On 3rd March, 1931 the family members of Bhagat Singh came to meet him. There were his parents, old grandpa, aunts, brothers and sisters.
Grandpa Sardar Arjun Singh was grief stricken. He had initiated the family into the freedom politics and lost two sons. Now his dearest grandson was to be snatched away.
He went to Bhagat Singh on his old tired legs and put his palm on the head of his grandson as if he were a newborn. His trembling lips moved to say something but no words came out. He tried to force out the words but failed. Tears rolled down his wrinkled cheeks. He walked away and stood at a distance watching through his old misty eyes.
Bhagat Singh said to his mother, “Ma, stay with grandpa at Banga. He won’t last long.” Then, he met other members of the family one by one, talked to them and consoled them.
At last he laughed and said to his mother, “Don’t come to take my dead body. Send Kulveer. You will weep and the people would say that Bhagat’s mother was weeping.”
Then he laughed merrily. The jail authorities stared in utter bewilderment.
The morning of 23rd March, 1931 arrived. The sky was covered with blood red clouds.
Bhagat Singh was on that day, 23 years, 5 months and 26 days old.
He had begun the 27th day.
He had sent for the biography of ‘Lenin’ through his advocate Pran Nath Mehta. He was busy reading it. During those last days he was always found reading that book. The Lenin story revealed the greatest success of the revolution which held hope for India as well. Like everyday Bhagat Singh was calm and carefree.
The jailor of the Lahore Central Jail was a worried man. He liked and respected Bhagat Singh immensely. And it was his last day. He served Bhagat Singh rasgullas as he had demanded. Bhagat ate with relish.
The doors of all the cells were ordered to be kept shut on that day.
Havildar Sardar Chatar Singh was the Chief Warder of the jail. At 3 p.m. he was informed that the condemned were to be hanged in the evening. The necessary arrangements were ordered to be made. Chatar was a very religious and God fearing man. Recital of Guru Vani was his daily ritual.
He went to Bhagat Singh and said, “Son, your last hours have arrived. I am like your father. Listen to my advice.”
Bhagat Singh laughed, “Say it.”
“My request is that you must chant the name of Guru. Recite Guru Vani. I have brought this pocket edition for you.”
Bhagat Singh guffawed. Then he said, “Had you wished it some days ago I could have accepted your advice. But it is my last hour. The people would say that in face of death I remembered God out of fear. So, let me spend my last hour in the normal way.”
He again resumed his study of Lenin.
The door suddenly opened. Out there were jail authorities in their bright uniforms. Their chief said, “Sardarji, the orders have come to hang you. Please get ready.”
Bhagat had the book in right hand. Without lifting his eyes off the book he raised his left hand and said, “Wait…a revolutionary is meeting another revolutionary.”
The authorities stood frozen. Bhagat Singh read some more lines and tossed the book high towards the ceiling. He got up and spoke, “Let’s go.”
He was as carefree as if he were going for a walk in the park. He said, “Don’t handcuff us and don’t cover our faces with black hoods.”
His request was granted.
He walked out of his cell flanked by officers. Rajguru and Sukhdev also emerged out of their cells in similar fashion. They saw one another and impulsive embracing took place.
Then Rajguru held Bhagat’s left hand and Sukhdev grabbed the right hand. They walked in that way singing a patriotic verse. The authorities walked in their front, back and on flanks.
In the gallows hall English Deputy Commissioner stood by. Bhagat Singh said to him, “Well Magistrate, you are fortunate to be able to see today how the Indian revolutionaries can embrace death with pleasure for the sake of their supreme ideal.”
The Deputy Commissioner turned red.
All three mounted the stairs and stood before the hanging nooses. Bhagat Singh in middle and the other two on his sides.
The three raised the slogan, “Inquilab Zindabad—Colonialism Murdabad.”
They kissed the nooses and put them in their necks. Bhagat Singh said to the hangman, “Set the ropes right.”
The hangman adjusted the nooses with his shivering hands.
Then, he pulled the levers in one go. The foot planks swung down. The three revolutionary sons of India became martyrs.
The time was 7.33 p.m.
Then, the authorities enacted the most macabre act. The dead bodies of the martyrs were chopped into pieces and filled in gunny bags. The bags were carried to the back door of the jail where they were loaded in a waiting truck. After loading the truck sped away.
The dead bodies of the martyrs were like phantoms for the authorities. The very sight of the bodies of martyrs could set the country aflame and burn down the colonial rule.
Sardar Kishan Singh was outside the jail delivering a speech to the people who were gathered there. The news of the hanging incited the people. He calmed them and went to authorities to ask for the body of his son. The authorities made some excuses.
The truck with the gunny bags sped to Kasoor. There was a Sikh and a Hindu priest waiting for them. The arrangements had been made in advance. With the priests the truck raced to Ferozepur and stopped on the bank of Satluj river.
The gunny bags were off loaded on the sand. Kerosene cans were emptied on them and then the bags were set on fire in the darkness of the night. Sikh and Hindu priests watched from a safe distance ashamed and horrified.
The news of the arrival of the truck with the bodies of the martyrs had reached Ferozepur. Hundred of people set out from their houses with torches to look for the truck.
The priests and the officials saw the torches coming towards them in distance. They panicked. The half burnt pieces of flesh were thrown in the river. The sand was levelled to obliterate the traces of the act and then the policemen fled from there like frightened rabbits.
The following day the people traced the spot of the unholy act. The half burnt pieces of flesh and bones were fished from the river or dug out of the sand. The people gave the remains of the martyrs proper funeral.
The people of Lahore next day found official posters on walls informing them of the hanging of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev and the funeral of their bodies in the presence of a Sikh and a Hindu priest with proper rights.
The British destroyed Bhagat Singh physically but from his ashes rose up like Phoenix the legend that inspires and warms up every Indian heart for ever.
A legend that would live for ever.
