The literatures of colonial countries are widely accepted as documents of protest against colonialism. In pre-independence India, literature became an integral part of the national freedom movement. Modern Hindi literature, across genres like the novel, short story, drama and poetry, focused on patriotic fervour, armed protest, the underground revolutionary movement and the lives of martyrs.
The British government had labelled the revolutionary movement illegal because revolutionaries pledged to overthrow colonial rule by violent means. The colonial rulers imposed bans on such literature, but this did not daunt writers. In post-independence India, writers wrote more openly about the movement, and previously banned literature found publication.
Hindi literature emerges as a mirror of the revolutionaries’ varied dimensions, offering not only aesthetic but also political and sociological perspectives. Writers of different ideologies—nationalist, Marxist, humanist, socialist, modernist-existentialist—have given space to the revolutionary movement. Even Gandhian writers have been fascinated by revolutionaries. Former revolutionaries like Yashpal, Manmathnath Gupta and Bhagwandas Mahore have also given historical-ideological accounts.
In pre-independence times, revolutionaries were depicted mostly imaginatively, rarely with real names. The courage and martyrdom of figures like Bhagat Singh are often placed on a high pedestal. Occasionally, Gandhi is maligned, especially when a contrast is drawn between his non-violence and Bhagat Singh’s sacrifice, or over Gandhi’s unwillingness to save Bhagat Singh from the gallows. This paper gives a brief account of the revolutionary movement as it permeates the Hindi novel, with Bhagat Singh as the central figure.
Bhagat Singh himself had a keen interest in literature. Bhagwan Das Mahore dedicated his Ph.D. thesis "1857 Ka Hindi Sahitya Par Prabhav" (1976) to Bhagat Singh, noting that Singh was influenced by Bhartendu Harishchandra’s play "Bharat Durdasha" (1876). Singh’s review of "Dreamland" by Lala Ramsharandas, written just two months before his execution, shows his critical literary understanding.
In literary imagination, the image of great public figures is complex and multilayered. The image of Bhagat Singh in the Hindi novel is not static. The Shaheed-e-Azam who threw the bomb in the Assembly and faced the Lahore Conspiracy Case trial receives the most attention. Bhagat Singh the thinker (influenced by anarchists and later Marxism-Leninism) comes second, and Bhagat Singh the atheist third. The legend is largely a combination of all these images.
The serious depiction of the revolutionary movement in the Hindi novel began around 1935. The first fictional character with revolutionary traits is Beerpal Singh in Premchand’s "Rangbhoomi" (1924). Durga Prasad Khatri wrote four interrelated novels: "Pratishodh" (1924), "Lal Panja" (1925), "Raktmandal" (1926/1930) and "Sufed Shaitan" (1928/1934). These novels uphold the cause of revolutionaries. In "Pratishodh", a secret meeting of four revolutionary leaders decides to unite under a central body called ‘Raktmandal’. The British banned "Raktmandal" after police raided the press. Although Khatri does not name Bhagat Singh, his influence appears in characters like the ‘Bhayanak Chaar’ (terrifying four) and Ajit Singh in "Sufed Shaitan".
The first full-length novel based on Bhagat Singh’s life is "Shaheed-e-Azam" (2006) by Bachchan Singh, not an established writer. Three important earlier novels—"Sunita" (1935) by Jainendra, "Shekhar Ek Jeevni" (1941/44) by Agyeya, and "Dada Kamred" (1941) by Yashpal—were written within ten years of Bhagat Singh’s hanging. "Shekhar Ek Jeevni" starts with the word ‘Phansi!’ (gallows). However, these three novels make no substantial mention of Bhagat Singh and his colleagues, a glaring omission possibly due to fear of colonial rulers. Instead, they subject revolutionary characters to literary psychoanalysis, underplaying socio-political dimensions.
In "Sunita", the revolutionary Hari Prasanna emerges afflicted with a major Freudian problem. Sunita, the wife of his friend, even offers to strip herself to help him. The risk is that the social and political become subservient to private issues.
"Shekhar Ek Jeevni" is autobiographical, as Agyeya was a revolutionary. The protagonist Shekhar theorizes that true revolutionaries are born, not made, and questions everything. He places himself much above ordinary revolutionaries. The execution of Bhagat Singh is mentioned in half a sentence: "Bhagat Singh Ko Phansi Ho Gai" (Bhagat Singh was hanged). Shekhar projects himself as famous as Bhagat Singh. The novel seems to discredit ‘fake’ revolutionaries through modernist-individualist influences.
"Dada Kamred" by Yashpal (also a former revolutionary) is set in 1931 and based on inner conflicts in the Hindustan Socialist Republic Association. The images of Chandra Shekhar Azad and Bhagat Singh are projected through fictional characters. Harish, the protagonist, is presented as a superior Bhagat Singh. Yashpal’s book "Sinhavlokan" confirms this attitude. Like Shekhar, Harish is driven by twin desires for sex and revolution. Harish wants to see a woman named Shail naked, and she fulfills his desire. Harish faces a trial reminiscent of Bhagat Singh’s, gets a death sentence, and shouts similar slogans. The novel suggests that the great task of revolution is interlinked with sexuality.
Other important novels include "Terhe Merhe Raste" (1946) by Bhagwati Charan Verma, "Maila Anchal" (1954) by Phanishwarnath Renu, and "Beej" (1952) by Amrit Rai, among others. "Shaheed-e-Azam" by Bachchan Singh is a devotional, autobiographical novel that presents Bhagat Singh as a revolutionary by birth, with a mythical aura. It delineates the Bhagat Singh–Durga Bhabhi ‘love’ tangle and combines personal and political life.
In conclusion, Hindi novelists reflect a special fascination with the character, ideas and martyrdom of Bhagat Singh. The literary and cognitive passion released by his martyrdom continues to attract the imagination of past and present writers. Today, as Bhagat Singh symbolizes the inspiring force against neo-imperialism, his legend offers further potential for future writers.
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The writer associated with the socialist movement is a former teacher of Delhi University and a fellow of Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. This is abridged version of the original paper
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