Ram Prasad Bismil
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| Ram Prasad Bismil |
Ram Prasad Bismil was the famous freedom fighter who was involved in the historic Kakori train robbery. Ram Prasad Bismil was born on 11 June 1897 at Shahjahanpur, in North-Western Provinces, British India. His relation was from the village Barabai district, Morena, Madhya Pradesh. His father Muralidhar was an employee of Shahjahanpur Municipality. He learned Hindi from his father at home and was sent to learn Urdu from a Moulvi. He was admitted to an English-language school, despite his father's disapproval, and also joined the Arya Samaj in Shahjahanpur.
'Bismil' is the pen-name” of Ram Prasad. As 'Bismil' he is well-known as a great revolutionary poet in Hindi At the end of his autobiography, he has reproduced some selected poems Every line of his poems throbs with patriotic fervor. In the poem, he prays, " Even if I have to face death a thousand times for the sake of my Motherland, it shall not sadden me. Oh, Lord! Grant me a hundred births in Bharat. But grant me this, too, that each time I may give up my life in the service of the Motherland."
In a poem written just before going to the gallows he prays, "Oh Lord! You will be done. You are unique. Neither my tears nor I will endure. Grant me this boon, that to my last breath and the last drop of my blood, I may think of you and be immersed in your work."
Ram Prasad 'Bismil' was a brave revolutionary, who gave up his life smilingly for the sake of the Motherland. He was persecuted by an enraged foreign government, hunted by the police and betrayed by some fellow workers. He was the brave leader of the Kakori train incident. His poetry is also a lamp lighted at the altar of the Motherland. Kakori is a village near Lucknow. It became famous because the attack on the train took place near Lucknow.
It was the evening of the 9th 'of August 1925; the number eight down train was passing near Kakori. Ram Prasad and his nine revolutionary followers pulled the chain and stopped it. They took under their control the money belonging to the government, deposited in the guard's carriage. Excepting that one passenger was killed by an accidental shot, there was no bloodshed. This extremely well-planned incident jolted the government. After a month of detailed preliminary inquiries and elaborate preparations, the government cast its net wide for the revolutionaries. Arrest warrants were issued not only against the ten participants but also against other leaders of the Hindustan Republican Association. With the lone exception of Chandra Shekhar Azad, all participants were caught. The case went on for over a year and a half. Ram Prasad, Ashfaqullah, Roshan Singh and Rajendra Lahiri, all four were sentenced to death. A strong campaign was organized throughout India to save the lives of these revolutionary heroes. Many of the leaders appealed to the British Government to show mercy to the condemned men. But the government was unyielding.
It was the 18th of December 1927. A middle-aged lady waiting at the main gate’ of the Gorakhpur Central Jail. She was eagerly waiting to be called into the prison. By that time, her husband also arrived there. He was surprised that his wife was already there before him. He also sat down to wait for the call. A young man came there. He was not related to them. He knew that the couple would be permitted to enter the prison. But how should he manage to enter the prison? This was his problem. The officials of the prison called in the husband and the wife. The young man followed them; The guard Stopped him and rudely asked, " Who are you?" “Permit him also, brother. He is my sister's son, the lady said in an entreating voice. The guard relented. All three entered.
visit a freedom fighter who was to face his death on the morrow‘. The freedom fighter was brought there in chains. They were like ornaments on him. This was the last time that he could see his mother, the last time he could address her as 'mother'. At this thought, grief welled up in him. He stood speechless and tears rolled down his cheeks.
In a firm voice, the mother said, "What is this, my son? I. had thought of my son as a great hero. I was thinking that the British Government would shiver at the very mention of his name. I never thought that my son would be afraid of death. If you can die only in this way, weeping, why did you take up such activities?"
The officials were astounded at the firmness of the mother. The freedom fighter replied, Mother, dear, these are not tears of fear the fear of death. These are tears of joy at beholding so brave a mother!"
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| Ram Prasad Bismil sangrahalay |
The brave son of that brave mother was Ram Prasad ‘Bismil’. He was the leader of the famous Kakori train incident. The last meeting ended. Next morning Ram Prasad got up earlier and threw his usual prayers. He wrote his last letter to his mother Then he sat down with a calm mind awaiting his death.
The officers came and removed his chains. They took him to prison He was completely untroubled and. walked The officers were amazed As he moved to the gallows, he joyfully chanted 'Vande Mataram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. At the top of his voice, he shouted, "Down with the British Empire." Then he calmly recited prayers and embraced death.
As he was executed, there was a strong guard around the prison. When he was dead, the / officials brought out the dead body Not only his parents but also his relatives The people of Gorakhpur decorated the body on the brave son of Bharat as befitted a hero and carried it in a procession ". Flowers were showered on the body and the last rites were performed.
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