“In
God man can find very strong consolation and support. Without Him, man has to
depend upon himself. To stand upon one’s own legs amid storms and hurricanes is
not a child’s play. At such testing moments, vanity-if any-evaporates, and man
cannot dare to defy the general beliefs, if he does, then we must conclude that
he has got certain other strength than mere vanity.” Shaheed Bhagat Singh
“In May 1927 I was arrested at Lahore . The arrest was a
surprise. I was quite unaware of the fact that the police wanted me. All of a
sudden while passing through a garden I found myself surrounded by police. To
my own surprise, I was very calm at that time. I did not feel any sensation, neither
did I experience any excitement. I was taken into police custody. Next day I
was taken to the Railway Police lock-up where I was to pass full one month.
After many day’s conversation with the Police officials I guessed that they had
some information regarding my connection with the Kakori Party and my other
activities in connection with the revolutionary movement. They told me that I
had been to Lucknow while
the trial was going on there, that I had negotiated a certain scheme about
their rescue, that after obtaining their approval, we had procured some bombs,
that by way of test one of the bombs was thrown in the crowd on the occasion of
Dussehra 1926. They further informed me, in my interest, that if I could give
any statement throwing some light on the activities of the revolutionary party,
I was not to be imprisoned but on the contrary set free and rewarded even
without being produced as an approver in the Court. I laughed at the proposal.
It was all humbug. People holding ideas like ours do not throw bombs on their
own innocent people. One fine morning Mr. Newman, the then Senior
Superintendent of C.I.D., came to me. And after much sympathetic talk with me
imparted-to him-the extremely sad news that if I did not give any statement as
demanded by them, they would be forced to send me up for trial for conspiracy
to wage war in connection with Kakori Case and for brutal murders in connection
with Dussehra Bomb outrage. And he further informed me that they had evidence
enough to get me convicted and hanged. In those days I believed-though I was
quite innocent-the police could do it if they desired. That very day certain
police officials began to persuade me to offer my prayers to God regularly both
the times. Now I-was an atheist. I wanted to settle for myself whether it was
in the days of peace and enjoyment alone that I could boast of being an atheist
or whether during such hard times as well I could stick to those principles of
mine. After great consideration I decided that I could not lead myself to believe
in and pray to God. No, I never did. That was the real test and I came out
successful. Never for a moment did I desire to save my neck at the cost of
certain other things. So I was a staunch disbeliever : and have ever since
been. It was not an easy job to stand that test. ‘Belief’ softens the
hardships, even can make them pleasant. In God man can find very strong
consolation and support. Without Him, man has to depend upon himself. To stand
upon one’s own legs amid storms and hurricanes is not a child’s play. At such
testing moments, vanity-if any-evaporates, and man cannot dare to defy the
general beliefs, if he does, then we must conclude that he has got certain
other strength than mere vanity. This is exactly the situation now. Judgment is
already too well known. Within a week it is to be pronounced. What is the
consolation with the exception of the idea that I am going to sacrifice my life
for a cause ? A God-believing Hindu might be expecting to be reborn as a king,
a Muslim or a Christian might dream of the luxuries to be- enjoyed in paradise
and the reward he is to get for his sufferings and sacrifices. But what am I to
expect? I know the moment the rope is fitted round my neck and rafters removed,
from under my feet. That will be the final moment-that will be the last moment.
I, or to be more precise, my soul, as interpreted in the metaphysical
terminology, shall all be finished there. Nothing further. A short life of
struggle with no such magnificent end, shall in itself be the reward if I have the
courage to take it in that light. That is all. With no selfish motive, or
desire to be awarded here or hereafter, quite disinterestedly have I devoted my
life to the cause of independence, because I could not do otherwise. The day we
find a great number of men and women with this psychology who cannot devote
themselves to anything else than the service of mankind and emancipation of the
suffering humanity; that day shall inaugurate the era of liberty. Not to become
a king, nor to gain any other rewards here, or in the next birth or after death
in paradise, shall they be inspired to challenge the oppressors, exploiters,
and tyrants, but to cast off the yoke of serfdom from the neck of humanity and
to establish liberty and peace shall they tread this-to their individual selves
perilous and to their noble selves the only glorious imaginable-path. Is the
pride in their noble cause to be – misinterpreted as vanity? Who dares to utter
such an abominable epithet? To him, I say either he is a fool or a knave. Let us
forgive him for he can not realize the depth, the emotion, the sentiment and
the noble feelings that surge in that heart. His heart is dead as a mere lump
of flesh, his eyes are-weak, the evils of other interests having been cast over
them. Self-reliance is always liable to be interpreted as vanity. It is sad and
miserable but there is no help.” Shaheed Bhagat Singh
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