An Eternal Flame of Valor – In Memory of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru on Martyrs’ Day

March 23, 2025

On this day, March 23, India lost three of its fearless sons—Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru—whose memories even today compel the conscience of the nation to pause in reverence. These were the young men whose unparalleled sacrifice in the fight against British rule ignited a revolutionary fire of patriotism and resistance in the hearts of millions. This day, known as Martyrs’ Day or Sacrifice Day, as we commemorate it, is not merely a shifting date on the calendar; it is a clarion call that inspires us to reflect on the cost of freedom and the courage and unwavering resolve of these heroes. These youths, barely in their early twenties, dared to stand against tyranny.

On this very day in 1931, every wall of Lahore Central Jail and the silence within bore witness to the extraordinary bravery of these young men as they faced the gallows. These three—Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru—were individuals who dedicated their lives to the cause of freedom. Bhagat Singh was not just a revolutionary but also an intellectual whose pen was as mighty as his actions; Sukhdev, a youth who rallied an entire organization against British oppression, forging a united front of rebellion; and Rajguru, a symbol of raw valor, a youthful spirit ready to pour his blood into the sacrificial fire of the nation’s independence. On this day, the British Raj sentenced these young revolutionaries to death. When they ascended the scaffold, their ages were a mere 23, 23, and 22, respectively, yet their sacrifice forged a legacy that transcends time and continues to be remembered today.

If someone asks what their crime was, it was their relentless pursuit of justice and their unshakable belief that India deserved to breathe free. India was not meant to endure anyone’s enslavement; every individual in this land has the full right to liberty.

The saga of these martyrs cannot—and should not—be confined to the pages of history books in today’s era. Their sacrifice is an energy etched into the soul of the nation, carrying the potential and strength to rise from the ashes of bondage. Bhagat Singh’s bombs were not mere explosives; they were symbols of awakening the flame of freedom in the hearts of enslaved souls, aimed not at destruction but at shattering the inertia of a subjugated people. His writings—steeped in socialist ideals and a vision of an equal society—reflect a philosophy far ahead of his time. Sukhdev, an unsung member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), brought discipline and purpose to the movement, while Rajguru’s fearlessness in the face of adversity offered society a supreme example of youthful courage that fueled their struggle.

Their execution was intended to silence them, to suppress the rising roar of freedom. Some seated revolutionaries, complicit in their silence, supported it too—driven by a desire to appear favorable to the British or by a lust for power. But the sacrifice of these young men dashed all such hopes. Far from silencing them, their martyrdom took on a contrary form. Their sacrifice unleashed a revolutionary cry that their living voices could not fully awaken, resonating louder after their end, growing stronger and more resolute. The slogan “Inquilab Zindabad” (Long Live the Revolution), which they shouted as they walked to the gallows, still echoes today, challenging the layers of oppression and reminding us that freedom is not a gift—it is a right won through struggle and the spilling of youthful blood.

The British repeatedly tried to bury their rebellion, but they failed. The execution they thought would end it proved to be their gravest mistake. For the reverberations of “Inquilab” that arose after this sacrifice, and the seeds of revolution it sowed, opened the gates of India’s independence sixteen years later.

As we commemorate Martyrs’ Day in 2025, nearly a century after their sacrifice, the relevance of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru endures. In an age where the ideals of justice, equality, and freedom are tested by new forms of oppression—social, economic, or political—their lives urge us to question, resist, and act. They were not saints or superhumans; they were ordinary youths who chose an extraordinary path. Their legacy challenges us: What values will we stand for? Before asking what the nation will do for us, what are we willing to sacrifice for it?

Today, tributes will be offered across India—flowers will adorn their statues, eloquent speeches will be delivered by leaders and orators, and songs will be sung in their honor. But true homage lies not in formality but in action. It is through deeds that the future is truly shaped. To honor these martyrs is to embrace their dream of a nation unbound by fear or inequality, where “Inquilab” is not just a slogan but blossoms as a daily rhythm of life.

Through this editorial pen, I urge our readers to look beyond mere remembrance. Let us draw inspiration from the indomitable will of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru and confront the challenges of our time with the same fervor they embodied. Their martyrdom was not an end but a beginning—a flame that still burns brightly, illuminating the path to a just and free India.

– Sultan Singh

Read this in Gujarati – Read Here