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Chandra Shekhar Azad (1906 - 1931)
Chandrashekhar Azad was born Chandrashekhar Tiwari to Sitaram and Jagrani Devi on July 23, 1906 at Bhavra, Alirajpur District in present-day Madhya Pradesh. Bhavra was then part of the Central India Agency, British India.
Azad was sent to Banaras to study at Kashi Vidyapeeth.
Young Chandra Shekhar, was fascinated by and drawn to the great national upsurge of the non-violent, non-cooperation movement of 1920-21 under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.
The young boy was arrested because of his participation in the movement. When produced before magistrate, he proudly announced his name as ‘Azad’, his father’s name as ‘Swatantrata’ and his place of dwelling as ‘Jail’.
It was from then on that the name ‘Azad’ stuck to him.
His life-long goal was to create as much problem for the British Government as he could.
Azad was disappointed when Gandhi withdrew the non-cooperation movement owing to the violence at Chauri Chaura.
He then met with Ram Prasad Bismil Pranavesh Chatterji, one of the founders of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA).
He then became a revolutionary and started collecting funds for HRA’s activities.
The group of young patriots started looting government properties to meet their expenses for their revolutionary activities.
Azad was involved in the 1925 Kakori Conspiracy.
Bismil and Ashfaqulla Khan were captured by the government and hanged but Azad eluded capture.
Other cases Azad was involved in include the 1926 attempt to blow up the viceroy’s train, and the shooting of J P Saunders in 1928. Saunders was assassinated to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai.
Azad was an excellent marksman and also trained his fellow revolutionaries in firearms.
He used the Orchha forest for his training.
He was a close associate of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and others and transformed the HRA into the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in 1928. He was the chief strategist of the association.
On February 27, 1931 Chandrashekhar Azad was meeting with friends at Alfred Park, Allahabad.
An informant tipped the police about Azad’s presence at the Park.
The police arrived there and there ensued a shootout between the police and the revolutionaries.
Azad fought valiantly to allow his friends safe passage and killed three policemen. In the action, he got injured.
He had made a resolve never to be captured alive. When he had all but one bullet left, the great fighter Azad shot himself.
This upheld his vow never to be captured by the British. It also enabled his friend to escape.
Azad was only 24 years old.
He remained a virulent terror for the British Government as long as he was alive.
The police cremated his body without informing the public. When the people came to know about the incident, there was a big protest.
The park is now named Chandrashekhar Azad Park. There are several other public institutes and places named after him.
SOME PATRIOTIC QUOTES BY CHANDRA SHEKHAR AZAD
“If yet your blood does not rage, then it is water that flows in your veins. For what is the flush of youth, if it is not of service to the motherland.”
“Don't see others doing better than you, beat your own records everyday, because success is a fight between you and yourself.”
“I believe in a religion that propagates freedom, equality and brotherhood.”
“A Plane is always safe on the ground but it is not made for that, Always take some meaningful risks in life to achieve great heights.”
“We will face the bullets of the enemies, we are free and will remain free.”
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