Bhagat Singh and the hair
Bhagat Singh and the hair
Bhagat Singh the martyr is known to all and one in India. He had through his dauntless courage shaken British imperialism in India. He was hanged to death. He had to trim his hair to change his identity during the freedom struggle to avoid arrest. When he was waiting his death by hanging, in the Lahore Jail, he met Bhai Randhir Singh, a devout Sikh, who also happened to be in the same jail at that time.
Bhai Randhir Singh told Sardar Bhagat Singh that his sacrifice for the nation was all right and he would ever be remembered with respect by all his countrymen, but for him to receive honour in the court of the Guru he would need to quit trimming his hair and do his Nit-nem. Bhagat Singh was much impressed by the arguements put forth by Bhai Randhir Singh. So he performed ardas (prayer) in the jail and started growing his hair.
He thus became quite joyous and optimistic in his last days. Pritam Singh, in his article entitled "Randhir Singh Banam (versus) Shahid Bhagat Singh" published in Punjabi Tribune, dated 27 June 1995 says that after this Bhagat Singh fully respected the sanctity of his hair. When Bhagat Singh was hanged on 23 March 1931, …his hair on his head had grown to 6" in length and his moustaches and beard were also intact and growing as well., according to Pritam Singh. This was confirmed by Bhai Natha Singh, a Granthi of Kasir, who had offered ardas at the time of the cremation of Bhagat Singh. Another evidence given in support of the above contention is the well known photograph of Bhagat Singh which appeared in the Blitz of 29 March 1948. In that photograph Bhagat Singh is shown handcuffed and chained with his hair long enough to be tied in a small knot. The photographer had taken this snap just a few days before Bhagat Singh was hanged.
According to Pritam Singh's article, Bhagat Singh thus earned kudos both from his country and religion and weighing and balancing his prowess with that of the murderous rulers, he kissed the hangman's noose along with two other companions, Rajguru and Sukhdev by singing the following couplet cheerfully;
- Desire of sacrificing our lives is in our hearts,
- Let us see how strong are the biceps of the murderer.
He drank the cup of martyrdom and became immortal. He also immortalized the following couplet:
- On the tombs of martyrs
- Fairs will be held each year,
- Those who die for the nation
- Will leave behind nothing but this memorial
