A prisoner in Lahore jail, Bhagat Singh is said to have challenged his British oppressors with this stirring sentence — 'Dekhna hai zor kitna bazoo-e-qatil mein hai (I will see how much might the killer has in his hands)'. Today, as the fight to build a memorial for the renowned freedom fighter at the very spot where he was hung on March 23, 1931, gathers momentum, Singh's supporters find strength in his fiery words.
Eighty-two years after Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hung to death for their revolutionary activities, a section of progressive Pakistanis including members of the Awami Workers Party, trade unionists and journalists have been lobbying to have Fawara Chowk or Shadman Chowk in central Lahore renamed after the legendary revolutionary. Those in favour of the memorial claim the city administration had supported their bid, but extremist groups, including the Jamaat-ud-Dawah led by 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed, called it a heretical move and filed a case in Lahore High Court to prevent it.
"The extremists argue that there cannot be a memorial for a kafir (infidel) like Bhagat Singh inIslamic Pakistan. But we will continue to fight till we get the intersection named after him," says Farooq Tariq, general secretary of the Awami Workers Party and convener of the Bhagat Singh Memorial Committee. Founded in 2012, the left-wing party admires Bhagat Singh for being anti-imperialist , revolutionary and a socialist. Mohammed Yusuf Baloch, trade unionist and committee member, says his father Mohammed Hussain was influenced by Muslim League leader Fazle Elahi. "Elahi was greatly inspired by Bhagat Singh," he says. "So I consider it my national and moral obligation to back a memorial for Singh here."
Tariq says few in Lahore knew about the intersection's historical importance up until 2000. Today, despite the bustling traffic, there is an uneasy calm surrounding the small grassy roundabout fenced off by metal barriers. On March 23 this year, Singh's death anniversary, the memorial committee had gathered at the chowk to commemorate his martyrdom when they found themselves under verbal attack. "The extremists shouted slogans against Bhagat Singh, but the cops averted a clash," says Tariq. Today, the extremists have erected a makeshift iron plate at the chowk, with the name 'Rahmat Ali Chowk' written in green ink in Urdu on it, referring to the late nationalist credited for coining the name 'Pakistan' . Baloch says that while Rahmat Ali was at the forefront of the Pakistan movement, he became disillusioned and left for England where he died. "Why should we honour someone who didn't have courage to face the challenges a new nation threw up?" asks Baloch.
The bid for Bhagat Singh Chowk began a few years ago during an initiative to beautify Lahore launched by the Punjab government. The Dilkusha Lahore (Lovely Lahore) Committee, set up to approve projects, invited supporters to petition to rename Fawara Chowk after Bhagat Singh. Salima Hashmi, member of Dilkusha Lahore Committee and daughter of legendary Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, says, "We debated the sacrifice Bhagat Singh made and its historical importance for the city. Even Jinnah had admired Bhagat Singh and criticized the British government for forcing him and his companions to go on fast in jail. A memorial to him was justified and we approved it." Tariq claims the district coordination officer (DCO) had approved the name change but before a plaque could be placed, the extremists petitioned the court.
The memorial committee awaits the Lahore court verdict, and says if it goes against them, they intend to challenge it in the Supreme Court. "Liberal space is fast vanishing in Pakistan. It is this dangerous mindset which cannot tolerate a memorial to one of the greatest revolutionaries of our freedom struggle," says advocate Rabia Bajwa, who feels the government is soft-pedaling with extremists. The Awami Workers Party has in the past organized several rallies, seminars and dialogues for peace with India, which has earned them the wrath of religious fundamentalists . "We are often called Indian agents because we want peace with India. We don't care and will continue to fight for peace," says Tariq.
Eighty-two years after Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hung to death for their revolutionary activities, a section of progressive Pakistanis including members of the Awami Workers Party, trade unionists and journalists have been lobbying to have Fawara Chowk or Shadman Chowk in central Lahore renamed after the legendary revolutionary. Those in favour of the memorial claim the city administration had supported their bid, but extremist groups, including the Jamaat-ud-Dawah led by 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed, called it a heretical move and filed a case in Lahore High Court to prevent it.
"The extremists argue that there cannot be a memorial for a kafir (infidel) like Bhagat Singh inIslamic Pakistan. But we will continue to fight till we get the intersection named after him," says Farooq Tariq, general secretary of the Awami Workers Party and convener of the Bhagat Singh Memorial Committee. Founded in 2012, the left-wing party admires Bhagat Singh for being anti-imperialist , revolutionary and a socialist. Mohammed Yusuf Baloch, trade unionist and committee member, says his father Mohammed Hussain was influenced by Muslim League leader Fazle Elahi. "Elahi was greatly inspired by Bhagat Singh," he says. "So I consider it my national and moral obligation to back a memorial for Singh here."
Tariq says few in Lahore knew about the intersection's historical importance up until 2000. Today, despite the bustling traffic, there is an uneasy calm surrounding the small grassy roundabout fenced off by metal barriers. On March 23 this year, Singh's death anniversary, the memorial committee had gathered at the chowk to commemorate his martyrdom when they found themselves under verbal attack. "The extremists shouted slogans against Bhagat Singh, but the cops averted a clash," says Tariq. Today, the extremists have erected a makeshift iron plate at the chowk, with the name 'Rahmat Ali Chowk' written in green ink in Urdu on it, referring to the late nationalist credited for coining the name 'Pakistan' . Baloch says that while Rahmat Ali was at the forefront of the Pakistan movement, he became disillusioned and left for England where he died. "Why should we honour someone who didn't have courage to face the challenges a new nation threw up?" asks Baloch.
The bid for Bhagat Singh Chowk began a few years ago during an initiative to beautify Lahore launched by the Punjab government. The Dilkusha Lahore (Lovely Lahore) Committee, set up to approve projects, invited supporters to petition to rename Fawara Chowk after Bhagat Singh. Salima Hashmi, member of Dilkusha Lahore Committee and daughter of legendary Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, says, "We debated the sacrifice Bhagat Singh made and its historical importance for the city. Even Jinnah had admired Bhagat Singh and criticized the British government for forcing him and his companions to go on fast in jail. A memorial to him was justified and we approved it." Tariq claims the district coordination officer (DCO) had approved the name change but before a plaque could be placed, the extremists petitioned the court.
The memorial committee awaits the Lahore court verdict, and says if it goes against them, they intend to challenge it in the Supreme Court. "Liberal space is fast vanishing in Pakistan. It is this dangerous mindset which cannot tolerate a memorial to one of the greatest revolutionaries of our freedom struggle," says advocate Rabia Bajwa, who feels the government is soft-pedaling with extremists. The Awami Workers Party has in the past organized several rallies, seminars and dialogues for peace with India, which has earned them the wrath of religious fundamentalists . "We are often called Indian agents because we want peace with India. We don't care and will continue to fight for peace," says Tariq.
