Born on 15 May 1907, Sukhdev lost his father Ramlal Thapar at the age of just three years.
Shaheed Sukhdev Jayanti: Martyrs Sukhdev and Rajguru were also among those who kissed the noose while laughing with the immortal Shaheed Bhagat Singh. The bravery and martyrdom of Sardar Bhagat Singh is unforgettable. He is the crown of Azad’s revolutionary stream. But the sacrifice of those who placed this crown on their heads is no less than anyone else. The revolutionary stream of the freedom struggle and the revolutionaries who martyred in it have often been neglected by historians. Sukhdev is also one of them. Born on 15 May 1907, Sukhdev lost his father Ramlal Thapar at the age of just three years. Mother Ralli Dei and uncle Chint Ram Thapar raised him.
Tau was on the path of non-violent movement as a soldier of Gandhi. Sukhdev walked on the revolutionary path towards the same destination and sacrificed his life for the country. On the occasion of his birthday, read the saga of immortal martyr Sukhdev.
The court said that Sukhdev’s crime is no less than Bhagat Singh’s.
On 7 October 1930, in the Lahore court, Special Tribunal Judge G. C. Hilton, Abdul Qadir and J.K. Tapp wrote in the verdict of Saunders murder case, “Sukhdev is convicted under section 121, 302 along with sections 109 and 120 B (Taji Raat-e-Hind). The accused was the leader of the Punjab branch of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Party and many violent incidents took place due to this party in Punjab. Sukhdev was the inspiration for the murder of Mr. Scott, As a result of which the accused continued to participate in making bombs and being an active member of the party and Bhagat Singh was the means through which Sukhdev was also given death sentence.
Queen of Jhansi.
Just looking for the picture of Jhansi ki Rani in childhood
Sukhdev lost his father when he was just three years old. Younger brother Mathra Das Thapar was in mother’s womb when his father died in 1910. Later, the same Mathradas put his life story into words in his book “Mere Bhai Shaheed Sukhdev”. Sukhdev had to sacrifice his life for the motherland, he had started preparing for this since childhood.
Mathradas wrote, “All of us children would get money on Diwali. We would buy fireworks and sweets. We would also bring different types of photographs from the market. But Sukhdev only liked the photograph of the Queen of Jhansi. He would search the entire market for it. If he did not find it, he would return empty handed. Whenever he found it, his face would glow. After showing the photograph to his mother, he would say with excitement, “Mother, look, this is Lakshmibai. Queen of Jhansi. He had fought against the British. How brave she was! There is a child tied on the back. Horse reins in one hand. Sword in the other. Whenever mother was busy with some work, she would say, “Come on, let me do the work.” Sukhdev’s face would become stern. There would be a twinkle in his eyes and he would say firmly, “I will also become like this, mother!” “
Photograph of Sukhdev and his mother Rallidei Thapar published in Mathradas’s book “Mere Bhai Shaheed Sukhdev”.
Association with revolutionaries as soon as he reached college
After completing high school from Lyallpur in 1922, Sukhdev reached Lahore for further studies. Aryasamaji Tau wanted to get him admitted in D.A.V. College. But Sukhdev’s choice was the National College established by Lala Lajpat Rai, whose sole objective was to prepare the new generation for the national movement.
Sardar Bhagat Singh was with him here. Both of them had joined the revolutionary party. Mathradas wrote that once Sukhdev brought a heavy canvas bag to Lyallpur. Forgot on return. Mother picked him up to keep him safe. Felt overweight. When opened, a pistol and some cartridges were found inside along with thick books. Got scared. But uncle asked to keep quiet. He had realized that there was no return from the path Sukhdev had embarked on.
Sukhdev’s cupboard was adorned with many books on world revolution, politics and history.
Very nerdy on the lines of Bhagat Singh
In 1925, Sukhdev’s younger brother Mathradas reached Lahore for technical studies. Sukhdev left the hostel and came to a rented house to live with his younger brother. Here Mathradas found that Sukhdev’s cupboard was adorned with many books on world revolution, politics and history. Many books of Dwarka Das, Punjab and college library were also lying in the room. He kept reading all these books. In-depth study of the revolutions of France, Italy and Russia and the independence of various countries and conversations with colleagues about them continued. The course books were clearly visible in his hand. Here Sukhdev and Bhagat Singh used to debate on anarchism.
In those days, Bhagat Singh had read the book “Anarchism and Other Essays” obtained from Dwarka Das Library. Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev kept brainstorming on this book for months. Famous revolutionary Shiv Verma has written, “Except Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev, no other comrade had read and meditated so much on socialism. Their knowledge was much more than ours.”
On 23rd, the day of hanging, Sukhdev could not meet any of his family members.
Philosophy and thoughts behind the violent path
There were philosophies and ideas behind the violent path of the revolutionaries. Sukhdev wrote in a letter from Lahore’s Bostral Jail that our actions are of three types – Propaganda, Money, Special. Understand the meaning of propaganda. Actually such actions are in accordance with public sentiments. Take the Saunders murder for example. Seeing Lala Lajpat Rai being lathicharged, we realized that there is a lot of turmoil in the country. The attitude of the government contributed to this. We found this to be an opportune moment to take action to draw public attention towards the revolutionaries. Our view is that our actions should be in accordance with public sentiments and in response to problems created by the government. So that the public sympathizes with us and becomes ready to cooperate. Our effort has been to spread revolutionary ideals among the people and awaken them.
Why did Sukhdev involve Bhagat Singh in the assembly bomb incident?
Sukhdev had a decisive role in involving Bhagat Singh in the famous assembly bomb incident of 8 April 1929 in which Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt surrendered themselves to arrest instead of running away. Chandrashekhar Azad and other comrades did not want Bhagat Singh to take part in this action. The reason was clear. The police was looking for Bhagat Singh in the Saunders murder case. Once captured, there was no chance of his returning alive from jail.
Sukhdev said that Bhagat Singh is the only person who can firmly present the objectives of the party before the public. Then in the Central Committee meeting, Bhagat Singh insisted on joining the action. Revolutionary Shiv Verma wrote in “Memoirs”, “Sukhdev personally had the most affection for Bhagat Singh. He had handed over the wealth of love that he had to Bhagat Singh only. But when the time came, he did not hesitate in sending his dearest friend to death for the sake of ideals. How could love and friendship come in the way of revolution?”
Death near, still carefree
Sukhdev remained completely indifferent to the matter of defense as an accused in the Saunders murder case, known as the Lahore Conspiracy Case. The Special Tribunal asked him whether he should be given a lawyer at government expense? Refusing, Sukhdev had said that he does not recognize this court itself. According to fellow revolutionary Shiv Verma, Sukhdev had no interest in rescue. He considered it foolish to expect justice from the enemy court. He believed in using the court platform only for propagating revolutionary ideals. Younger brother Mathradas always found him silently engrossed in a book in the court docket during the trial. Even when the promised witnesses Jaigopal, Hansraj and Phanindra Nath Ghosh were casting aspersions on him in their testimony, he kept smiling.
He never gave any defense nor cross-examined any witness. They were confident that the government would not abandon them. On one occasion during the trial, Sukhdev had said, “What are we afraid of? Why don’t we say that we have done this. How long will all this last? One day, we will be hanged. It is certain that one of my names will be there. On the 23rd, the day of the hanging, Sukhdev could not meet any of his family members. Reminiscing about his last two meetings between March 2 and the middle of this month, younger brother Mathradas has given the words, “I, all three Had seen (Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru). He was happy. Sukhdev was also talking laughingly. We were moved and excited. But Sukhdev was carefree – as if the noose was a game for him!
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