Just the beginning of another usual weekday. Most people are still counting down the days towards the weekend and others are going on without any difference in their lives. But for a small group of people, 23rd March, the tuesday held a special meaning. In the evening when people were going on with their usual evening walk in Sankey tank, they saw this group of people working silently setting up a gallery of Revolutionaries.
Just the beginning of another usual weekday. Most people are still counting down the days towards the weekend and others are going on without any difference in their lives. But for a small group of people, 23rd March, the tuesday held a special meaning. In the evening when people were going on with their usual evening walk in Sankey tank, they saw this group of people working silently setting up a gallery of Revolutionaries.
One pretty old person walked closer and walked through the gallery and asked about the event. When it was explained that it was Shaheed Diwas the day and three young Revolutionaries happily walked the alter of death, the person realized its importance he questioned why was being celebrated at a corner than being a centre of attraction at the entrance. The reason was lack of permission to do so. Sankalp Volunteers were allowed to use one of the dais at the end where it would not "disturb" the public who come to Sankey tank.
Soon around 6.30 in the evening, we started off the event by singing "Vande Mataram" and then started talking of these young people. These people were approximately of the age of some of Sankalp Volunteers. And they had a dream to see India "Completely Free" (Sampurna Swaraj). For this dream they were ready to get hung at that young age.
What is it that made them do that? Their dreams alone, their dedication to the cause of freedom of Motherland, a way to show their complete defiance to the British Raj, one of the means to awaken the sleeping souls of that era and make them fight for the nation, or most relevantly to show all youth of all timelines the importance of every individual to make a difference and realize their dreams at all costs. The whole event, along with a few Desh Bhakti songs, we spoke of many events, many quotes and writings of these people.
One particular note worthy letter which was read out was that of Bhagat Singh to the Editor of Modern Review about the meaning of the word "Revolution" and the phrase "Long Live Revolution".
We have been taught that it is horrible to kill a person brutally and physically injure a person, but we do not consider oppression and tyranny as horrible and ignore them. This quote as told by Bhagat Singh way back in 1930 decade seem to still hold its meaning till date. We as Sankalp Volunteers or primarily as Indian Citizens made a promise to ourselves that we will not be ignorant towards wrong things.
During the entire duration of the event, some of the things which the Volunteers shared with everyone else were ideas like these:
I am feeling proud to be an Indian. Being born in a great Nation like India where people like these young revolutionaries were born brings a very proud feeling in me. I will do my best to uphold this pride and honour.
The young revolutionaries started the journey 79 years back, we will take their ideas forward and work towards bringing in Complete Revolution (not only related to Freedom from British rule).
I have this feeling that they (the Revolutionaries) are still with us here, or watching us from somewhere close. They probe and guide us to walk forward and do the right things.