Bhagat Singh is known to be one of the most influential freedom fighters. He was a part of several revolutionary activities and inspired numerous people around, especially the youth, to join the struggle for freedom.
Bhagat Singh was among the youth who did not conform to the Gandhian style of fighting against the British. He believed in the Extremist ways of the Lal-Bal-Pal. Singh studied the European revolutionary movement and was drawn towards anarchism and communism. He joined hands with those who believed in bringing about revolution by acting aggressively rather than using the method of non-violence. With his ways of working, he came to be known as an atheist, communist and socialist.
Bhagat Singh realised that merely driving out the British would not do good to the nation. He understood and advocated the fact that overthrowing of the British rule must be followed by the reconstruction of the Indian political system. He was of the opinion that the power must be given to the workers. Along with B.K. Dutt, Singh articulated his opinion about the revolution in a statement in June 1929 that stated, ‘By Revolution we mean that the present order of things, which is based on manifest injustice must change. Producers or labourers, in spite of being the most necessary element of society, are robbed by their exploiters of their labour and deprived of their elementary rights. The peasant, who grows corn for all, starves with his family; the weaver who supplies the world market with textile fabrics, has not enough to cover his own and his children’s bodies; masons, smiths and carpenters who raise magnificent palaces, live like pariahs in the slums. The capitalists and exploiters, the parasites of society, squander millions on their whims.
During his struggle for India’s independence, the first organization Bhagat Singh joined was the Hindustan Republican Association. This was in the year 1924. He then began working with Sohan Singh Josh and the Workers and Peasants Party and soon after felt the need of building an organization aimed at working as a revolutionary party in Punjab and worked in this direction. He inspired people to join the struggle and free the country from the clutches of the British rule.
Bhagat Singh was a true revolutionary who did all he could to overthrow the British rule and bring about reforms in the country. Though he died young, his ideologies remained alive and continued to drive people.