D Y Vyas
Shaheed Bhagat Singh has been voted as the most admired Indian of this century. Indians love that how the great human being, sacrificed his life for the country at the age of just 23. Throughout his life, he stood for courage and sacrifice.
Freedom fighters are now just another means by politicians of today for vested interests. If the politicians cared anything about these gems of our nation or our country itself then they would not have disgraced the nation as they did on Indian Independence Day.
Pratibha Patil, a devout Congress worker with an equally shady past and currently the President of India unveiled the statute of Shaheed Bhagat Singh at the Parliament. However, the statue bears no resemblence to actual Bhagat Singh.
In the statue, he is shown as turbuned Sikh. However, none of Indians remember him as turbuned Sikh. He regarded his nation more than his religion and he had shed his religious identity to work for making India independent. While the entire police in the country was looking for him, he had transformed his personality totally to look like someone else.
He also threw bomb in the assembly in his identity which is different from the statue. He wore a hat and western clothes. While serving the country, I am sure Bhagat Singh would not even dream that he will be misused like this.
Manmohan Singh, whose Congress party killed innocent Sikhs in the streets of Delhi in 1984, was also present at the occasion. The only resemblence to the message of the honoured Gurus is just a turban and nothing else. He has disgraced the entire community by going soft on 1984 rioters. The accused are still holding government posts and are living a plush lifestyle. Human life is precious and cannot be replaced by giving money.
Shaheeds like Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru, Chandrashekhar Azad and countless others, sacrified 'their' lives. They did not sacrifice lives of others for political gains like politicians of today.
Bhagat Singh's relatives have also spoken against this misrepresentation. His niece said that the statue does not give the real impression of the great martyr and is based around his childhood photograph. His nephew said that this is not the Bhagat Singh we know and love. Bhagat Singh was a national leader and by this statue, he's made to look like a regional and Sikh leader. He alleged that this was devisive politics, which Congress is best at.
According to Pew's Global Attitudes Project, 74% of Indians are extremely proud of their culture and heritage. This is highest for any country, anywhere in the world. Just education and post does not make one Indian. It is patriotism and love for the country that is common about all Indians.
Looking at what Pratibha Patil and Manmohan Singh have done to Bhagat Singh and our country, the souls of freedom fighters would also feel the pain in paradise. Only God and common Indians know what these freedom fighters have done for the country.
I will like to share this poem in Hindi to summarize the thoughts:
Is tirange go ko tum haath mat lagao
Tumhare haath khoon se range hain
Mere desh ki mitti par tum paao na rakhon
Shaheedoon ne ise apne khoon se seecha hai
Agrezon ko to humne bhaga diya
Ab desh ko tumse kaun bachayega
