Bhagat Singh was not just a fearless fighter but also a deep thinker and voracious reader. His revolutionary ideas were shaped by extensive reading on socialism, history, and philosophy.
- Interest in Political Ideologies: He studied the works of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and Vladimir Lenin, drawing inspiration from their thoughts on class struggle and revolution.
- Influence of Literature: He admired writers like Victor Hugo (“Les Misérables”), which portrayed the fight against oppression, and Upton Sinclair, whose books exposed capitalist exploitation.
- Reading in Prison: While awaiting execution, he requested books such as “The Life of Lenin” and “The History of the Russian Revolution”, showing his unwavering commitment to learning.
- Multilingual Learning: Fluent in Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, and English, he also explored Bengali literature, particularly works of Rabindranath Tagore and Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
- A Scholar with a Mission: For Bhagat Singh, reading was not just for knowledge but a weapon to challenge injustice, educate the masses, and lay the foundation for an independent, socialist India.
His love for books proved that true revolution begins in the mind before it reaches the battlefield. 🚩