Freedom Fighters |
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Biographies of Great
Indians & Hindus |
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BHAGATH
SINGH |
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The
Lion's Cub
Bhagat Singh had two uncles. Of them, Swaran Singh had again been sent to prison by the
British. Life in prison was wretched and he fell ill. His health did not improve even
after his release and he died. When Ajit Singh came out of the jail, he left the country.
Bhagat Singh's aunts would often recall their husbands' misery, and lament
over it. Seeing this, Bhagat
Singh would bravely say, "Don't weep, aunt. When I grow up, I will drive out the
British and bring back my uncle. I will take revenge upon the British who are the cause
for my uncle's illness." On hearing the heroic words of the little boy, the weeping
women would burst into laughter. At least for the moment they would forget their sorrow.
When he was in the fourth class, Bhagat Singh asked his classmates, "What do you wish
to become when you grow up?"
Each boy gave a different answer. "I intend becoming a doctor," said one.
Another said, "I will be a government officer." Still another would become a
merchant; while another 'would marry'. Bhagat Singh remarked, "is marriage a big
achievement? Anybody can marry. On the other hand, I will drive the British out of
India."
Thus patriotism flowed in his veins from the days of his childhood.
By the time he completed his secondary education, Bhagat Singh knew everything about the
revolutionaries of his family. He had read all the records about them at home. And the
desire to fight for the country's freedom grew strong in him.
Bhagat Singh finished his primary education at Banga. Next he went to Lahore to join a
secondary school. The patriot Kishan Singh did not want to admit his son to a school
run by the followers of the British. So Bhagat Singh continued his studies in a private
school.
Bhagat Singh was a village boy. His father was afraid he would lag behind in his studies.
So he engaged a teacher to teach him at home. But within two days the teacher saw how
intelligent the boy was. "What can I teach this boy?He has already learnt
everything," said the teacher to Kishan Singh.
Bhagat Singh took to his studies with great zeal. His teachers wondered at his
intelligence. He scored good marks in subjects like history, geography and arithmetic. But
he had a bad score in English - 68 out of 150! It must have been because he had always
hated the British! His words in his letter to his grandfather are really interesting:
"My score in English is 68 out of 150. A
score of 50 is enough for a pass.Thus I have passed with credit." That was how the
clever boy stated his low score in a round about manner. |
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