiarasu in 1935.

According to Prof. Lal, at one time after Partition, the English copy of this essay was not found anywhere. It was then retranslated from Tamil to English, and some websites still carry the retranslated English version of this essay. But the original publication was found and it is now preserved in the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi in microfilm form.

Jeevanandam was then working together with the DK leader in the Self-Respect movement. The British government arrested both Jeevanandam and E.V.Krishnasamy, publisher and EVR’s brother. They were released after the two tendered an apology at the behest of Periyar.

Later, EVR himself wrote an article in Kudiarasu , explaining that it was he who forced them to submit an apology and they could not be faulted for their action.

Dravidar Kazhagam general secretary Kali Poonguntran said the incident created a wedge between Periyar and Jeevanandam, who quit the Self Respect Movement to join the Congress.

Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam president Kolathur Mani, who was instrumental in re-publishing Kudiarasu , said EVR’s aversion to the Congress was no secret as he regarded the party and its leader Gandhi as proponents of Varnashrama dharma.

EVR reiterated that he was in full agreement with Bhagat Singh’s ideas, but felt ‘he had erred a little in choosing the means to translate his principles into practice.’

Bhagat Singh Jail Documents

-Supreme Court-1

The Superintendent

(Special Duty)

C.I.D. (Political Branch)

Lahore

Dear Sir,

I will feel much obliged if you will kindly allow me to have an interview with my father, as I have got some very important instructions to give him for my defence counsel in connection with the Delhi case.

I hope you will not disallow it on the ground that I have already had an interview, because the matter is very urgent.

Hoping to be favoured

Yours Etc.

Sd/ Bhagat Singh

Noting in Urdu by officials dated 31/5/29

Stamp in English on upper left corner of the letter — admitted in evidence and added to Special Tribunal Lahore Conspiracy case.

Sd/ Judge

Special Tribunal, date not mentioned.

Jail Document-2

In the Court of the special magistrate, Lahore

Crown VS. Sukhdev & Others

Charged under section 121N 302+120 B.

This humble petition of the accused Bhagat Singh most humbly shweth (states) —

1. That the petitioner is going unrepresented in the case.

2. That evidence has been produced in this court entangling the petitioner in the murders of Mr. Saunders and Sardar Chanan Singh,

3. That the petitioner may be able to effectively cross-examine the witnesses, that (as in Bhagat Singh’s own handwrit-____

ing) it is necessary that the petitioner may be given an opportunity to visit the spot and see the roads and other surroundings in connection with the alleged incident.

4. That the petitioner therefore prays that proper facilities to be afforded him for the said Purpose and that the production of further witnesses regarding the particular incident may be postponed till the petitioner has been able to examine the locality.

D/4th Nov.29

Sd./ Bhagat Singh

Petitioner

(Letters written by Bhagat Singh in his own hand, have been tried to be kept as close to the original as possible.)

Jail Document-3

To

The Registrar,

The Special Tribunal

Lahore Conspiracy case

Lahore

Sir,

Kindly supply me with an attested copy of the order of the special magistrate, dated 3rd May 1930, according to which the inquiry proceedings in that court were stayed.

Thanking you in anticipation

Yours etc.

D/19th June 1930

Sd./Bhagat Singh

Undertrial

Lahore conspiracy case

Lahore

To,

The Registrar,

Special Tribunal, Poonch House, Lahore

Through

The Superintendent,

Central jail, Lahore

Noting — No.7 by D/20th June 1930

Forwarded to the Registrar, Special Tribunal Poonch House Lahore, for favour of necessary action as he deem fit.

Signatures etc. Sd./ Major Ims, Superintendent, Central Jail, Lahore

Jail Document-4

In the court of the Special Tribunal, Lahore Conspiracy Case, Lahore

Constituted under the Lahore C.C. Special ordinance

Crown VS. Bhagat Singh &Others

Charged under sections121, 121A, 302, 120B etc.

Most Respectfully Shweth:-

1. That the petitioner is an accused in the above case.

2. That he is not attending the court, due to the account given in a previous letter, submitted by him before this court.

3. That he went on hunger strike in protest against certain Rules and regulations of jail department and that the hunger strike had nothing to do with the trial whatsoever.

4. That according to the provisions of the special ordinance, accused still have the right to be represented by a counsel if so desired.

5. That the case is entering a new stage i.e. the prosecution evidence is going to be closed and the accused shall be called upon to produce defence or to make statements if desired.

6. That at this delicate moment the petitioner wants the help of his relatives and legal advisers.

7. That all the interviews with relatives and legal advisers have been stopped by the jail authorities due to the so called breach of jail discipline caused by his hunger strike.

8. That the purely executive affair is hampering the cause of justice.

9. That it is prayed in the interests of justice and fair play that the court be pleased to issue orders to the jail authorities to allow him all these interviews which are very essential for defence purposes.

D/11/8/30

Sd./ Bhagat Singh

Convict-Undertrial

Central Jail, Lahore

No. 488-p D/ 11.8.30

Forwarded to the Registrar, Hon’ble Special Tribunal Lahore Conspiracy case, Lahore for favour of disposal.

Lahore / 11.8.30 Sd./ Supdt. Central Jail, Lahore

Jail Document-5

In the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature (Punjab) Lahore

Charged under sections 302, 121, 121A etc. of I.P.C

Most respectfully Shweth:-

1. That the petitioner is an accused in the Lahore Conspiracy Case, being tried by the Special Tribunal constituted under the Lahore Conspiracy Ordinance.

2. That the petitioner and his co-accused refused to attend the court in protest of certain order passed and treatment meted out to the accused.

3. That the petitioner went on hunger strike on July 28th’30 in protest against certain regulations of the jail department.

4. That the trial is entering in new stage i.e. the Prosecution evidence is about to be closed and the petitioner is to be called upon to make his statement and to offer any defence if desired.

5. That the jail authorities have altogether stopped all the interviews of the petitioner with his relatives and legal advisers.

6. That the purely executive affair is hampering the cause of justice and these orders of the executive are highly illegal.

7. That the petitioner wants the help of his relatives and legal advisers in deciding the most delicate questions of defence.

8. That there is a special provision in the Lahore Conspiracy case Ordinance to the effect that if any accused voluntarily disables himself by hunger strike or otherwise or resists his production before the court, he [will] still have the right to be represented by counsel in his absence.

9. That in the present circumstances, the accused feels quite handicapped due to the above mentioned order of the jail authorities.

10. That it is prayed that in the interest of justice and fair play, the court be pleased to issue such instructions to the authorities concerned as would be necessary to give full and proper facilities for arranging defence adequately in a case where the petitioner is being tried for such serious offences as may bring extreme penalty of law.

11. That it is prayed that the court be pleased to issue urgent orders for allowing interviews etc. at the earliest convenience.

D/11/8/30

Sd./ Bhagat Singh

Convict-undertrial

Lahore Conspiracy case

Lahore

Through The Suptdt. Central Jail, Lahore,

Central Jail, Lahore

No. 127-Sd./11/8/30

Forwarded to the Registrar of the High Court of Judicature for favour of disposal

Sd./

Jail Document-6

In the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature (Punjab) Lahore

Crown VS. Bhagat Singh & Others

(Lahore Conspiracy case)

Charged under sections 302, 121, 121A etc. of I.P.C.

Most respectfully Shweth:– 1. That the petitioner submitted a petition on 11th August 1930 to this learned court through the Supdt. Central jail, Lahore, praying the court to intervene in the matter of interviews essential for defence purposes, with concerned relatives and legal advisers, which have been stopped due to his resorting to hunger strike as a protest against certain jail rules.

2. That a full week has elapsed since and no orders have been received by the petitioner.

3. That the defence is being unnecessarily handicapped and he is suffering simply due to [the] high handedness of the executive authorities.

4. That it is prayed that immediate orders be passed to this effect and the petitioner be informed of that.

D/16/8/30

Jail Document-7

To

The Special Commissioners

Lahore Conspiracy case Tribunal, Lahore

Sir,

I have just been informed by the jail authorities that the learned court was pleased to pass orders on my application dated 11th Aug.’30, to the effect that interviews with legal adviser alone may be allowed. I was at a loss to understand the reason of such an order. Why should I not be allowed to see my relatives, when the said interviews are very essential for defence purposes? If the order is meant simply to make a show that the accused are given proper facilities regarding their defence, though in reality nothing of the sort is done, on the contrary the defence is hampered at every step, then all my petitions and representations are useless.

My legal adviser, L. Duni Chand Bar-at-Law is in jail. I want to engage a new one, which I cannot do without the help and advice of my father. Therefore the interview is very essential. I have to consult my father about offering the defence. I want to ascertain how far he can help me in this respect. If interviews will not be allowed, the court and jail authorities shall stand responsible for the serious consequences that I might have to bear for this high-handedness.

With no stretch of imagination can I understand as to why should the court of law join hands with the executive in such matters as are immediately concerned with the administration of justice and be a party to the unnecessary harassment of the accused.

I most earnestly request the court to reconsider their order passed on my said application and to issue instructions to the jail authorities to allow my interviews so long as the trial is going on. They shall have time enough to treat us as they like after conviction.

Hoping to be forwarded with an early decision.

Yours etc.

D/18th Aug.’30

Sd./Bhagat Singh

Convict-Undertrial

Jail Document-8

In the Court of the Special Tribunal,

Lahore conspiracy Case Lahore

Crown VS. Sukhdev & Others

Charged Under sections 121, 121 A, 302 & 120 B

Most Respectfully Shweth:-

1. That the petitioner has today on 22nd Aug.’ 30 been supplied with the copies of the orders of the learned court bearing the dates 11th August and 22nd August ’30.

2. That in spite of the order of 11th August, no interview has so far been allowed to him.

3. That it is impossible for the petitioner to represent his case personally before the court on 25th August due to the weakness caused by hunger strike.

4. That unless and until he is allowed to see his relatives he is not in a position to engage any counsel.

5. That unless and until he is allowed to consult his co-accused he cannot decide about other matters concerning the defence.

6. That it is for the court to see that their orders are carried into effect properly.

7. That it is prayed that the court be pleased to issue immediate orders to the jail authorities to allow these interviews without any further delay.

D/22nd Aug’30

Sd/Bhagat Singh

Central Jail, Lahore

This application was handed over to me by Bhagat Singh at the Central Jail on the 22nd August 1930.

Sd/ Fatebuhan Reg(Not Clear)

(Spellings of the words are as written by Bhagat Singh in his own handwriting.)

Jail Document-9

In the Court of the Special Tribunal

Lahore Conspiracy Case, Lahore

Crown VS. Sukhdev & Others

Charged under sections 302, 120B, 121, 121A etc. of I.P.C.

Most Respectfully Shweth:- 1. That the petitioner has just been furnished with a copy of the learned court regarding the close [of] the prosecution evidence.

2. That since the accused-petitioner has not been given any opportunity to interview the relatives and particularly his father, who is the only person interested in his defence, he is not in a position to engage any counsel or legal adviser, and without whose help he cannot decide anything regarding such a delicate matter as the defence.

3. That it is prayed that the court be pleased to see if it is proper in these circumstances to deprive a man of all facilities of defence; and to do whatever is thought proper to meet the ends of justice.

D/26/8/30

Sd./ Bhagat Singh

Petitioner

Central Jail, Lahore

Seen by all the members of Tribunal. Placed on record.

Sd. / … d. 27/8/30

Jail Document-10

In the court of the Special Tribunal

Lahore Conspiracy case, Lahore

Crown VS. Sukhdev & others

Charged under sections 121, 121A, 302, 120B etc.

Most Respectfully Shweth:-

1. That yesterday on 29th August’30 the petitioner was informed by the jail authorities that orders have been received from the local govt. to allow him interviews with the legal advisers, relatives and co-accused for discussing and deciding finally about our defence in this case on 29th, 30th and 31st August ’30.

2. That father of the petitioner who is at Ludhiana standing his own trial, has been sent for and is expected today.

3. That the petitioner shall have an interview with his co-accused tomorrow viz 31st August’30.

4. That in the present circumstances, the petitioner shall be able to decide about his defence and will inform the court about the same on Monday i.e. 1st September 1930.

5. That it is therefore prayed that the learned court be pleased to postpone the passing of any final orders on the question of defence till Monday when the petitioner shall be in a position to inform the court of his final decision regarding the same.

D/30th Aug: 30

Sd./Bhagat Singh

Petitioner

No. 182-c D/ 30.8.30

Forwarded to the Registrar to the court of Special Tribunal Lahore Conspiracy case Lahore for favour of disposal.

Lahore Central Jail Sd./30.8.30 Supdt./ Central Jail

Jail Document-11

In the Court of the Special Magistrate, Lahore

Crown Versus Sukhdev Etc.

It is submitted as follows:-

That on 21st [October, 1929] instant, an unhappy incident occurred in the court. While an approver named Jai Gopal was giving his evidence standing in the dock, he adopted such a provocative posture that apart from twisting his moustaches, he addressed the accused, Janab ye Sab ap ke kartut Hai Sachchi Sachi Baten keh raha hun [Sirs, these are all your misdeeds, telling the true incidents!]. In these most provocative circumstances the youngest of all the accused, Prem Dutt [who was just 18 years at that time, born in 1911], got excited and threw a slipper at the approver. All the accused disapproved of his act and disassociated themselves from it. They wanted to make a statement in connection with that affair. But their statement was not recorded. They then submitted a joint statement. In spite of their statement to that effect, orders were passed against all the accused and all were subjected to undergo humiliation for the fault of one person, which was against the principle of Justice.

Comrade Bijoy Kumar Sinha has already submitted a statement about what happened in the Borstal Jail on 22nd instant. On the 23rd Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt were brought to the gate of the court by the Jail authorities. But the notice wanted to handcuff them on both hands which they refused. Then a large number of policemen and a few sub-inspectors and inspector pounced upon them. A few sat on their bodies and others xxxxx (word cancelled after writing) continued violently kicking and beating. These blows were dealt mercilessly on their heads and chests. Then both of them were dragged to court-room.

They asked if the police officials were acting under his orders and if he would ask for explanation from their officials for such brutal and illegal conduct. But no attention was paid to these …

The second page of this statement is not found in the Supreme Court digital records. Many of the accused, including Bijoy Kumar Sinha and Kanwalnath Tiwari, submitted written statements on police brutalities after this incident to the court, some of which were not recorded faithfully and were distorted by court officials. This statement also seems to be part of the same records, which was probably submitted on behalf of Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt. Most of the jail statements were drafted by Bhagat Singh.

Jail Document-12

In the court of the Special Magistrate, Lahore

Crown VS. Sukhdev & Others

Charged under sections 120B+302, 121A

The petitioners respectfully submit the following:-

1. That majority of the petitioners have been in confinement for the last nine months in the above case and the rest have been so confined for terms varying from two to six months, and the case will yet take a very long time.

2. That the charges against the petitioners are of a very serious nature.

3. That the petitioners are being deprived of the fundamental right of being defended by a counsel as they are not permitted to see their attorneys and friends, a matter which the learned court has delegated to the jail authorities who have refused to allow their interview with their attorneys and friends.

4. That although the police and other officials are permitted to come freely into the courtroom, the petitioners friends are not even permitted to enter the court room.

5. That the dock in which the petitioners are kept in the course of the inquiry is always surrounded by police and jail officials and even those petitioners who are represented by counsel feel handicapped in communicating with and giving full instructions to them.

6. That an unprecedented practice of keeping an assistant jailor and some jail officials present always around the dock is being daily pursued.

7. That the petitioners have been deprived of the right of having access to newspapers which they need very badly in connection with the defence.

8. That they are being persecuted and punished by the jail authorities for matters which have occurred in the court.

9. That the petitioners are unable to take legal steps in respect of the illegal punishment inflicted on them and the illegal treatment meted out to them by the jail authorities.

10. That definite complaints filed by some of the petitioners in respect of the ill treatment and assault by the police officials have not been attended to by the authorities and while in custody the petitioners are unable to prosecute them …

Here ends the first page of the petition. The second and likely final page is not in the digital records of the Supreme Court. The second page may have just one or two more submissions and comments of the jail authorities, if at all, if they had forwarded the petition. The petition could be dated Jan.-Feb. 1930, when trial was in progress and when many unpleasant incidents took place in the course of the trial by Special Magistrate Rai Saheb Pandit Sri Kishan.

(Documents compiled by Chaman Lal.)

Keywords: Bhagat Singh, Indian Independence Struggle, Bhagat Singh letters

When the Supreme Court of India established a museum to display landmarks in the history of India’s judicial system, it also put on display records of some historic trials. The first exhibition that was organised was the ‘Trial of Bhagat Singh.’ It was opened on September 28, 2007, on the occasion of the birth centenary celebrations of one of the most significant among martyrs and popular heroes. Noorul Hooda, Curator of the Museum, and Rajmani Srivastava of the National Archives worked to collect documents, items like bomb shell remains, pictures and publications. Not all of what was collected could be displayed in the exhibition. In 2008, the Supreme Court digitalised the exhibits. Some of Bhagat Singh’s rare writings thus came to light for the first time since he was executed on March 23, 1931 at the Lahore Central Jail along with Rajguru and Sukhdev. How the three young patriots were put to judicial murder, is brought out by the eminent legal scholar, A.G. Noorani, in his book, The Trial of Bhagat Singh — Politics of Justice.

The most significant part of Bhagat Singh’s life is that spent in jail since his arrest on April 8, 1929 from the Central Assembly in Delhi, where he and B.K. Dutt offered themselves to be arrested after throwing harmless bombs in the Assembly to ‘make the deaf hear.’ They faced two trials. The first was in the Delhi bomb case. It started on May 7, 1929 in Delhi and was committed to the Sessions Judge, on charges under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code and the Explosives Act. That trial started in June. Bhagat Singh and Dutt made a historic statement on June 6. Dutt was represented by the nationalist counsel Asaf Ali. Bhagat Singh fought his own case with the help of a legal adviser.

On June 12, in less than a week, both were convicted and transported for life. From the June 6 statement to his last letter to his comrades written on March 22, 1931, a day before his execution, Bhagat Singh read and wrote so much: one can only marvel at the explosion of talent at the age of 21 years-plus. He wrote letters to family members and friends, jail and court officials, and penned major articles including Why I am an Atheist, Letter to Young Political Workers, and Jail Notebook.

On June 14, after the conviction, Bhagat Singh was transferred to Mianwali and Dutt to the Lahore jail. That was the start of a chain of struggles throughout the period they were in jail. It began with a hunger strike from June 15 by both Bhagat Singh and Dutt, demanding the status of political prisoners. Bhagat Singh was also shifted to Lahore jail after some time. He and Dutt were kept away from the other accused in the Lahore conspiracy case, such as Sukhdev. The trial in that case, related to the murder of Saunders, began on July 10, 1929. Bhagat Singh, who was on hunger strike since June 15 along with Dutt, was brought to the court on a stretcher. The other accused in the case came to know about this hunger strike on that day, and almost all of them joined the strike.

This historic hunger strike by Bhagat Singh and his comrades resulted in the martyrdom of Jitender Das on September 13, 1929. Bhagat Singh and the other comrades ended their hunger strike on September 2 after receiving assurances from a Congress party team and British officials on the acceptance of their demands, but they resumed it on September 4 as the British officials went back on their word. It finally ended on October 4 after 112 days, though the status of “political prisoner” was still not given; some other demands were acceded to.

During the Lahore conspiracy case trial conducted by Special Magistrate Rai Sahib Pandit Kishan Chand, an incident occurred on October 21, 1929. Provoked by an approver named Jai Gopal, Prem Dutt, the youngest among the accused persons, threw a slipper at him. Despite the other accused dissociating themselves from the act, the magistrate ordered the handcuffing of all of them. Bhagat Singh, Shiv Verma, B.K. Dutt, Bejoy Kumar Sinha, Ajoy Ghosh, Prem Dutt and others were beaten after they refused to be handcuffed. They were treated brutally inside the jail and at the court gate in front of the magistrate. Ajoy Ghosh and Shiv Verma fell unconscious following the police brutality. Bhagat Singh was targeted by a British officer by name Roberts.

The details of the brutalities were recorded by Bejoy Kumar Sinha. In February 1930, Bhagat Singh resumed his hunger strike for 15 days, as the British officials did not fulfil the promises they had made earlier with respect to demands.

Meanwhile, the fame of revolutionaries, arising from their hunger strikes and court statements, soared, while the image of the British was at its lowest ebb. The case drew attention the world over. While dismissing appeals from Bhagat Singh and Dutt against the Delhi bomb case judgment, the Punjab High Court in Lahore acknowledged Bhagat Singh to be a ‘Sincere Revolutionary.’

The British colonial regime led by Viceroy Irwin took the unprecedented step of issuing the Lahore conspiracy case ordinance on May 1, 1930. Under this, the proceedings that were being conducted by a Special Magistrate in Lahore were transferred to a three-judge Special Tribunal established to complete them within a fixed period. The Tribunal’s judgment was not to be challenged in the superior courts; only the Privy Council could hear any appeal. This ordinance was never approved by the Central Assembly or the British Parliament, and it lapsed later without any legal or constitutional sanctity. Its only purpose was to hang Bhagat Singh in the shortest possible time. That judgment sentencing Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru to the gallows was delivered on October 7, 1930.

The Tribunal began its proceedings on May 5, 1930. The accused in the Lahore conspiracy case refused to attend the proceedings after May 12. On that day they raised slogans and sung revolutionary songs. Brutalities were repeated on them, as in October 1929, in front of the Special Magistrate. This time Ajoy Ghosh, Kundan Lal and Prem Dutt fell unconscious. The accused remained absent during the whole proceedings and remained unrepresented by counsel. Advocates engaged to defend them were insulted by the Tribunal. Subsequently, the accused themselves directed them not to defend them in their absence. These details are in A.G. Noorani’s book, The Trial of Bhagat Singh.

What remained out of view all these years were the many letters that Bhagat Singh wrote and the petitions he sent to either the jail authorities or to the Special Tribunal or to the Punjab High Court, during the period 1929-1930. In these letters and petitions, Bhagat Singh sought to expose the British colonial regime’s determined efforts to get him hanged by denying the accused any defence during the trial. Even though the accused were choosing not to be present in the court, they were participating in the legal proceedings through counsel. The Tribunal refused the revolutionaries’ counsel, Amolak Ram Kapoor, permission to cross-examine 457 prosecution witnesses and allowed the cross-examination of only five approvers. This was a farce.

The letters reveal another hunger strike by Bhagat Singh from July 28, 1930, on which he himself informed the High Court it was against the jail rules. He was joined in the hunger strike by Kundan Lal, Prem Dutt Verma, Sukhdev and Bejoy Kumar Sinha. This hunger strike continued till at least August 22. With this, the total period of hunger strikes observed during his nearly two-year incarceration becomes about five months. Probably this is more than the total period of Mahatma Gandhi’s hunger strikes during his prolonged political career starting from South Africa.

When the court finally allowed interviews as sought by Bhagat Singh to prepare his defence, and when he asked for an adjournment of the case, the court closed the proceedings without giving any chance to defence counsel to cross-examine prosecution witnesses or present defence witnesses. Then it reserved judgment, which was delivered on October 7, 1930.

More such documents might emerge. The compilation of the complete proceedings of the Delhi Assembly bomb case and the Special Magistrate Court’s proceedings could bring more facts to light. The Punjab Archives in Lahore has 135 files of the Bhagat Singh case. These are not accessible even to Pakistani scholars; Kuldip Nayar is now trying to get access to them. In 2006, at the time of the 75th anniversary of the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, the Acting Chief Justice of the Pakistan Supreme Court, Rana Bhagwan Dass, handed over to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh four volumes of exhibits of the Lahore conspiracy case. These included some new documents.

While the source of the documents in the Supreme Court records is not clearly mentioned, undoubtedly these are part of the trial proceedings at both levels. The letters, self-explanatory in the context of the freedom struggle, show the amazing command Bhagat Singh had over the English language, apart from Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi, his knowledge of legal terminology and his beautiful handwriting. In the book, Gandhi and Bhagat Singh, historian V.N. Dutta expressed doubts about Bhagat Singh’s command over English as he was an under-graduate. He sought to ascribe the language to Jawaharlal Nehru or Asaf Ali. For legal professionals, scholars and students, the letters present a wonderful experience of how Bhagat Singh had such maturity in complex matters of legal defence.

But Bhagat Singh’s very talent and competence scared the British colonial regime and it became even more determined to get rid of him.

The Supreme Court’s digitalised records include nearly 20 written Bhagat Singh documents. Some of these, such as the June 6, 1929 statement, ‘Ideal of Indian Revolution,’ have been published. Only 12 letters or petitions remain unpublished. This writer acknowledges the permission granted by the Supreme Court to do so. Ten of the documents are in complete form. Only the first page remains of two letters/documents, one relating to the October 21, 1929 incident in court and another petition from early-1930; the second and likely final page in these two are not in the digital records. Also available now is a photograph of Bhagat Singh and Dutt, published in ‘Bande Matram’, Lahore (on April 12, 1929) and Hindustan Times (April 18, 1929). This was taken by photographer Sham Lal of Kashmere Gate in Delhi on April 4, 1929 and sent to newspapers for publication by Bhagat Singh’s comrades. The writer is grateful to the National Archives, New Delhi, for providing the rare newspaper photographs.

[Chaman Lal, the editor of the Bhagat Singh Documents (Hindi: Publications Division) and the Jail Notebook and Other Writings (LeftWord), is a Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, now on deputation to The University of the West Indies, Trinidad &Tobago, as Visiting Professor.]

ON November 17, 1928, Lala Lajpat Rai, the tallest leader of the freedom movement from Punjab, died due to the blows given by D.S.P Saunders at the order given by S.P. Lahore Scott on October 30, when he was leading a massive protest march of people against the Simon Commission. Lala ji declared in his now famous speech the same evening: “Every blow on my body will prove to be the last kneel in the coffin of British rule in India.”

On November 29, 1928, in a memorial meeting held in Calcutta to mourn the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, Basanti Devi, widow of radical nationalist C.R. Dass, in anguish put a question to Indian youths: “I quake with shame and disgrace. Do the youth and manhood of the country still exist? Does it feel the shame and disgrace of it? A woman of the land demands a clear answer to it.” (Quoted in Kamlesh Mohan’s book, Militant Nationalism in India).

C.R. Dass and Basanti Devi were known for their soft corner for the revolutionaries in Bengal and the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) formed two months ago at Delhi’s Ferozeshah Kotla ground. Led by Bhagat Singh, the latter could not ignore the call given by Basanti Devi. Though HSRA had decided to go in for mass movements and renounce violent methods like killing of officials etc., they could not let the British colonial regime get away with killing the tallest leader with whom revolutionaries had many differences.

Consequently, on December 17, 1928, a month after Lala ji’s death, D.S.P. Saunders was lying in front of the Lahore SSP’s office in the same place, shot dead by revolutionaries. Jai Gopal gave the indication and Rajguru did not even wink in shooting him down from his motorcycle. Bhagat Singh realised in seconds that he was not the targeted man — J.A. Scott — and he promptly told this to Chandershekhar Azad overseeing the operation. But once Rajguru shot him, Bhagat Singh saw to it that he did not survive and further shot him.

Azad’s warning

The other British constables ran away, but Chanan Singh did not stop following the revolutionaries despite Chandershekhar Azad’s explicit warning to him not to do so as they were fighting for Indian freedom. Chanan Singh bore the bullet of Azad to die with the oppressive British officer.

How Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Jai Gopal etc. escaped is a known story now. However, what is little known is the role of Bhagat Singh’s young comrades. They were Pt. Kishori Lal (born in 1909) and Prem Dutt Verma (born on September 19, 1911). Verma was not even 18 years of age when he was arrested in May 1929.

After the arrest of Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt on April 8, 1929 in Delhi, and of other revolutionaries like Sukhdev on April 15, the link of revolutionaries led by Bhagat Singh in the murder of Saunders came to be known to the Punjab police. Soon other arrests followed and most of them were students of various colleges. An FIR was filed against 25 people in the court of Rai Sahib Pt. Sri Kishan, Special Magistrate appointed to conduct the Lahore conspiracy case.

While the police produced 16 of the accused in the court on July 10, 1929, accused from 17th to 25th in the list were declared absconders. These include Chandershekhar Azad (never arrested and martyred on February 27, 1931 in Alfred Park, Allahabad), Bejoy Kumar Sinha (arrested later), Kailashpati Raghunath alias Rajguru (arrested later), Bhagwaticharan Vohra (never arrested and martyred on May 28, 1930 while experimenting with a bomb at Ravi bank, Lahore), Kundan Lal (arrested last), Yashpal (noted Hindi writer (arrested in 1932 and charged with different cases), Satgurudyal (not arrested).

Under the Indian Penal Code, they were accused of, among other things, trying to establish a “Federated Republican Government”. Prem Dutt’s name figured in No. 5 of the accused list as Prem Dutt alias Master alias Amrit lal, son of Ram Dutt Khatri of Gujarat. Kishori Lal Rattan, son of Raghubar Dutt of Hoshiarpur district, was No.3 after Sukhdev and Agya Ram. The case was known as ‘Sukhdev vs Crown’.

Exhibits in four bound and typed volumes in English of the Lahore conspiracy case, were gifted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh, in 2006 by Rana Bhagwan Das, the then Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan Supreme Court. Though he and his family were insulted at Wagha border by insensitive Indian officials and sent back without allowing entry, he came later. Of the 600 plus exhibits of the case, Advocate and Prof. Malwinderjit Singh Waraich had presented 63 exhibits in a large volume. Section 12 of this volume deals with Recovery from Prem Dutt, Section 29 deals with Statement of Prem Dutt and Section 51 deals with Prem Dutt Letters/other records.

Accused Jai Gopal became approver. Agya Ram, Surindernath Pandey and B.K. Dutt (already serving life imprisonment in the Delhi Bomb case) were discharged from the list on July 10, 1930. The remaining 15 accused were proceeded against. Apart from Jai Gopal named in the original FIR, Phonindernath Ghosh, Manmohan Bannerjee, Lalit Kumar Mukerji and Hansraj Vohra became approvers of the case and got pardon in reward.

An incident relating to Prem Dutt Verma during the trial proceedings is worth revisiting. It has been narrated by many authors, but the first-hand account of Bejoy Kumar Sinha, himself an accused and victim, is touching and revealing. To paraphrase him from the book, Bejoy Kumar Sinha: A Revolutionary’s Quest for Sacrifice by his widow Srirajyam Sinha, published by Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan in 1993, the book presents many unpublished memoirs of B.K. Sinha through his papers, on October 21, 1929, in the court of Pt. Sri Kishan, approver Jai Gopal while tendering his evidence from witness box, was twisting his moustache and trying to provoke the accused in the other box.

According to Sinha, “Prem Dutt, the youngest of all, got excited and upset and in the heat of a moment threw a sleeper at the approver. Immediately, the rest of the accused hastened to express regret at his conduct and dissociated themselves from the act.” (Page 44). Despite their regret, in the following days all revolutionaries were treated in a most brutal fashion. On October 22, they were all handcuffed and after lunch, when they resisted, in B.K.Sinha’s words, “the police was hell bent on teaching the accused the lesson of their life”. A special Pathan force was requisitioned and they were beaten mercilessly.

Bhagat Singh was singled out for this. Eight ferocious Pathans pounced upon him and with their regulation boots kicked him viciously and beat him with lathis ruthlessly. Mr Roberts, an European officer, pointed out at Sardar Bhagat Singh and said “this is the man, give him more beating”. They were dragged on the ground and carried like logs of wood and thrown on the benches. All this happened in the presence of the visitors of court compound.

The magistrate too was watching all this apparently thinking that he had no jurisdiction as he was not presiding over the court. Sheo Verma and Ajoy Kumar Ghosh became unconscious. Bhagat Singh then raised his voice and told the court, “I want to congratulate you on this. Sheo Verma is lying unconscious and if he dies you will be responsible for this.” (page 45). According to B.K. Sinha, that was not the end of the day, as Bhagat Singh was attacked in the jail ward the same evening again and thrashed. A.G. Noorani, in his book, The Trial of Bhagat Singh, reports on the same event with Prem Dutt speaking to the court the same day: “Yesterday fingers were thrown into our rectum and kicks were given on our testicles. Is it civilisation? You call it civilisation?

The same situation was repeated on May 12, 1930, when after disbanding of Pt Sri Kishan Special Magistrate court, a Special Tribunal of three judges was proclaimed through an ordinance by Lord Irwin on May 1, 1930. On May 12, during the court appearance, “Bhagat Singh started singing”, according to B.K. Sinha, “in his melodious voice” — Watan ki aabroo ka pas dekhen kaun kehta hai/suna hai aaj maktal mein hamara imtihan hoga (Let us see who cares for the dignity of the nation/ It is heard today we will be tried in a massacre house).

And it literally happened. Justice Coldstream, President of the Special Tribunal, ordered them to be silenced and the police in large numbers in the running court pounced upon them despite Bhagat Singh protesting that there was no occasion for that. Scuffle, beating, singing, slogan shouting all continued and Prem Dutt, Kundan Lal and Ajoy Ghosh became unconscious. Justice Agha Haider could not bear and covered his face with a newspaper and dissociated himself from the brutal order. In his book, A.G. Noorani wrote that Bhagat Singh, while addressing the Tribunal, said: “You are cowards and mercenaries.”

In May 1929, at Prem Dutt Verma’s house at Mohalla Qila Shumali, Gujrat city of Punjab was searched and on May 7, 1929, 24 books and magazines including copies of Urdu and Panjabi Kirti, books on Mahatma Gandhi, Guru Gobind Singh, Sachindernath Sanyal’s Bandi Jivan, Tolstoy’s Essays and Letters, Tales from Shakespeare, Poems and Plays of Goldsmith, etc were recovered.

Another search mentions the recovery of nearly 30 more books such as the Sedition Committee Report, popularly known as the Rowlett Report of 1918, The Seven that were Hanged, Resurrection by Tolstoy, a portrait of Kartar Singh Sarabha and a portrait of Kakori martyr Thakur Roshan Singh. Recoveries were made till May 12, 1929 and Prem Dutt was mentioned as the grandson of Mrs Vidyawati, widow of Thakur Dass, caste Vig Khatri…

In section Prem Dutt letters/Other records, his letter of May 16, 1929, is reproduced twice, which seems to be written in coded language. In this letter to a friend referred as S.S. Prem Dutt enquires about the fruit garden, contracts of wine, charas and bhang and also about fireworks (ammunition), also about license for potash, sulphur, etc. It seems to be relating to the bomb making code.

Prem Dutt’s statement exhibited as “confession” was recorded by Magistrate Mushtaq Ahmad on May 17, 1929. A 15-page printed statement, it refers to his passing the entrance examination. In 1927, at the age of 16, he joined the DAV College in Lahore. Prem Dutt refers to reading of revolutionary literature along with Kishori Lal and Pran Nath, like the Sedition Committee Report, Dan Brien’s My Fight for Irish Freedom, Anand Math (Bankim Chatterji), proscribed books like Chingarian and America Ne Swadhinta Kaise Prapat Ki (How America won its freedom).

Saunders’ murder

He refers to Kishori Lal having a library of such books. He further refers to Bertrand Russell’s book, Roads to Freedom. Prem Dutt refers to his meeting with Bhagat Singh, who was known as Ranjit in the group (his other fictitious name was Balwant). This was after the murder of Saunders. An interesting part of this meeting was that according to Prem Dutt, Bhagat Singh and Kishori Lal went to see Tolstoy’s novel-based film of the same title, Resurrection in Lahore’s Excelsior theatre. Prem Dutt mentions about his handing over Bhagat Singh’s shoes to the police.

Prem Dutt Verma or Vig was sentenced to five years imprisonment in the case. After his release, he probably resumed his studies and went up to become Professor of History in Panjab University, Chandigarh. But the strange part of his story is that despite being in academics, not much of his writings on the subject or memoirs are known. After retirement he went to the US where he hopefully lives. No information could be gathered from the Department of History, Panjab University.

Hope some of his family members or friends will bring Prem Dutt’s life to focus. Many co-students/co-workers of Bhagat Singh like Durga Das Khanna, A.C. Bali etc. joined The Tribune or other media organisations and some of them have their memoirs of those days published. The saga of Bhagat Singh continues to fascinate and is impregnated with many more stories.n

The writer is Editor, Bhagat Singh’s Documents, (in Hindi published by the Publications Division, Government of India) and of Jail Notebook and Other Writings of Bhagat Singh (in English). A Professor of Centre of Indian Languages, JNU, New Delhi, he is currently Visiting Professor, University of West Indies, Trinidad & Tobago

Kare Jahan Daraz Hai, though story of Muslim gentry or feudal classes, is written in such a fascinating manner and history is recreated in a way as if events are passing before your eyes.Creation of pro peasant land law by a Muradabadi Muslim officer posted in Gurdaspur,journeys of Turkey, Egypt and other countries,Hindi Urdu controversy, reproduction of full speech of President of the session in 1951, at Hindustani Academy Lucknow, after partition.

It is one of the greatest fiction of the world literature, I have still not crossed even half of it in 2-3 months.It is long time after that I am enjoying reading historic fiction as a reader and can’t tell you the kind of aesthetic pleasure I draw of it.The recreation of 1857 and its impact on Indian society, various social reformist movements, like women education among Muslim community, creation and development of Aligarh Muslim University, which became the base of enlightenment among rich Muslim community and gave chances to poorer section for education as well.The first generation Pakistani elite came mostly from Aligarh Muslim University and for this very reason Pakistan is in such fraternal bond with India that any departure from liberal education of AMU, just leads to the dark age of Mullagardi and jehadi terrorism.

Salute to the great creative genius called Qurrat-ul-ain haider! Other than Urdu language readers/writers know her because of ‘Aag Ka darya’, translated in English by herself as ‘River of Fire’, which I also like, but perhaps I like ‘Kare Jahan ..even more! As in case of Bhisham Sahni, I like his ‘Mayya Das ki Madi’, again a recreation of socio-cultural history of Khalsa period and later in Punjab, beginning of women education among Hindus, curiosity of people to have a look for the first time of a train!

15. **’Antyaj’, Madhav Kondvalikar, translation from Marathi,Uttam Kanitkar, Vidya Prakashan Mandir, New Delhi, Ist ed. 1992, Price Rs. 125/, pages 222

Hindi translation of Marathi Dalit autobiographical novel-‘Mukkam Post Devache Gothne’, published in Marathi in 1977. Ist published in ‘Tanmay’ magazine’s Dipavli issue of 1977.Written in diary form from 17-11-1969 to last entry 1-2-1977, covering little over eight year period of struggles of author in his own village, where he got posted as Govt. school teacher and his sufferings include at the hands of his own caste men. Madhav Kondvalikar was born on 15th July 1941 in a Chamar or cobbler family of Devache Gothne village, where he got posted as school teacher after getting education in trying circumstances, but his sufferings did not end with getting respectable job. Village children and his students insulted him by taking bath in river, after the touch of ‘Chamar’ teacher and his writing to a paper about it became further cause for harassment. His house was few miles away, so he wanted to live near the school, no one was ready to rent him house and in compulsion, he had to accept a house of his own caste man, which he would not have accepted, given other option. The boy of the house is spoiled child and harasses Master and later his wife to no end. Seven years he runs after any person with influence in society, big names in literary world like P L Deshpande, Baba Aadhav try their best to just get him transferred from the harassed place, but do not succeed and he go through all kinds of indignities, but getting established as significant writer in the Marathi literary world. At long last he is transferred to Rajapur in early 1977 and his diary concludes at this relieving juncture, though it is still not certain that he would not go through another bout of harassment at Rajapur.

Writer is unhappy at the flaws of his own Dalit society, where untouchability exists even among various dalit castes. Mahars and Chamars of his village don’t live in harmony, rather they are in conflict, makes writer sad, he wishes to see enlightenment in his own alit society, but which is not visible.

‘Antyaj’ is term used for fifth among four varna Hindu society-Brahmins,Kshatriyas, Vaishya and Shudras are four tier varna system of Hindus, Antyajs are considered ati shudra or untouchable castes among Shudras.

Madhav Kondvalikar referred to many Marathi classics, which he has been reading through all his sufferings. In fact books are his only solace during this period and he spends most of his salary on books, annoying his parents to no end, as he is not giving any financial support to family, which they expect from him.

Writer has claimed it to be first Dalit autobiography of Marathi, which I doubt. Marathi Dalit literary scholars can shed some light on it. On the whole it is an important dalit narrative of Marathi literature; writer rightly got many literary honours.