Chandrashekar Azad, the Revolutionary Hero

Chandrashekhar Azad was a Bharatiya revolutionary from Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. Chandrashekhar believed that his Dharma was to fight for the Nation. He said a soldier never relinquishes his weapon. Chandrashekhar was involved in the Kakori Train Robbery (1926), in the attempt to blow up the Viceroy's train (1926), and in the shooting of Saunders at Lahore (1928) to avenge the killing of Lala Lajpat Rai. He formed the 'Hindustan Socialist Republican Association'. Chandrashekhar Azad was an ideal for revolutionaries such as Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Batukeshwar Dutt, and Rajguru.

Chandrashekhar Azad was deeply troubled by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar in 1919. That fired him to start the struggle against the British. He received his first punishment at the age of fifteen, when he was caught indulging in revolutionary activities ! When the magistrate asked him his name, he said 'Azad' (meaning free). He was sentenced to fifteen lashes. With each stroke of the whip the young Chandrashekhar shouted "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" [Hail the Mother-land !]. From then on Chandrashekhar assumed the title of 'Azad' and came to be known as Chandrashekhar Azad. Azad vowed that he would never be arrested by the British police and would die a free man.

Chandrashekhar Azad was attracted towards the more aggressive and revolutionary ideals. He committed himself to achieving independence by any means. Azad and his compatriots would target British officials known for their oppressive actions against ordinary people and freedom fighters. Along with Bhagat Singh and other compatriots like Sukhdev and Rajguru, Azad formed the 'Hindustan Socialist Republican Association' (HRSA). HRSA was committed to attain independence for Bharat. Azad was a terror for the British police. He was on their hit list and the British police badly wanted to capture him dead or alive. On 27th February 1931, Azad met two of his comrades in Alfred Park, Allahabad. He was betrayed by an informer who had revealed his whereabouts to the British police. The police surrounded the park and ordered Azad to surrender. Azad was shot in the thigh. Later seeing no means of escape he shot himself with his last bullet. Thus Chandrashekhar Azad kept his pledge of not being caught alive.