Whoever read about the Indian freedom struggle would have come across the Indian revolutionary by his self-taken name Azad - Chandrasekhar Azad. His mother persuaded his father to send him to Kashi Vidyapeeth, Banaras to study Sanskrit when he was just 15. it was the time that the Non-Cooperation movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi in December 1921. This fiery 15 year old boy joined the movement and got arrested.
- When he was brought before the 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.
He had not completed his 25th birthday when he died.
- Chandrasekhar Tiwari was born on 23rd July 1906 to Jagrani Devi Tiwari and Sitaram Tiwari in Madhya Pradesh.
After suspension of the non-cooperation movement in 1922 by Gandhi, Azad became more aggressive. He became an active member of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), a revolutionary organization. He reorganized HRA under its new name of Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA)
He often used the pseudonym “Balraj” when signing pamphlets issued as the commander in chief of the HSRA (Hindustan Socialist Republic Army).
The British tried to hunt him down.
His old companion who turned traitor, Virbhadra Tiwari informed the British of his presence at Alfred Park. He was surrounded by the police and was wounded while trying to defend himself and his friend Sukhdev Raj. His actions made it possible for sukhdev Raj to escape but he succumbed to the injuries caused by the police bullets.
This happened on 27 February 1931. Another 5 months for his 25th birthday…
The Colt pistol of Chandra Shekhar Azad is displayed at the Allahabad Museum.
- The body was sent to Rasulabad Ghat for cremation without informing the general public. As it came to light, people surrounded the park where the incident had taken place. They chanted slogans against British rule and praised Azad.
Alfred Park in Allahabad where Azad died, has been renamed Chandrasekhar Azad Park.
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandra_Shekhar_Azad
We visited the place during our tour of Varanasi. Posting two pictures taken – the tree behind which he tried to hide during the shoot out and his statue.
And let me tag few here - @TravellerG @Rezgar @marcorp @uavalentine @Abhisheksenthil
Thank you…
