How legislative bombing by Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt changed the course of Indian Independence movement?

It was like any other day in the unruly British Raj — they were busy, trying to implement stringent rules and policies to make the life of Indians, a living hell. However, it wasn’t going to be similar as something big that would shake the British Empire forever were to take place soon. It was their regular meeting, when all of a sudden people sitting in the Central Legislative Assembly witnessed a small-scale explosion. On April 8, 1929, two brave Indians, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt decided to take an action in the form of Delhi Central Legislative Assembly Bombing against the passing of atrocious bills, the Public Safety Bill and the Trade Dispute Bill.

Bills that led to the Bombings

People were tired and wanted freedom, and for this they were abiding by and following the footsteps of Gandhian liberalism. However, the continued repression and passing of tyrannical bills, gave masses an idea of how irrelevant it was to remain liberal against the forces whose penultimate aim was to extract maximum wealth from India and treat its citizens as ‘second class’ people.

Thus, about 90 years ago, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt took an action. Our history books often acknowledge the contributions of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawahar Lal Nehru, which is significant. However, it was these small efforts as well, that led to the freedom.

One significant effort was from Bhagat Singh, as he was certainly responsible for giving the freedom movement a new trajectory.

Bhagat Singh was an avid follower of Mahatma Gandhi, and for him (like most other Indians) Gandhi was the one, who could get rid of the evil British forces. However, soon these hopes were destroyed, when in 1920, Mahatma Gandhi launched the Non-cooperation movement. Bhagat Singh, though, was just around 13 years old, decided to be a part of the movement and showed immense interest by burning all of his books that were authored by the British writers. Little did he know that Gandhi would call off the Non-cooperation Movement after the Chauri-Chaura incident?

Upset with the decision, Bhagat Singh lost all of his faith in non-violence. The young man then joined the Young Revolutionary Movement that believed in getting rid of the British Empire by means of force.

“The movement of Indian freedom which was looking sluggish got a new life after the emergence of revolutionary leaders like Bhagat Singh, Chandrasekhar Azad, and Sukhdev Thapar,” says the renowned nationalist Sanjay Dalmia.

The Judgement Day

The bombing was carried out by the two rock-ribbed fighters of Indian freedom struggle, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt on a pre-planned date. What’s more impressive is the way Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt responded during the trail for the bombing. “If the deaf are to hear, the sound has to be very loud.”

The bombing was not aimed at causing harm as it was meant to protest against the two despotic bills — the Public Safety Bill and Trade Dispute Bill, which were supposed to be passed on the day of bombing. But the success of this valiant incident by Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt brought the British Rule in India on back foot. It instigated thousands of other young Indian souls as they turned revolutionaries in no time to give the colonizers a taste of their own medicine.

The oppressive Britishers, who were somewhat enjoying a free hand due to the Gandhian philosophy of Ahimsa, got a sense of repelling revolution spreading across the country. Although the taste of the revolutionary fruit came on August 15th, 1947, the journey of Indian independence got a huge upsurge 18 years ago on April 8th, 1929, deems Sanjay Dalmia.

Although, Bhagat Singh and Dutt were 23 and 19 years old respectively at the time of the Assembly bombing, their courageous act had tremendous impact on the freedom struggle, giving it a new shape