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| alt                =  
| alt                =  
| caption            = Chandra Shekhar Azad
| caption            = Chandra Shekhar Azad
| birth_name        = Chandra Shekhar Sitaram Tiwari
| birth_name        = Chandra Shekhar Sitaram
| birth_date        = {{birth date|1906|07|23|df=yes}}
| birth_date        = {{birth date|1906|07|23|df=yes}}
| birth_place        = [[Bhavra|Bhabhra]], [[Alirajpur State]], [[British Raj|British India]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asoulwindow.com/revealing-the-truth-behind-the-real-birth-place-and-date-of-azad/|title = REVEALING THE TRUTH BEHIND THE REAL BIRTH PLACE AND DATE OF AZAD! – A Soul Window|date = 28 January 2017}}</ref>
| birth_place        = [[Bhavra|Bhabhra]], [[Alirajpur State]], [[British Raj|British India]] {{small|(now [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[India]])}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asoulwindow.com/revealing-the-truth-behind-the-real-birth-place-and-date-of-azad/|title = REVEALING THE TRUTH BEHIND THE REAL BIRTH PLACE AND DATE OF AZAD! – A Soul Window|date = 28 January 2017}}</ref>
| death_date        = {{death date and age|1931|02|27|1906|07|23|df=yes}}
| death_date        = {{death date and age|1931|02|27|1906|07|23|df=yes}}
| death_place        = [[Allahabad]], [[United Provinces of British India|United Provinces]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_place        = [[Allahabad]], [[United Provinces of British India|United Provinces]], [[British Raj|British India]] {{small|(now [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]])}}
| death_cause        = [[Suicide by gunshot]]
| death_cause        = [[Suicide by gunshot]]
| occupation        = [[Revolutionary]]
| occupation        = [[Revolutionary]]
| movement          = [[Indian Independence Movement]]
| movement          = [[Indian Independence Movement]]
| organization      = [[Hindustan Socialist Republican Association]]
| organization      = [[Hindustan Socialist Republican Association]]
| other_names        = {{hlist|Chandrashekhar Azad|Balraj|Thakur Sahab}}
| other_names        = *Azad
*Balraj
*[[Thakur (title)|Thakur Saheb]]|
}}
}}


'''Chandra Shekhar Tiwari ''' ({{pronunciation|Chadra shekar Azad.ogg}}<ref>{{Britannica|1913067|Chandrasekhar Azad}})</ref> (23 July 1906 – 27 February 1931), popularly known as '''Chandra Shekhar Azad''', was an Indian [[Indian independence movement|revolutionary]] who reorganised the [[Hindustan Republican Association]] (HRA) under its new name of [[Hindustan Socialist Republican Association]] (HSRA) after the death of its founder, [[Ram Prasad Bismil]], and three other prominent party leaders, [[Roshan Singh]], [[Rajendra Nath Lahiri]] and [[Ashfaqulla Khan]]. He hailed from [[Badarka]] in [[Unnao]] district of [[Uttar Pradesh]] and his parents were Sitaram Tiwari and Jagrani Devi. He often used the pseudonym "Balraj" while signing pamphlets issued as the commander-in-chief of the HSRA.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mahatma Gandhi tried his best to save Bhagat Singh |url=https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/mahatma-gandhi-tried-his-best-to-save-bhagat-singhs-life |access-date=4 September 2018}}</ref>
'''Chandra Shekhar Tiwari ''' ({{pronunciation|Chadra shekar Azad.ogg}};<ref>{{Britannica|1913067|Chandrasekhar Azad}}</ref> 23 July 1906 – 27 February 1931), popularly known as '''Chandra Shekhar Azad''', was an Indian [[Indian independence movement|revolutionary]] who reorganised the [[Hindustan Republican Association]] (HRA) under its new name of [[Hindustan Socialist Republican Association]] (HSRA) after the death of its founder, [[Ram Prasad Bismil]], and three other prominent party leaders, [[Roshan Singh]], [[Rajendra Nath Lahiri]] and [[Ashfaqulla Khan]]. He hailed from [[Badarka|Bardarka village]] in [[Unnao district]] of [[United Provinces of Agra and Oudh|United Provinces]] and his parents were Sitaram Tiwari and Jagrani Devi. He often used the pseudonym "Balraj" while signing pamphlets issued as the commander-in-chief of the HSRA.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mahatma Gandhi tried his best to save Bhagat Singh |url=https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/mahatma-gandhi-tried-his-best-to-save-bhagat-singhs-life |access-date=4 September 2018}}</ref>


==Early life and career==
==Early life and career==
Chandra Shekhar Azad was born on 23 July 1906 in [[Bhavra|Bhabhra village]] as Chandra Shekhar Tiwari, in a [[Brahmin]] family, in the princely-state of [[Alirajpur State|Alirajpur]]. His forefathers were from [[Badarka|Badarka village]] of [[Unnao district]] of Uttar Pradesh. His mother, Jagrani Devi, was the third wife of Sitaram Tiwari, whose previous wives had died young. After the birth of their first son, Sukhdev, in Badarka, the family moved to [[Alirajpur State]].<ref name="CalcuttaEnglish1958">{{cite book | publisher = University of Calcutta. Dept. of English | title=The Calcutta review | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4BAxAQAAMAAJ | access-date=11 September 2012 | year=1958 | page=44}}</ref><ref name="CatherineAsher1994">{{cite book | editor=Catherine B. Asher | title=India 2001: reference encyclopedia | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F_BtAAAAMAAJ | access-date=11 September 2012 | date=June 1994 | publisher=South Asia Publications | isbn=978-0-945921-42-4 | page = 131 }}</ref>
Chandra Shekhar Azad was born on 23 July 1906 in [[Bhavra|Bhabhra village]] as Chandra Shekhar Tiwari, in a [[Brahmin]] family, in the princely-state of [[Alirajpur State|Alirajpur]]. His forefathers were from [[Badarka|Badarka village]] of [[Unnao district]] of Uttar Pradesh. His mother, Jagrani Devi, was the third wife of Sitaram Tiwari, whose previous wives had died young. After the birth of their first son, Sukhdev, in Badarka, the family moved to [[Alirajpur State]].<ref name="CalcuttaEnglish1958">{{cite book | publisher = University of Calcutta. Dept. of English | title=The Calcutta review | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4BAxAQAAMAAJ | access-date=11 September 2012 | year=1958 | page=44}}</ref><ref name="CatherineAsher1994">{{cite book | editor=Catherine B. Asher | title=India 2001: reference encyclopedia | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F_BtAAAAMAAJ | access-date=11 September 2012 | date=June 1994 | publisher=South Asia Publications | isbn=978-0-945921-42-4 | page = 131 }}</ref>


His mother wanted her son to be a great [[Sanskrit]] scholar and persuaded his father to send him to Kashi Vidyapeeth, [[Banaras]], to study. In 1921, when the [[Non-Cooperation Movement]] was at its height, Chandra Shekhar, then a 15-year-old student, joined. As a result, he was arrested on 20 December. On being presented before the Parsi district magistrate Justice M. P. Khareghat a week later, he gave his name as "Azad" (''The Free''), his father's name as "Swatantrata" (''Independence'') and his residence as "Jail". The angered magistrate punished him with 15 lashes.<ref>{{cite book |title=Chandra Shekhar Azad (An Immortal Revolutionary of India) |first=Bhawan Singh |last=Rana |publisher=Diamond Pocket Books |year=2005 |isbn=9788128808166 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sudu7qABntcC |pages=22–24}}</ref>
His mother wanted her son to be a great [[Sanskrit]] scholar and persuaded his father to send him to Kashi Vidyapeeth at [[Varanasi|Benares]] to study. In 1921, when the [[Non-Cooperation Movement]] was at its height, Chandra Shekhar, then a 15-year-old student, joined. As a result, he was arrested on 20 December. On being presented before the Parsi district magistrate Justice M. P. Khareghat a week later, he gave his name as "Azad" (''The Free''), his father's name as "Swatantrata" (''Independence'') and his residence as "Jail". The angered magistrate punished him with 15 lashes.<ref>{{cite book |title=Chandra Shekhar Azad (An Immortal Revolutionary of India) |first=Bhawan Singh |last=Rana |publisher=Diamond Pocket Books |year=2005 |isbn=9788128808166 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sudu7qABntcC |pages=22–24}}</ref>


==Revolutionary life==
==Revolutionary life==
After the suspension of the [[non-cooperation movement]] in 1922 by [[Mahatma Gandhi]], Azad became disappointed. He met a young revolutionary, [[Manmath Nath Gupta]], who introduced him to [[Ram Prasad Bismil]] who had formed the [[Hindustan Republican Association]] (HRA), a revolutionary organization. He then became an active member of the HRA and started to collect funds for HRA. Most of the fund collection was through robberies of government property. He was involved in the [[Kakori Train Robbery]] of 1925, the shooting of John P. Saunders at [[Lahore]] in 1928 to avenge the killing of [[Lala Lajpat Rai]], and at last, in the attempt to blow up the [[Viceroy of India]]'s train in 1929.
After the suspension of the [[non-cooperation movement]] in 1922 by [[Mahatma Gandhi]], Azad became disappointed. He met a young revolutionary, [[Manmath Nath Gupta]], who introduced him to [[Ram Prasad Bismil]] who had formed the [[Hindustan Republican Association]] (HRA), a revolutionary organization. He then became an active member of the HRA and started to collect funds for HRA. Most of the fund collection was through robberies of government property. He was involved in the [[Kakori Train Robbery]] of 1925, the shooting of John P. Saunders at [[Lahore]] in 1928 to avenge the killing of [[Lala Lajpat Rai]], and at last, in the attempt to blow up the [[Edward Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax|Viceroy of India's]] train in 1929.


Azad got to read the Communist Manifesto from his comrade Shiv Verma. When Azad was the commander-in-chief of the revolutionary party, he often use to borrow a book called ABC of Communism from writer Satyabhakta to teach socialism to his cadres.
Azad got to read the Communist Manifesto from his comrade Shiv Verma. When Azad was the commander-in-chief of the revolutionary party, he often use to borrow a book called ABC of Communism from writer Satyabhakta to teach socialism to his cadres.
[[File:Chandrashekarazad.jpg|thumb|The Stone Slab On Which Chandrashekhar Azad Slept For 1.5 Years During His Incognito Exile In Orchha ( M.P)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chandrashekhar Azad, Stone Slab, Incognito Exile In Orchha - History of Indian Freedom Fighters |url=https://www.thebhaskar.com/2022/02/chandrashekhar-azad-stone-slab.html |access-date=2023-03-16}}</ref> ]]
[[File:Chandrashekarazad.jpg|thumb|The stone slab on which Azad slept for about two years, while he was incognito, at [[Orchha]] in [[Central India Agency|Central India]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chandrashekhar Azad, Stone Slab, Incognito Exile In Orchha - History of Indian Freedom Fighters |url=https://www.thebhaskar.com/2022/02/chandrashekhar-azad-stone-slab.html |access-date=2023-03-16}}</ref> ]]
Despite being a member of [[Indian National Congress|Congress]], [[Motilal Nehru]] regularly gave money in support of Azad.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Congress and the Revolutionaries in the 1920s |first1=S. K. |last1=Mittal |first2=Irfan |last2=Habib |journal=Social Scientist |volume=10 |issue=6 |date=June 1982 |pages=20–37 |doi=10.2307/3517065 |jstor=3517065}}</ref>
Despite being a member of [[Indian National Congress|Congress]], [[Motilal Nehru]] regularly gave money in support of Azad.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Congress and the Revolutionaries in the 1920s |first1=S. K. |last1=Mittal |first2=Irfan |last2=Habib |journal=Social Scientist |volume=10 |issue=6 |date=June 1982 |pages=20–37 |doi=10.2307/3517065 |jstor=3517065}}</ref>


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While living in Jhansi, he also learned to drive a car at the Bundelkhand Motor Garage in [[Sadar Bazar Jhansi|Sadar Bazar]]. Sadashivrao Malkapurkar, [[Vishwanath Vaishampayan]] and Bhagwan Das Mahaur came in close contact with him and became an integral part of his revolutionary group. The then congress leaders, [[Raghunath Vinayak Dhulekar]] and [[Sitaram Bhaskar Bhagwat]] were also close to Azad. He also stayed for some time in the house of Rudra Narayan Singh at Nai Basti, as well as Bhagwat's house in [[Nagra Jhansi|Nagra]].
While living in Jhansi, he also learned to drive a car at the Bundelkhand Motor Garage in [[Sadar Bazar Jhansi|Sadar Bazar]]. Sadashivrao Malkapurkar, [[Vishwanath Vaishampayan]] and Bhagwan Das Mahaur came in close contact with him and became an integral part of his revolutionary group. The then congress leaders, [[Raghunath Vinayak Dhulekar]] and [[Sitaram Bhaskar Bhagwat]] were also close to Azad. He also stayed for some time in the house of Rudra Narayan Singh at Nai Basti, as well as Bhagwat's house in [[Nagra Jhansi|Nagra]].
One of his main supporters was Bundelkhand Kesri Dewan Shatrughan Singh, the founder of the freedom movement in Bundelkhand, he gave Azad financial as well as assistance with weapons and fighters. Azad visited his fort multiple times in [[Orai|Mangrauth]].


==With Bhagat Singh==
==With Bhagat Singh==
[[File: Pamphlet by HSRA after Saunders murder.jpg|thumb|HSRA pamphlet after Saunders' murder, signed by Balraj, a pseudonym of Azad]]
[[File: Pamphlet by HSRA after Saunders murder.jpg|thumb|HSRA pamphlet after Saunders' murder, signed by Balraj, a pseudonym of Azad]]
The [[Hindustan Socialist Republican Association|Hindustan Republican Association]] (HRA) was formed by [[Ram Prasad Bismil]], Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee, [[Sachindra Nath Sanyal]] and Shachindra Nath Bakshi in 1923. In the aftermath of the [[Kakori train robbery]] in 1925, the British suppressed revolutionary activities. Prasad, [[Ashfaqulla Khan]], [[Thakur Roshan Singh]] and [[Rajendra Nath Lahiri]] were sentenced to death for their participation. Azad, [[Keshab Chakravarthy]] and [[Murari Sharma|Murari Lal Gupta]] evaded capture. Azad later reorganized the HRA with the help of fellow revolutionaries like [[Shiv Verma]] and [[Mahavir Singh (revolutionary)|Mahabir Singh]].
The [[Hindustan Socialist Republican Association|Hindustan Republican Association]] (HRA) was formed by [[Ram Prasad Bismil]], [[Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee]], [[Sachindra Nath Sanyal]] and Sachindra Nath Bakshi in 1923. In the aftermath of the [[Kakori train robbery]] in 1925, the British suppressed revolutionary activities. Prasad, [[Ashfaqulla Khan]], [[Thakur Roshan Singh]] and [[Rajendra Nath Lahiri]] were sentenced to death for their participation. Azad, [[Keshab Chakravarthy]] and [[Murari Sharma|Murari Lal Gupta]] evaded capture. Azad later reorganized the HRA with the help of fellow revolutionaries like [[Shiv Verma]] and [[Mahavir Singh (revolutionary)|Mahabir Singh]].


In 1928, along with [[Bhagat Singh]] and other revolutionaries he secretly reorganised the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), renaming it as the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) on 8—9 September,<ref>{{cite journal |title=Civil Disobedience 1930–31 |first=Irfan |last=Habib |author-link=Irfan Habib |journal=Social Scientist |volume=25 |issue=9/10 |date=September 1997 |pages=43–66 |doi=10.2307/3517680 |jstor=3517680 }}</ref> so as to achieve their primary aim of an independent [[India]] based on socialist principle. Azad then conspired with revolutionaries like [[Shivaram Rajguru]], [[Sukhdev Thapar]], and [[Bhagat Singh]] to assassinate the Superintendent of police, James A. Scott in order to avenge [[Lala Lajpat Rai|Lala Rajpat Rai's]] death.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gupta |first=Amit Kumar |date=September 1997 |title=Defying Death: Nationalist Revolutionism in India, 1897-1938 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3517678 |journal=Social Scientist |volume=25 |issue=9/10 |pages=3–27 |doi=10.2307/3517678|jstor=3517678 }}</ref> However, in a case of mistaken identity, the plotters shot John P. Saunders, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, as he was leaving the District Police Headquarters in Lahore on 17 December 1928.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nayar |first=Kuldip |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/46929363 |title=The martyr : Bhagat Singh experiments in revolution |date=2000 |publisher=Har-Anand Publications |isbn=81-241-0700-9 |location=New Delhi |pages=39 |oclc=46929363}}</ref> The insight of his revolutionary activities is described by [[Manmath Nath Gupta]], a fellow member of HSRA in his numerous writings. Gupta has also written his biography titled "Chandrashekhar Azad" in his book ''History of the Indian Revolutionary Movement'' (English version of above: 1972) he gave a deep insight into Azad's activities, his ideologies, and the HSRA.
In 1928, along with [[Bhagat Singh]] and other revolutionaries he secretly reorganised the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), renaming it as the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) on 8—9 September,<ref>{{cite journal |title=Civil Disobedience 1930–31 |first=Irfan |last=Habib |author-link=Irfan Habib |journal=Social Scientist |volume=25 |issue=9/10 |date=September 1997 |pages=43–66 |doi=10.2307/3517680 |jstor=3517680 }}</ref> so as to achieve their primary aim of an independent [[India]] based on socialist principle. Azad then conspired with revolutionaries like [[Shivaram Rajguru]], [[Sukhdev Thapar]], and [[Bhagat Singh]] to assassinate the Superintendent of police, James A. Scott in order to avenge [[Lala Lajpat Rai|Lala Rajpat Rai's]] death.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gupta |first=Amit Kumar |date=September 1997 |title=Defying Death: Nationalist Revolutionism in India, 1897-1938 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3517678 |journal=Social Scientist |volume=25 |issue=9/10 |pages=3–27 |doi=10.2307/3517678|jstor=3517678 }}</ref> However, in a case of mistaken identity, the plotters shot John P. Saunders, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, as he was leaving the District Police Headquarters in Lahore on 17 December 1928.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nayar |first=Kuldip |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/46929363 |title=The martyr : Bhagat Singh experiments in revolution |date=2000 |publisher=Har-Anand Publications |isbn=81-241-0700-9 |location=New Delhi |pages=39 |oclc=46929363}}</ref> The insight of his revolutionary activities is described by [[Manmath Nath Gupta]], a fellow member of HSRA in his numerous writings. Gupta has also written his biography titled "Chandrashekhar Azad" in his book ''History of the Indian Revolutionary Movement'' (English version of above: 1972) he gave a deep insight into Azad's activities, his ideologies, and the HSRA.


==Death==
==Death==
[[File: The tree at whose platform Azad shot himself.jpg|thumb|left|The tree at [[Chandrashekhar Azad Park|Chandrashekhar Azad Park (formerly Alfred Park)]] in Allahabad where Azad died]]
[[File: The tree at whose platform Azad shot himself.jpg|thumb|left|The tree at [[Chandrashekhar Azad Park|Alfred Park]] in Allahabad where Azad died]]
[[File: Chandrashekar azad.jpg|thumb|Statue of Azad at [[Chandrashekhar Azad Park|Chandrashekhar Azad Park (formerly Alfred Park)]] in Allahabad]]
[[File: Chandrashekar azad.jpg|thumb|Statue of Azad at [[Chandrashekhar Azad Park|Alfred Park]] in Allahabad]]
[[File:Azadpistol.jpg|thumb|Pistol of Chandra Shekhar Azad at Prayagraj Museum]]
[[File:Azadpistol.jpg|thumb|Pistol of Chandra Shekhar Azad at [[Allahabad Museum]]]]
On 27 February 1931, the CID head of the police at [[Allahabad]], [[John Nott-Bower|J. R. H. Nott-Bower]] was tipped off by someone that Azad was at [[Alfred Park]] and was having a talk with his companion & aide Sukhdev Raj. On receiving it, Bower called on the Allahabad Police to accompany him to the park to arrest him. Azad's old comrades Veerbhadra Tiwari and Yashpal were also held responsible for tipping off two of the police constables. The police arrived at the park and surrounded it from all four sides. Some constables along with DSP Thakur Vishweshwar Singh entered the park armed with rifles and the shootout began. Azad asked Raj to move out in order to carry on his legacy and work in the party, Azad gave him cover fire and Raj moved out safely. Azad hid behind a tree to save himself and began to fire from behind it. The police fired back. After a long shootout, holding true to his pledge to always remain ''Azad'' (Free) and never be captured alive, he shot himself in the head with his gun's last bullet. In the shootout, Bower and DSP Singh were injured in the right palm and jaws respectively. The police recovered Azad's body after the other officers arrived at the site. They were hesitant to come close to Azad even after finding him dead.
On 27 February 1931, the [[Criminal Investigation Department (India)|CID]] head of the police at [[Allahabad]], [[John Nott-Bower|J. R. H. Nott-Bower]] was tipped off by someone that Azad was at [[Chandrashekhar Azad Park|Alfred Park]] and was having a talk with his companion and aide Sukhdev Raj. On receiving it, Bower called on the [[Indian Imperial Police|Allahabad Police]] to accompany him to the park to arrest him. Azad's old comrades Veer Bhadra Tiwari and [[Yashpal]] were also held responsible for tipping off two of the police constables. The police arrived at the park and surrounded it from all four sides. Some constables along with [[Deputy superintendent of police#India|DSP]] Thakur Vishweshwar Singh entered the park armed with rifles and the shootout began. Azad killed three policemen but was badly wounded in the process of defending himself and helping his colleague Raj. Azad told him to move out in order to continue the freedom struggle and gave him cover fire for Raj to safely escape from the park. Azad hid behind a tree to save himself and began to fire from behind it. The police fired back. After a long shootout, holding true to his pledge to always remain ''Azad'' (Free) and never be captured alive, he shot himself in the head with his gun's last bullet. In the shootout, Bower and DSP Singh were injured in the right hand and jaws respectively. The police recovered Azad's body after the other officers arrived at the site. They were hesitant to come close to Azad even after finding him dead.
   
   
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 Raj]] and praised Azad.<ref name="Khatri 1983 138–139">{{Cite book|title=Shaheedon Ki Chhaya Mein|last=Khatri|first=Ram Krishna|year=1983|publisher=Vishwabharati Prakashan|location=Nagpur|pages=138–139}}</ref>
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 the [[British Raj|British government]] and praised Azad.<ref name="Khatri 1983 138–139">{{Cite book|title=Shaheedon Ki Chhaya Mein|last=Khatri|first=Ram Krishna|year=1983|publisher=Vishwabharati Prakashan|location=Nagpur|pages=138–139}}</ref>


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
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== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Commons category|Chandra Shekhar Azad}}
 


{{Indian independence movement}}
{{Indian independence movement}}

Latest revision as of 08:13, 22 July 2023


Chandra Shekhar Azad
Chandrasekhar Azad.jpg
Chandra Shekhar Azad
Born
Chandra Shekhar Sitaram

(1906-07-23)23 July 1906
Bhabhra, Alirajpur State, British India (now Madhya Pradesh, India)[1]
Died27 February 1931(1931-02-27) (aged 24)
Allahabad, United Provinces, British India (now Uttar Pradesh, India)
Cause of deathSuicide by gunshot
Other names
OccupationRevolutionary
OrganizationHindustan Socialist Republican Association
MovementIndian Independence Movement

Chandra Shekhar Tiwari (Template:Pronunciation;[2] 23 July 1906 – 27 February 1931), popularly known as Chandra Shekhar Azad, was an Indian revolutionary who reorganised the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) under its new name of Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) after the death of its founder, Ram Prasad Bismil, and three other prominent party leaders, Roshan Singh, Rajendra Nath Lahiri and Ashfaqulla Khan. He hailed from Bardarka village in Unnao district of United Provinces and his parents were Sitaram Tiwari and Jagrani Devi. He often used the pseudonym "Balraj" while signing pamphlets issued as the commander-in-chief of the HSRA.[3]

Early life and career[edit]

Chandra Shekhar Azad was born on 23 July 1906 in Bhabhra village as Chandra Shekhar Tiwari, in a Brahmin family, in the princely-state of Alirajpur. His forefathers were from Badarka village of Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh. His mother, Jagrani Devi, was the third wife of Sitaram Tiwari, whose previous wives had died young. After the birth of their first son, Sukhdev, in Badarka, the family moved to Alirajpur State.[4][5]

His mother wanted her son to be a great Sanskrit scholar and persuaded his father to send him to Kashi Vidyapeeth at Benares to study. In 1921, when the Non-Cooperation Movement was at its height, Chandra Shekhar, then a 15-year-old student, joined. As a result, he was arrested on 20 December. On being presented before the Parsi district magistrate Justice M. P. Khareghat a week later, he gave his name as "Azad" (The Free), his father's name as "Swatantrata" (Independence) and his residence as "Jail". The angered magistrate punished him with 15 lashes.[6]

Revolutionary life[edit]

After the suspension of the non-cooperation movement in 1922 by Mahatma Gandhi, Azad became disappointed. He met a young revolutionary, Manmath Nath Gupta, who introduced him to Ram Prasad Bismil who had formed the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), a revolutionary organization. He then became an active member of the HRA and started to collect funds for HRA. Most of the fund collection was through robberies of government property. He was involved in the Kakori Train Robbery of 1925, the shooting of John P. Saunders at Lahore in 1928 to avenge the killing of Lala Lajpat Rai, and at last, in the attempt to blow up the Viceroy of India's train in 1929.

Azad got to read the Communist Manifesto from his comrade Shiv Verma. When Azad was the commander-in-chief of the revolutionary party, he often use to borrow a book called ABC of Communism from writer Satyabhakta to teach socialism to his cadres.

File:Chandrashekarazad.jpg
The stone slab on which Azad slept for about two years, while he was incognito, at Orchha in Central India.[7]

Despite being a member of Congress, Motilal Nehru regularly gave money in support of Azad.[8]

Activities in Jhansi[edit]

Azad made Jhansi his organization's hub for some time. He used the forest of Orchha, situated 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Jhansi, as a site for shooting practice and, being an expert marksman, he trained other members of his group. He built a hut near to a Hanuman temple on the banks of the Satar River and lived there under the alias of Pandit Harishankar Bramhachari for a long period. He taught children from the nearby village of Dhimarpura and thus managed to establish a good rapport with the local residents.

While living in Jhansi, he also learned to drive a car at the Bundelkhand Motor Garage in Sadar Bazar. Sadashivrao Malkapurkar, Vishwanath Vaishampayan and Bhagwan Das Mahaur came in close contact with him and became an integral part of his revolutionary group. The then congress leaders, Raghunath Vinayak Dhulekar and Sitaram Bhaskar Bhagwat were also close to Azad. He also stayed for some time in the house of Rudra Narayan Singh at Nai Basti, as well as Bhagwat's house in Nagra.

With Bhagat Singh[edit]

HSRA pamphlet after Saunders' murder, signed by Balraj, a pseudonym of Azad

The Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) was formed by Ram Prasad Bismil, Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee, Sachindra Nath Sanyal and Sachindra Nath Bakshi in 1923. In the aftermath of the Kakori train robbery in 1925, the British suppressed revolutionary activities. Prasad, Ashfaqulla Khan, Thakur Roshan Singh and Rajendra Nath Lahiri were sentenced to death for their participation. Azad, Keshab Chakravarthy and Murari Lal Gupta evaded capture. Azad later reorganized the HRA with the help of fellow revolutionaries like Shiv Verma and Mahabir Singh.

In 1928, along with Bhagat Singh and other revolutionaries he secretly reorganised the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), renaming it as the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) on 8—9 September,[9] so as to achieve their primary aim of an independent India based on socialist principle. Azad then conspired with revolutionaries like Shivaram Rajguru, Sukhdev Thapar, and Bhagat Singh to assassinate the Superintendent of police, James A. Scott in order to avenge Lala Rajpat Rai's death.[10] However, in a case of mistaken identity, the plotters shot John P. Saunders, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, as he was leaving the District Police Headquarters in Lahore on 17 December 1928.[11] The insight of his revolutionary activities is described by Manmath Nath Gupta, a fellow member of HSRA in his numerous writings. Gupta has also written his biography titled "Chandrashekhar Azad" in his book History of the Indian Revolutionary Movement (English version of above: 1972) he gave a deep insight into Azad's activities, his ideologies, and the HSRA.

Death[edit]

The tree at Alfred Park in Allahabad where Azad died
Statue of Azad at Alfred Park in Allahabad
File:Azadpistol.jpg
Pistol of Chandra Shekhar Azad at Allahabad Museum

On 27 February 1931, the CID head of the police at Allahabad, J. R. H. Nott-Bower was tipped off by someone that Azad was at Alfred Park and was having a talk with his companion and aide Sukhdev Raj. On receiving it, Bower called on the Allahabad Police to accompany him to the park to arrest him. Azad's old comrades Veer Bhadra Tiwari and Yashpal were also held responsible for tipping off two of the police constables. The police arrived at the park and surrounded it from all four sides. Some constables along with DSP Thakur Vishweshwar Singh entered the park armed with rifles and the shootout began. Azad killed three policemen but was badly wounded in the process of defending himself and helping his colleague Raj. Azad told him to move out in order to continue the freedom struggle and gave him cover fire for Raj to safely escape from the park. Azad hid behind a tree to save himself and began to fire from behind it. The police fired back. After a long shootout, holding true to his pledge to always remain Azad (Free) and never be captured alive, he shot himself in the head with his gun's last bullet. In the shootout, Bower and DSP Singh were injured in the right hand and jaws respectively. The police recovered Azad's body after the other officers arrived at the site. They were hesitant to come close to Azad even after finding him dead.

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 the British government and praised Azad.[12]

Legacy[edit]

Jawaharlal Nehru in his autobiography wrote that Azad met him a few weeks before his death, inquiring about the possibility of not being considered an outlaw as a result of Gandhi-Irwin pact. Nehru wrote that Azad also saw the 'futility' of his methods and so did many of his associates, though was not completely convinced that 'peaceful methods' would work either.[13]

Several schools, colleges, roads, and other public institutions across India are also named after Azad.

Starting from Jagdish Gautam's 1963 film Chandrasekhar Azad and Manoj Kumar's 1965 film Shaheed, many films have featured the character of Azad. Manmohan played Azad in the 1965 film, Sunny Deol portrayed Azad in the movie 23rd March 1931: Shaheed (2002), Azad was portrayed by Akhilendra Mishra in The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002) and Raj Zutshi portrayed Azad in Shaheed-E-Azam (2002). In the 2006 film, Rang De Basanti, produced and directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Azad was portrayed by Aamir Khan, which was about the lives of Azad, Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, Ram Prasad Bismil, and Ashfaqulla Khan; the film drew parallels between the lives of young revolutionaries such as Azad and Singh, and today's youth, and dwelt upon the lack of appreciation among Indian youth today for the sacrifices made by these men.[14]

The 2018 television series Chandrashekhar chronicled the life of Azad from his childhood to his being a revolutionary leader. In the series, young Azad was portrayed by Ayaan Zubair, Azad in his teens by Dev Joshi and the adult Azad by Karan Sharma.[15]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "REVEALING THE TRUTH BEHIND THE REAL BIRTH PLACE AND DATE OF AZAD! – A Soul Window". 28 January 2017.
  2. ↑ Chandrasekhar Azad at the Encyclopædia Britannica
  3. ↑ "Mahatma Gandhi tried his best to save Bhagat Singh". Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  4. ↑ The Calcutta review. University of Calcutta. Dept. of English. 1958. p. 44. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  5. ↑ Catherine B. Asher, ed. (June 1994). India 2001: reference encyclopedia. South Asia Publications. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-945921-42-4. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  6. ↑ Rana, Bhawan Singh (2005). Chandra Shekhar Azad (An Immortal Revolutionary of India). Diamond Pocket Books. pp. 22–24. ISBN 9788128808166.
  7. ↑ "Chandrashekhar Azad, Stone Slab, Incognito Exile In Orchha - History of Indian Freedom Fighters". Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  8. ↑ Mittal, S. K.; Habib, Irfan (June 1982). "The Congress and the Revolutionaries in the 1920s". Social Scientist. 10 (6): 20–37. doi:10.2307/3517065. JSTOR 3517065.
  9. ↑ Habib, Irfan (September 1997). "Civil Disobedience 1930–31". Social Scientist. 25 (9/10): 43–66. doi:10.2307/3517680. JSTOR 3517680.
  10. ↑ Gupta, Amit Kumar (September 1997). "Defying Death: Nationalist Revolutionism in India, 1897-1938". Social Scientist. 25 (9/10): 3–27. doi:10.2307/3517678. JSTOR 3517678.
  11. ↑ Nayar, Kuldip (2000). The martyr : Bhagat Singh experiments in revolution. New Delhi: Har-Anand Publications. p. 39. ISBN 81-241-0700-9. OCLC 46929363.
  12. ↑ Khatri, Ram Krishna (1983). Shaheedon Ki Chhaya Mein. Nagpur: Vishwabharati Prakashan. pp. 138–139.
  13. ↑ An Autobiography. Nehru, Jawaharlal. 1936. p. 262. ISBN 9780143031048.
  14. ↑ Is The Indian Script Unique. Film Writers Association. 13 April 2012. Event occurs at 23:34. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2016 – via YouTube.
  15. ↑ "This peace is the result of the sacrifice of freedom fighters like Azad: Ayaan Zubair". The Times of India. 31 March 2018.

Further reading[edit]

  • Brahmdutt, Chandramani. Kranti Ki Laptain. ISBN 81-88167-30-4 (in Hindi)
  • Krishnamurthy, Babu. Ajeya ("Unconquered"). Biography of Azad (in Kannada)

External links[edit]

Template:Indian Revolutionary Movement

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