Arrest and
Release
Bhagat Singh was a fountain of zeal. His village was too small for his activities. He went
to Lahore. There a union of revolutionaries by name 'Naujavan Bharat Sabha' was founded.
Bhagat Singh became the Secretary.
Like the Kranti Dal in Bengal, the new union started teaching lessons of revolution to the
people of Punjab. Outwardly its objects were to spread Indian culture, to make the youth
strong and so on. But the real purpose was to bring about a revolution for the country's
freedom.
Within a few days, it started branches in different places. The celebration of the
birthdays of revolutionaries became an important part of the program of the union. The
members would take out pictures of revolutionaries, decorated with Khadi garlands, in
processions. They would cut their fingers and put a mark of blood on the foreheads
of the heroes in thepictures. They would lecture about them. It was in these days that
Bhagat Singh gained good practice in public speaking. Within a few days he became a good
speaker. He got into touch with the students' unions of colleges. He spread the message of
revolution everywhere.By this time, Bhaaat Singh
had caught the eye of the police. His movements were carefully watched by spies.
Once, as he was just leaving the train at Amritsar, the spies followed Bhagat Singh.
Trying to escape from them, he began to fun. But where ever he went he could not escape.
At last he rushed into a lawyer's house and escaped from the police. Then he traveled to
Lahore. When the train reached Lahore, he was caught by the police and pushed into the
Lahore Fort Jail.
Bhagat Singh did not know why he was arrested. A few days earlier some rogues had thrown a
bomb on procession during the Dussara Festival.It killed some people. The police suspected
the hand of revolutionaries in it. That was why they arrested Bhagat Singh and
pushed him into jail. To find out the secrets of other revolutionaries, they tortured him
in many ways. They flogged him with a knot and gored with a spear. But Bhagat Singh did
not open his mouth.
Finally, a Magistrate decided that Bhagat Singh could be released only on a bail of sixty
thousand rupees who would be prepared to bear such a responsibility? Yet, out of sheer
affection for Bhagat Singh, two rich persons came forward. They were Duneechand and
Daulatram. On their surety, Bhagat Singh was set free.
If Bhagat Singh participated inrevolutionary activities during the period of bail, the two
wealthy men would have to pay sixty thousand rupees to the Government. Bhagat Singh did
not wish that others should be troubled on his account. That was why he decided to keep
quiet during the period of bail. At this time his father built a cowshed in his native
place, so that Bhagat Singh could run a small diary. Bhagat Singh took up that work in
earnest.
Every day he got up at four. Then he fed the cows, removed the cowdung and cleaned the
shed. Next he milked the cows and sold the milk. It was all systematic, and tidily done.
Whatever he undertook Bhagat Singh did a good job.
The entire day he was busy with his dairy, but the night brought thoughts ofrevolution. He
joined his friends for discussions. At the same time, he got into touch with the
newspapers, 'Kirtee' and 'Akalee'. He wrote articles for them. A journal brought out a
special issue to honor fighters who had been hanged; Bhagat Singh himself introduced some
of the revolutionaries.
The Dussara Bomb case involving Bhagat Singh was still going on. ' At last he was
released. He was not even on bail. At once Bhagat Singh closed the milk center. He
returned to work for the revolution. After
attending a meeting of revolutionaries in Delhi in 1928, he never returned home. |
