Grand Salutes To Panditji on his 107th Birthday

A great day to say "Shri" to the Blog!

He would be 107 years old today and I believe India would be a much better place if he could be here to guide us all.

He was born as Monikar Chandrashekhar Tiwari on July 23rd of 1906 in a small village called Bhavra in Madhya Pradesh into a religious Brahmin Family. Within the the next 25 years he grew up to be a man of many virtues and facets. I am talking about none other than our beloved Chandrashekhar Azad.

This man was a free spirit; a fresh bloom; a new current in the Indian Freedom Movement. He brought together many youngsters, motivated them to give their everything to free our motherland. He made the British Empire take a step back and realize they could not stay in power much longer here. Such was his courage and determination.

Azad was involved in many acts against the British. He joined the freedom struggle in his tender years. During his early days he idolized Gandhi and took part in the Non-Co operation movement. But like many youngsters during that time, his belief in the man shattered when Gandhi called off the movement due to the Chauri Chaura incident. 

After this, Azad fully immersed himself in revolutionary activities. He joined Bismil, Ashfaqullah and others in Kakori Train Robbery. Several of the revolutionary leaders were captured soon after but Azad managed to escape. He rejuvenated the Hindustan Republican Association,which later came to be called as Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA). He recruited many brave young men including Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru.

After the unjustified murder of Lala Lajpat Rai during the peaceful protest against Simon Commission, HSRA comrades planned the Saunders Assassination. They shot Saunders in broad day light infront of a Police Station. Through this action they sent the British a strong message that our passive times were long gone. While Bhagat Singh, Rajguru & Sukhdev were sentenced with charge of murder after the incident, Azad yet again managed to elude the British forces.

Azad had vowed to himself that he would never be caught alive by the enemy. His couplet "Dushman ki goliyon ka hum samna karenge, Azad hee rahein hain, Azad hee rahenge" says all about his stand. Due to a mole in the organization, Azad's whereabouts were leaked to the British and they surrounded him in Alfred park in Allahabad. He fought 80 British soldiers single-handedly for over an hour. When he was left with one bullet, he shot himself with it. He did not wish to be captured or killed by the enemy and give them the satisfaction of killing yet another revolutionary. At the age of 25, Azad attained martyrdom.

Today's India has more than forgotten these great heroes. We are so arrogant that we think we have left behind all the history and we are progressing into the future. But without our history we are nothing more than lost . Without learning from leaders like Azad, we can never make our country what we all want it to be.

It is easier to complain, it is easier to disregard all the sacrifices and efforts put in by these heroes. What really will help this country is your efficiency, your care, your dignity and love towards India.

Do your bit. Lets take our Mother forward along with us!