This text provides a detailed account of the historical events surrounding the life and activism of Bhagat Singh, a prominent Indian revolutionary during the British colonial era. It discusses his involvement in various movements and actions against British rule, including the Lahore Conspiracy Case and the Central Assembly bombing. The narrative also covers the legal proceedings, support from the public, and the role of Mahatma Gandhi in advocating for Bhagat Singh's cause.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Mahatma Gandhi and Bhagat Singh were two freedom fighters who had different ideologies and methods of struggle against British rule in India.
2. Bhagat Singh participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement led by Gandhi, but later joined the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) that advocated armed revolution.
3. Bhagat Singh was involved in two major cases: the Lahore Conspiracy Case, where he and his comrades killed a British officer named John Saunders by mistake, and the Assembly Bombing Case, where he and Batukeshwar Dutt threw a low-intensity bomb in the Central Assembly to protest against two repressive bills.
4. Bhagat Singh went on a hunger strike in jail to demand better treatment for political prisoners and equal rights for all inmates. His hunger strike lasted for 116 days and made him a national icon.
5. Mahatma Gandhi tried to save Bhagat Singh from execution by appealing to the Viceroy Irwin several times, but failed to convince him. Bhagat Singh refused to file a mercy petition and asked to be shot instead of hanged.
6. Bhagat Singh, along with Rajguru and Sukhdev, was hanged on 23rd March 1931. He was 23 years old. His last words were "Down with Imperialism" and "Long Live Revolution".