Kolkata, Feb 27 (UNI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday paid
tribute to legendary freedom fighter Chandra Shekhar Azad on the day of his martyrdom.
“Tribute to Chandra Shekhar Azad, legendary freedom fighter, on the day of his
martyrdom,” Ms Banerjee tweeted.
Born on July 23, 1906, Chandra Shekhar Azad, popularly known as by his self-taken
name Azad ("The Free"), was a revolutionary who reorganised the Hindustan Republican
Association under its new name of Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA) after the
death of its founder, Ram Prasad Bismil, and three other prominent party leaders, Roshan
Singh, Rajendra Nath Lahiri and Ashfaqulla Khan.
Known for his organizational skills, Azad played a key role in reorganizing the HRA as
the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association after most of the HRA’s members had
been killed or imprisoned. His crimes had made him a wanted man, but Azad was able
to elude the police and its informants for several years.
After the suspension of the non-cooperation movement in 1922 by Gandhi, Azad became
more aggressive.
Chandra Shekhar got involved in revolutionary activities at a very young age. He was the
face of revolutionary India and was involved in several incidents including Kakori train
robbery, assembly bomb incident, shooting of Saunders at Lahore, and to avenge the
killing of Lala Lajpat Rai.
Determined never to be captured by police, Azad was constantly on the move.
On February 27, 1931, Azad arranged to meet a revolutionary at Allahabad’s Alfred Park
(now Azad Park). He was betrayed to the police, who surrounded him as soon as he
entered the park. A gun battle ensued, in which two police officers were wounded, and
Azad was fatally shot.
UNI BM SJC