Chandra Shekhar Azad’s 109th birth anniversary

“Dushman ki goliyon ka hum samna karenge, Azad hi rahein hain, azad hi rahenge!”

He had vowed that he would never be arrested by the British police and kept his promise by shooting himself in the head with his last bullet. He was Chandra Shekhar Azad. Azad was an Indian revolutionary who joined the revolution for the Indian independence when he was only 15 years-old.

Better known as Azad, Chandra Shekhar Azad was born on July 23, 1906. On his 109th birth anniversary, we have gathered some facts you must know about the Indian revolutionary:

– Chandra Shekhar Azad was popularly known as Azad

– His mother wanted him to study and become a great Sanskrit scholar

– Azad was only 15 years-old when he was arrested for the first time for joining Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement

– It is said that on being produced before a judge, he gave his name as ‘Azad’, father’s name as ‘Swatantrata’ (independence) and residence as ‘Jail’

– In jail, Azad was sentenced to 15 slashes

– He was the chief strategist of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA)

– He became very famous for the Kakori Train robbery in 1925 and the killing of the assistant superintendent Saunders in 1928

– Azad had made a pledge that the Police will never capture him alive

– Following the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh joined Azad to fight the British

– His favourite verse was: “Dushman ki goliyon ka hum samna karenge, Azad hi rahein hain, azad hi rahenge!”

– The massacre of the Jallianwala Bagh which took place in 1919 was when he decided to join the Non-Cooperation movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920

– He was lovingly called “Quick-silver” for his restless enthusiasm

– He played a key role in the Kakori conspiracy where he looted the train carrying cash belonging to the British treasury

– He was very particular with expenses and monitored every transaction

– Azad always believed that the money donated to their party by the people should solely be used for the Nation

– Alfred Park, where he became a martyr, was renamed as Chandrasekhar Azad Park

– Several schools, colleges and roads across India have been named after him.