Revolutionary freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Azad’s martyrdom day observed

Chandra Shekhar Azad, the Indian revolutionary freedom fighter, was in news on 27 February 2017. He came in news on his 86th martyrdom day.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Chandrashekhar Azad. In his tweet, Modi said, we can never forget his valour and ultimate sacrifice for our nation.

Chandra Shekhar Azad

• Born on 23 July 1906 in Bhabara village in the Alirajpur district, Madhya Pradesh, Azad was an Indian revolutionary.

• In December 1921, Chandra Shekhar, then a 15-year-old student at Kashi Vidyapeeth, Banaras, became the part of the Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement. Later, he was arrested for being a part of the movement.

• On being produced before a magistrate, he gave his name as "Azad" (The Free), his father's name as "Swatantrata" (Independence) and his residence as "Jail". From that day he came to be known as Chandra Shekhar Azad among the people.

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• After suspension of the non-cooperation movement in 1922 by Gandhi, Azad became a member of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), a revolutionary organisation. HRA was formed by another revolutionary Ram Prasad Bismil.

• He reorganised the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) under its new name of Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA). The association was reorganized under the new name after the death of its founder, Ram Prasad Bismil, and three other prominent party leaders, Roshan Singh, Rajendra Nath Lahiri and Ashfaqulla Khan.

Azad was involved in

• In 1925, the Kakori Train Robbery.

• In 1926, the attempt to blow up the Viceroy's train

• In 1928, the shooting of JP Saunders at Lahore (to avenge the killing of Lala Lajpat Rai).

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Azad, died on 27 February 1931 at Allahabad’s Alfred Park by shooting himself just to evade arrest by the British police. His Colt pistol is kept on display at the Allahabad Museum. Motto of his life was “Dushman ki goliyon ka hum saamna karenge, Azad rahein hain, azad hi rahenge!