Hanged Before the Scheduled Date – A Secret Execution
Bhagat Singh, along with Rajguru and Sukhdev, was sentenced to death in the Lahore Conspiracy Case for the killing of British officer John Saunders. Their execution was originally set for March 24, 1931, but fearing massive public protests, the British authorities secretly hanged them a day earlier, on March 23, 1931, at 7:30 PM inside Lahore Central Jail.
1. Fear of Public Uprising
- Bhagat Singh had become a national icon, and the demand for his release had spread across India.
- Massive protests and petitions urged the British government to commute his death sentence.
- Fearing that delaying the execution could lead to a nationwide revolt, the British decided to carry it out secretly.
2. The Secret Hanging
- On the evening of March 23, 1931, the jail authorities rushed the execution without informing the public.
- It is said that Bhagat Singh walked to the gallows with a smile, fearlessly shouting “Inquilab Zindabad!” (Long Live the Revolution).
- Just before being hanged, he is believed to have said, “A revolutionist is always prepared to die.”
3. The Attempt to Hide the Execution
- The British did not hand over the bodies to their families, fearing further unrest.
- Instead, the bodies were secretly cut into pieces and taken to the banks of the Sutlej River, where they were hastily burned in the middle of the night to erase evidence.
- Local villagers, however, discovered the remains, and soon the news spread, sparking massive outrage across India.
4. Impact of His Martyrdom
- March 23 is now observed as Shaheed Diwas (Martyrs’ Day) in India, honoring Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev.
- His execution made him a legendary figure in India’s freedom movement, inspiring countless revolutionaries.
- Even today, his sacrifice is remembered as a symbol of fearless patriotism and resistance against oppression.