Early Life of Chandrashekhar Azad
Chandra Shekhar Tiwari was born in the small town of Bhavra or Bhabra in the Jhabhua district of Madhya Pradesh on July 23, 1906. His family was relatively poor and he grew up alongside tribal children. As a young man, he was active in sports and was incredibly athletic.
In addition, he also satisfied his mother’s desire to become a Sanskrit scholar or pandit. It was at Kashi Vidyapeeth, where he was sent to learn Sanskrit, that he was first introduced to the concept of nationalism.
He was greatly triggered by the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre at an early age. He subsequently joined the non-cooperation movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. After that he continuously participated in many activities towards the nation and was arrested by the British for it.
The withdrawal of the Non-cooperation movement in 1922 further angered him and he concluded that his vision of freedom could not be achieved by such non-violent means. He then joined the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA). There he realized that they did not have enough funds to support such big dreams. To fill the gaps, he organized the Kakori Conspiracy, where a group of revolutionaries looted arms and goods from a government train.
Revolutionary activities of Chandrashekhar Azad
Among the many notable contributions and activities undertaken by Chandrashekhar Azad, here are a few events that cannot be missed.
The Kakori plot was the first kick-start of all his plans. Second, when Lala Lajpat Rai died on a lathi charge in 1928, he developed an elaborate plan to assassinate James Scott. While carrying out this plan, he accidentally killed J.P. Saunders. In this event, all his partners and colleagues were caught while he quickly escaped from the hands of the authorities. This gave it the nickname “quicksilver”.
Azad’s contribution to the nation
He was a known terror to British officials due to his numerous schemes which he successfully carried out. Significantly noticed by the British, he was a major contributor to the revolutionary struggle, making the struggle for independence visible through the eyes of the British rulers. He was one of the central pillars of the violent and armed wing of the freedom struggle. He went to several extremes to secure the necessary strength and weapons for his species, all towards the goal of freedom.
The Death And Legacy of Azad
Although several bounties were placed on his head, Azad was unfortunately killed due to the betrayal of one of his comrades. His location was revealed by an informer when he was on his way to meet his colleagues at Alfred Park in Allahabad on 27 February 1931.
When the police arrived at the park, he willingly surrendered and fought to ensure safe passage for his supporters. Although seriously wounded, he managed to kill three officers before shooting himself. This strong determination not to die at the hands of the British is also a manifestation of his extreme level of patriotism.
Written by: Vaishali Verma
