The association of Ramprasad with Arya Samaj inevitably led to the freedom struggle. Samaj was full of the leaders who fiercely advocated political freedom from the British. Most of those leaders also belonged to the Congress, the political party that was engaging the British on the political front.
Swami Somdev of Arya Samaj was instrumental in guiding Ramprasad into the revolutionary chapter of the freedom struggle. In 1913 Swamiji had arrived in Shahjahanpur on the eve of the annual function of Arya Samaji. It is here that Ramprasad came into contact with him. For the two or three years continuously he attended the anniversaries of the organisation at Shahjahanpur Arya Samaj Mandir.
From 1915 onwards at the request of the lot of admirers Swami Somdev started living at the Arya Samaj Mandir. Ramprasad got enough chance to understand the views and the thinking of Swamiji. He used to give lessons to Ramprasad on the religion and the basics of the politics. He avoided talking about the complexities of the ideological politics because Ramprasad was a raw youth of only 18 years.
Swamiji was well versed in the English language. He was skilled orator. Many of the prominent patriotic leaders like Lala Hardyal, Lala Lajpatrai, Swami Shraddhananda, Acharya Kamdeva etc had friendly relations with Swamiji. He used to discuss social and political affairs with them.
Ramprasad listened to those discussions very keenly like a student. Thus, in the company of Swamiji the young Ramprasad learnt a lot. His understanding of spiritual, social and political matters increased manifold. On his own Ramprasad had become an avid reader of newspapers.
In the year 1916 the trial of Lahore Conspiracy case was on.
Ramprasad read details of the trial in news papers with great interest. He had read the book ‘Twareekh-E-Hind’ (History of India) a couple of years ago. The book was written by Bhai Parmananda who was the main accused in the conspiracy case. The book had made a deep impression on Ramprasad.
His anger knew no bounds when the court awarded death sentence to Bhai Parmananda.
This development deeply etched the message on young Ramprasad’s mind that the alien rulers of India, the British, were the most cruel people who had no regard for justice. Injustice ruled everywhere. Arrogance and tyranny were the basic policies of the rulers. Ramprasad took a vow to teach a lesson to the British, ‘I will take revenge on the British for this injustice and devote my entire life to the task of the destruction of the British empire.’
After taking the solemn pledge Ramprasad went to Swami Somdeva. He told Swamiji about the death sentence passed on to Bhai Parmananda. Swamiji was unaware of it. The news shocked him. Ramprasad revealed to him the vow he had taken to take revenge and to work for the downfall of the alien rulers.
Swamiji looked at Ramprasad and released a deep sigh. He lapsed into thoughts. After a while he opened his eyes and spoke in a low voice, “Ram, it is very easy to take vow but it is pretty much difficult to fulfil it practically.”
In reply Ramprasad placed his head reverently on the feet of Swamiji and declared, “O Swamiji! With the blessings of your feet I shall fulfil my vow at whatever cost. There will be no default on my part.”
The solemnity of the youngman’s words really touched Swami Somdeva. A smile lit up his face. He put his hand on the head of Ramprasad and spoke in emotionally choked voice, “May God bless you and brighten up your future. Shine, my son.”
While saying this Swamiji’s eyes were fixed at point far away in the space as if he were tying to read the destiny of Ramprasad written in invisible divine code. His eyes rolled off two pearl like tears and he muttered, “Go Ram. Mother India is waiting for you. Free her. Always remember your vow and march on the path of revolution.”
From that day on Ramprasad began to evolve in the mould of a revolutionary. He had started writing patriotic verses and texts. For this purpose he had adopted the surname ‘Bismil’. Now he was Ramprasad Bismil. Meanwhile as he became more active politically things happened involving him in the revolutionary activities.
A youth organisation of Lucknow ‘Kumar Sabha’ was going to organise its annual function. At the same time Congress Session was also scheduled to be held at Lucknow. Ramprasad Bismil too arrived at Lucknow. Infact Kumar Sabha was a youth organisation of Arya Samaj formed for the purpose of strengthening the social reforms movement.
Kumar Sabha used to hold its meetings in the Arya Samaj Mandirs every Friday in which debates on religious books, essay competitions and declamation contests were organised.
Ramprasad Bismil was a leading member of this forum. It is here where he started to speak in public and gain prominence in the forum. The members of the Kumar Sabha used to go to the nearly villages and towns to propagate the ideals of Arya Samaj. Thus it earned a remarkable fame.
Ramprasad Bismil had reached Lucknow as a representative of the Shahjahanpur Kumar Sabha to take part in the annual function which coincided with 1916 Lucknow Congress Session.
It was the period when the Congress party was divided in two factions namely ‘Hardliners’ and ‘Soft liners’. Hardliners had greater sway over the youth of the country. One of the leading lights of the hardliners was Lokmanya Tilak. He was also scheduled to arrive at Lucknow to take part in the session.
The members of the Kumar Sabha learnt about his arrival. All of them were ardent supporters and admirers of the fire brand leader, Lokmanya Tilak. They wanted to give Tilak a rousing reception to express their support to him. So, hundreds of Kumar Sabha members swelled by the students of Lucknow schools and colleges surged towards the railway station where the train carrying Tilak was to arrive.
The ‘Welcome Committee’ of Congress party wanted to give reception to Tilak at railway station itself and was against taking him out in procession through the city. Only a day before the Congress President was taken through the city in a grand ceremonial procession. But Kumar Sabha members and other youth were in favour of Tilak being taken to the venue in the same fashion.
The Congress President belonged to the softliners group. The softliners feared that if Tilak was taken in procession the earlier reception accorded to the president would get devalued. It also was a fact that Tilak would get more enthusiastic response from the public due to his immense popularity.
So, the Welcome Committee had arranged to whisk away Tilak from the railway station to the venue through an outside route which did not go through the city. The students and the youth protested against it.
When the train steamed in and Lokmanya Tilak alighted from it a crowd surrounded him and the air rant with slogans hailing him. The ‘Welcome Committee’ members of the Congress and the party workers had laid a siege to Tilak.
According to the plan they herded Tilak towards the place outside the station where a car was kept ready to whisk him away. Tilak was led into the car and the driver was asked to drive away.
Bismil saw through the trick. He alongwith a student lunged forward and lied down in front of the car before it could be driven away. The Congress workers tried to persuade them to remove themselves out of the way of the car. The two just turned deaf ears to their pleas. Meanwhile some other youth had also come forward and sat in front of the car. Young Ramprasad Bismil was overcharged with zeal and was crying. He was begging in a frenzy, “Drive away the car over my body. Drive away…”
The Welcome Committee members were in a fix. They could not afford to crush the youth in order to whisk away Tilak. They stood confused not knowing what to do. The youth asked them to lend the car to take Tilak in procession. They would not agree to it. An angry youth slashed one of the tyres of the car with sharp weapon deflating it. The car was useless now.
Ramprasad Bismil and his associates tried to get another car. But they could not get any. An open car was required. A closed up ordinary car was unsuitable for the purpose of the procession. At last they settled for a big buggy. The horses were let loose. Tilak was made to sit in the buggy.
The crowd of youth began to pull the buggy. Thus, Tilak was taken through the city in procession which proved a big draw. The enthusiastic youth were vying with one another in pulling the carriage. Consequently a lot of jostling and pushing was taking place to the amusement of the spectators.
The people were showering flowers on Tilak. The response of the people was overwhelming. The flowers that fell on the road were snapped away fast. The admirers of Tilak wanted to keep the flowers as mementoes of the event.
Due to the memorable reception given to Lokmanya Tilak the youngman named Ramprasad Bismil had become a kind of celebrity because the whole show was made possible because of his effort. The Congress workers took note of the youngman. His popularity among the youth dramatically increased and he became a well known face among the young people. The leaders and the revolutionaries also took notice of Ramprasad Bismil.
