RAMAPRASAD BISMIL KI JEEVAN GAATHA
Life history of the great revolutionary Ramaprasad Bismil
The details provided here are all from the book RAMAPRASAD BISMIL,
Published by Rashtrotthana Sahitya Trust - Bangalore.
Author- N.P.Shankara Narayana Rao
Translated to English by – L.S.Seshagiri Rao
RAMAPRASAD BISMIL
A brave revolutionary who gave up his life smilingly for the sake of the Motherland.
He was persecuted by an enraged foreign government, hunted by the police and betrayed by
fellow workers.
And yet he lit the fire of revolution to burn down the slavery.
He was the brave leader of the Kakori Rail Dacoity episode.
His poetry is also a lamp lighted at altar of the Motherland.
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It was the 18th of December 1927.A middle aged lady was waiting at the main gates of the
Gorakhpur Central Jail. Her face was radiant but anxiety was writ large on it. She was eagerly
waiting to be called into the prison.
By that time her husband also arrived there.He was surprised that his wife was there before
him.He also sat down to wait for the call.
Another young man came there.He was not related to them.He knew that the couple would be
permitted to enter prison.But how could he manage to enter?That was his problem.
The officials of the prison called in the husband and his wife.
The young man followed them.The guard stopped him and rudely asked,"Who are you?"
"Permit him also,brother.He is my sister's son", the lady said in an entreating voice.The guard
relented.
All the three entered the prison to visit a freedom fighter who was to face his death on the next
day itself....!
The Brave Freedom Fighter
The freedom fighter was brought there in chains. They were like ornaments on him.This was the last
time that he could see his mother, the last time he could address her as ‘Mother’. At this thought grief
welled up in him. He stood speechless and tears rolled down his cheeks.
In a firm voice the mother said, “What is this, my son? I had thought of my son as great hero. I was
thinking that the British Government would shiver at the very mention of his name. I never thought
that my son would be afraid of death. If you die only in this way, weeping, why did you take up such
activities?”
The officials were astounded at the fitness of the mother. The freedom fighter replied, “Mother dear,
these are not the tears of fear – the fear of death. These are tears of joy – joy at beholding so brave
as mother !!”
Ramaprasad Bismil. He was the leader of the famous Kakori
The brave son of that brave mother was
Rail Dacoity case.The last meeting ended.
Ramaprasad got up earlier than usual, bathed and said his morning prayers. He wrote
Next morning
his last letter to his mother. Then he sat down with a calm mind awaiting his death…..
The officials came and removed his chains. They took him from the prison cell – towards his death.
He was completely untroubled and walked like a hero. The officials were amazed. As he moved to the
gallows he joyfully chanted ‘VANDE MATARAM’ and ‘BHARAT MATA KI JAI]. At the top of his voice he
shouted, “Down with the British Empire.” Then he calmly recited prayers like ‘Vishwani deva savithaha
dunithani…’and embraced death.
As he was being executed, there was a strong guard around the prison When he was dead the officials
brought out the dead body. Not only his parents but hundreds of his countrymen were waiting in
tears. The people of Gorakhpur decorated the body of the brave son of Bharat as befitted a hero and
carried it in a procession.Flowers were showered on the body, and the last rites were performed.
Ramaprasad Bismil joined the select band of martyrs who dreamt of a free India and made the
supreme sacrifice, sothat the dream might come true.
BOYHOOD
Ramaprasad was born at Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh in the year 1897. His ancestors belonged
to the Thomarghar area of Gwalior State. Their village abutted the British administered provinces on
the banks of the river Chambal. People of the Chambal Valley are hardy and brave. For generations
several states had tried to establish their sway over them but without success.
Ramaprasad’s father Muralidhar had only a little education, and was employed by Shahjahanpur
Municipality. He got tired of service and switched over to an independent life. He lent money on
interest and hired out carts for his livelihood. His first son lived only for a few days.
his second son.
This child, too, developed the same symptoms as the first child. His grandmother, in great anxiety,
got talismans and tied them around his neck. She did whatever anyone suggested. Anyway the child
survived.
Ramaprasad was the darling of the family. In his seventh year, Muralidhar started him Hindi. He also
sent to a Moulvi to learn Urdu. Later he was sent to a school.
He was 14 years old the time he completed the 4th standard in Urdu.By then the habit of reading
Urdu novels had taken hold of him. He needed money to buy novels. But his father would not give
him money for this. And so he found an easy way – he stole money from his father’s safe. He had also
learnt smoking and occasionally he would even use bhang (charas). As a result of all this he failed
twice in 5th standard.
Somehow his father came to know about his habit of stealing money. He changed the lock of the safe.
Ramaprasad expressed his desire to join an English school. His father did not agree at once. But his
mother’s support enabled him to join an English school.
A NEW PATH
A new priest came to the temple near his house. He took a liking to young
Ramaprasad gradually gave up the bad habits he had cultivated. He learnt
his healthy influence
the rituals of worship. At school, too, he found a good friend in Sushil Chandra Sen and he gave up
smoking, too.
Ramaprasad performing worship and was
A gentleman by name Munshi Indrajeet once saw young
Ramaprasad ‘Sandhyavandana’ (the traditional prayers). He told
pleased very much. Munshiji taught
him quite a good deal about the Arya Samaj.
Ramaprasad read the ‘Sathyartha Prakasha’ by the great sage Swami Dayananda. This book
influenced him deeply. It showed him the way to a brave life. Realizing the importance of
Ramaprasad practised it in word, thought and
Brahmacharya (not seeking pleasures of the body),
deed. He gave up the evening meal.
He also gave up savoury and sour dishes and the use of salt. The practice of Brahmacharya and
regular exercises made his face radiant and his body strong as steel.
GURU SOMADEVJI
Ramaprasad was greatly influenced by the principles of the Arya Samaj. So often there were heated
debates between him and Muralidhar. The angry father turned his son out of his home.
moved about for 2 days in a nearby forest and returned to Shahjahanpur. He was standing at a
meeting organized by the Arya Samaj, listening to a discourse. Two men who had been sent by his
father caught hold of him and took him to the Head Master of the Mission School in which he was
studying. That Christian gentleman advised both the son and the father to behave better. Then
Muralidhar realized that it was impossible to mend his son by beating him.
The young, followers of the Arya Samaj banded together and established the Arya Kumar Sabha. They
began to organize meetings and processions. The police feared that this mighted lead to a clash
between Hindus and the Muslims. So govt banned meetings and processions. The elders in the Arya
Samaj were also dissatisfied with these young men. They turned Kumar Sabha out of their quarters.
The Sabha remained active for some months and then faded out. But during the short period the Arya
Kumar Sabha of Shahjahanpur earned a good name by its good work.
At that time, Swami Somadevji, a leader of the Arya Samaj, came down to Shahjahanpur and stayed
there to improve his health. He had become extremely weak because of much loss of blood. Young
Ramaprasad devoted himself to the service of Swami Somadevji.
Swami Somadevji was agreat patriot and a scholar. He was proficient in Yoga too. He gave
Ramaprasad advice on matters of religion and politics. He suggested some good books for
Ramaprasad to read. Under his guidance Ramaprasad’s views on religion and political subjects grew
clearer.
In the year 1916, Bhai Paramanandaji was sentenced to death in the Lahore Conspiracy case. He
Ramaprasad read the book and appreciated it
had written a book with the title ‘Thavasiq Hindu’.
immensely. He came to admire Paramanandaji.
When he heard about the death sentence, his blood boiled and he took a vow that he would settle
scores with the British Government for this great injustice. He told Guru Somadevji about his vow.
The Guru remarked, “It is easy to take vow but hard to keep it.”
Ramaprasad touched the feet of Guru Somadevji and declared, “If I have the grace of these
Then
sacred feet my vow will surely be fulfilled; nothing can come in the way.”
Ramaprasad.
This was the first step in the revolutionary life of
Meeting With Tilak
Ramaprasad had come up to 9th standard. He was
After a short while Guru Somadevji passed away.
active as an enthusiastic volunteer in the Shahjahanpur Seva Samithi.
The Indian National Congress was to have its annual session at Lucknow. There were two groups in
the Congress at that time. One group consisted of Liberals, who were opposed to any direct action
against the British Government. They believed securing justice by explaining India’s difficulties to the
British Govt. They also believed that India should continue to be a part of the British Empire.
The other group was that of Extremists who believed in fighting the British Govt and attaining full
independence.Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar tilak was their leader. Tilak was expected to participate
in the session and so extremists had gathered in large numbers.
Ramaprasad also went to Lucknow. The liberals were in majority in the Reception Committee. They
had not made any elaborate arrangements to welcome Tilak. He was just to be received at the railway
station.
But the young men desired that Tilak should be taken in procession through the city. With a student of
the M.A. class as their leader they gathered at the railway station. As soon as Tilak got off the railway
carriage, the volunteers of the Reception Committee surrounded him and took him to the waiting car.
Ramaprasad leaped forward and sat infront of the car. “If the car is to move,
The M.A. student and
let it move over our bodies,” they declared.The members of the Reception Committee and Tilak
himself tried to dissuade them but they would not budge.
Their friends hired a coach, set free the horses, and themselves drew the coach. Tilak was made to sit
in the coach and taken in a procession. All along the way flowers were showered on Lokamanya Tilak.
From Books To Bullets
Ramaprasad came into contact with some members of a secret
At Lucknow Session of the congress
committee; this committee was playing an important role in revolutionary activities. The previous year
he had developed revolutionary ideals.
This contact with the committee gave a practical shape to them. In a short while he became a
member of the executive committee of the revolutionaries.
The committee had a very little money.It needed money – quite a lot of it – to buy arma ans
Ramaprasad thought of a plan. Why not take up the
ammunition. It needed thousands of rupees.
publication of writings which would, on the one hand, spread the revolutionary ideas and, on the other
hand, bring them money? He took Rs.400 as a loan from his mother and published a book entitled
‘How Did America Attain Freedom?’
At that time a revolutionary leader by name Gendalal Dikshit had been imprisoned at Gwalior.
Ramaprasad was very keen on drawing public attention towards him and win him people’s sympathy.
Therefore he printed a pamphlet entitled ‘A Message to My Countrymen.’ By his book trade, he
could not only repay the loan he had taken from his mother but could also make a profit of Rs.200.
But the then Government of the United Provinces banned both these books!!
Publication of books brought them money and this, in turn, brought them arms.on an earlier occasion
Ramaprasad had wandered in Gwalior city and had bought a revolver. With this experience he went
there again. In those days collection of arms was comparatively easier in the native states.
Ramaprasad observed in a shop in the market a few muzzle loaders along with swords,shields and
daggers. He gathered enough courage and approached the qwner and casually enquired what they
would cost.
“Well, don’t you sell, any rifles and revolvers?” he asked. The shop owner showed some muzzle
loader pistols and said, “Please come again. I shall somehow manage to get 1 or 2 rifles and
Ramaprasad purchased some muzzle loader pistols and daggers and returned.
revolvers.”
A few such visits gave him some knowledge of fire arms. He could make out which weapon was old
and which was new and the price of every weapon.
Once he was about to fall into the hands of the police. The police of Gwalior State got the scent of
collection of arms. A constable of the confidential investigation department approached
Ramaprasad with him.
and offered to get him some weapons. He took
He took him – can you guess where he took him???
To the house of a police inspector!!!
Luckily for him the inspector was not at home. A constable was standing guard infront of the
house.Ramaprasad happened to know him. He managed to elude the eye of the constable who had
taken him there, and asked the man keeping guard there whose house it was. He was assured it was
the house of a police inspector. In the twinkling of an eye
Police constable had already found out that they intended to move them that very day.
who had now grown cautious, walked past several railway stations with the weapons;then he boarded
the train and reached Shahjahanpur.
Another time he had to purchase a revolver from a Police Superintendent who was about to retire. The
Ramaprasad got an affidavit prepared declaring
Superintendent had his own doubts and hesitated;so
that he was the son of a Zamindar(a rich landlord) and forged two signatures of Zamindars in Hindi
and the signature of a Police Inspector in English. Anyhow he managed to buy the revolver.
So they managed to collect a good quantity of weapons such as rifles,muzzle
loaders,revolvers,cartridges,daggers and knives.
Sale of Banned Books by Ramaprasad
The Indian National Congress was to meet in Delhi.
Ramaprasad felt that it would be a good opportunity to sell the remaining copies of ‘How Did
America Attain Freedom?’
An Ambulance team was sent to Delhi on behalf of Shahjahanpur Seva Samithi. Voluteers of
the ambulance team could move about freely.
The book had been banned by the United Provinces Government, hadn’t it?
The young men of Shahjahanpur used this very fact to advertise the book. They kept
crying: “How Did America Attain Freedom? – the book banned in the United Provinces” and
began to sell the books.
This drew the attention of the secret police and they surrounded the Congress camp. They began a
hunt for the young men who were selling the books.
Ramaprasad got scent of this he ran to the tent where the books were stocked.
As soon as
He wrapped them up in his big over coat and, displaying the red badge of the ambulance, walked on
with the bundle.
He was in the uniform of a volunteer of the ambulance team and walked right into the Congress camp
right under the nose of the police!!!!
The police could not enter the Congress camp without the permission of the Reception Committee.
Thus all the copies of the book were saved. Later they were sold.
In The Shadow Of Death
When he returned to Shahjahanpur from Delhi, he learnt thet the police were on the look out for
him and his friends. Because of a quarrel between two members of the revolutionary committee,
the police had been able to get details of their arms dump. As this internal quarrel took place
at Mainpuri, the case was conducted there and came to be known as the Mainpuri Conspiracy
case.
As soon as Ramaprasad learnt about this, he left Shahjahanpur with three friends.
They wandered here and there for some time and reached Prayag.
There they camped in a choultry. Heated arguments developed among them about the future course
of action. His friends felt thet there was one coward in the group;they feared that, if he was arrested,
the police would learn all their secrets. Their solution to the problem was to kill that member.
Ramaprasad did not agree. So the friends were now angry with him.One evening, all the four went
for a stroll to the banks of the river Yamuna.Ramaprasad bathed and sat down for his evening
prayers.
One friend said, “Ramaprasad, sit near the river.”
Ramaprasad was sitting on a mound. He began his prayers there. The friends sat down near by.
As, with his eyes closed, he was immersed in prayers, he heard a whiz and was startled.
A bullet whizzed past his ear. Opening his eyes he reached out for his revolver and turned
back!!!
Another friend was about to shoot.
By the time Ramaprasad took out his revolver, two more shots rang out.
As his revolver was in a leather case he took some time to take it out.
By the time he stood up with his revolver, his friends had run away.
Ramaprasad was stunned and frustrated, when he realized that a serious attempt was made to kill
him.
The bullet had passed within a foot from him.
If he pursued the friends, bloodshed was certain.
Moreover he was one against three.
He would have to collect his supporters before making a move.
A Cowherd – Writer
He spent that night with a friend and then went to Lucknow.
He gave a detailed report of the incident to the other members of the revolutionary committee.
He wandered in a forest for a while gloomily and then went to his mother.
Hearing the woeful tale of her son she suggested that he should go to the relatives in Gwalior State.
In the meanwhile the police had filed a case against him. They asked Muralidhar to surrender his
son;they threatened his property would be confiscated. He sold his property for whatever price he
could get and went away with his family to join his son.
Ramaprasad became a farmer. He took agriculture and
During this period when he was in hiding
animal husbandry.
But above all he learnt to express his revolutionary ideas in literature. He translated many
Bengali works into Hindi. He wrote original works, too.He then carried writing materials
with him. He would allow the cattle to graze and he would settle down in the shade to
write.
Thus he wrote
‘The Bolshevic Programme’
‘A Sally of the Mind’
‘Catherine’ and
‘Swadeshi Rang’ and translated other two works.
He translated ‘Yogic Sadhana’ of Maharshi Aurobindo. All these were published in a series called
‘Sushil Mala’.
‘Prabha’, a periodical run by Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, used to publish his articles.
In the year 1919, when the First World War was over, the Government of India changed its policy
towards the revolutionary and national movements. Political cases were withdrawn. Political convicts
Ramaprasad returned to Shahjahanpur.
were released.
Independent Life
So far as money was concerned, Ramaprasad’s family faced a very grave situation.
One sister was old enough to be married. But even satisfying the needs of life was a problem.
Therefore Ramaprasad devoted his attention to the affairs of his family.
At first he tried to reorganize his publication venture and earn some money.
It did not work well.
With the help of some friends he became the manager of a factory.
With a steady income his financial position improved.
Gradually he turned to the reorganization of the revolutionary movement also.
But all over the country, the non – cooperation movement was gaining ground.
Moreover, there was a dearth of ability among those who volunteered to lead the revolutionary
movement.
On the whole revolutionary activities had come to a standstill.
Ramaprasad arranged to get some capital and started a silk weaving factory.
He worked devotedly day and night. In a matter of a year and a half his factory established itself.
The capital of Rs.3000 to 4000 yielded a net profit of Rs.2000.
During this period he married off his last sister to a Zamindar. His mother wished he should also
marry.
But he was not prepared to marry until he could stand on his own legs.
Reorganization
After Mahatma Gandhiji withdrew the non – cooperation movement in 1921, the revolutionary
movement regained strength.
An all – India revolutionary party called ‘The Hindusthan Republican Association’ was formed.
In the United Provinces ( the Uttar Pradesh of today) too the revolutionaries reorganized themselves.
Ramaprasad, too.
A call went forth to
He asked for six months time, to establish his business on a firm footing and make it over to some
reliable person.
Within that period he made over his business to a friend and turned again to revolutionary activities.
The revolutionary movement had the support of the people.
There was no dearth of workers. But lack of funds haunted them.
It became exceedingly difficult even to provide food and clothing to members who devoted their entire
life and energy to the institution.
Collection of weapons was next to impossible.
Ramaprasad and ask
Disappointed young members used to come to
him, “What next Panditji?” He would feel unhappy at their miserable plight.
But what could he do without money?
So he concentrated on collection of money.
They resorted to dacoity and looting in one or two villages. But a hundred or two hundred rupees they
secured could not be of much use. Another thought troubled
Who, after all, were the victims of these dacoities?
They were the villagers who were also Indians.
The dacoits might have acted with excellent intentions.
But what was the good of getting money, by harassing our own brothers?
Immersed in such thoughts, he was traveling one day by a train which was going from Shahjahanpur
to lucknow.
At each station, when the train halted he would get off and move about on the platform.
He observed that at each station the Station Master brought bags of money and put them in the
Guard’s carriage.
Ramaprasad noted that it was the eight down
There was no special guard to protect the money.
train.
A plan to secure money for the revolutionary activities gradually took shape in his head.
The Kakori Rail Dacoity
Kakori is a village near Lucknow.
It became famous, because the attack on the train took place near by.
It was the evening of the 9th August 1925; the number eight down train was passing near Kakori.
Ramaprasad and his nine revolutionary followers pulled the chain and stopped it.
They looted the money belonging to the government, deposited in the Guard’s carriage. One
passenger was killed by an accidental shot, there was no bloodshed.
This extremely well planned dacoity jolted the British Government.
After a month of detailed preliminary enquiries and elaborate preparations the government cast its net
wide for the revolutionaries.
Arrest warrants were issued not only against the ten participants but also against
other leaders of the Hindustan Republican Association. With the lone expectation of
Chandrashekhar Azad, all participants were caught.
The case went on for over a year and a half.
Ramaprasad, Ashfaqullah, Roshan Singh and Rajendra Lahiri – all four were sentenced to
death.
A strong campaign was organized throughtout India to save the lives of these revolutionary heroes.
All the leaders of public life appealed to the British to show mercy to the condemned men. But the
Government was unyielding.
Ramaprasad and Ashfaqullah were executed on the 19th and Roshan Singh on the 20th.
All of them greeted death bravely, with a smile on their faces.
Thus they added a magnificent chapter to the history of the freedom movement.
Autobiography
While awaiting execution, Ramaprasad wrote his autobiography.
It is considered as a work of rare excellence in Hindi literature.
Ramaprasad was always under strict watch.
And yet he wrote the book and it was successfully smuggled out of the prison.
This itself was a feat of his great courage.
Ramaprasad got thick register like books and sent the manuscript out of prison in three
installments.
The final pages were written on the 17th of December; and they were sent out through Shiv Varma, a
friend who interviewed him on the next day.
The book was published in 1929 and was immediately banned by the Government.
It saw the light of day again in free India.
His narrative covers a wide span; his ancestors, his interesting childhood, his entry into Arya Samaj,
his fights from the police, his experience in the revolutionary movement, the internal squabbles – all
find their place there.
There are intimate pen pictures of his mother, his grandmother, his teacher and close friends.
The style is captivating and at times compels tears.
Addressing his mother, he says,
‘Mother dear, who gave me birth, bless me !
Bless me that my heart may not flinch even at the last moment.
Bless me so that I leave this body prostrating myself at your sacred feet and praying to the
almighty.’
Pandit Gendalal Dixit, the main accused in the Mainpuri Conspiracy case, eluded arrest, and died
of tuberculosis at Delhi in pitiable conditions.
Refering to him Ramaprasad writes,
‘ He never even dreamt that he would have to sacrifice his life in such helpless
circumstances in the service of his motherland. His greatest desire was to be killed by a
bullet. A great soul of Bharath passed away. But no one in the country heard of it even.’
Ramaprasad had thought deeply about the future of the revolutionary movement to which he had
given the greater part of his life.
He wrote: ‘Historically our work is very valuable – this anyone must concede. It proclaimed
that, even when India was downtrodden, the youth of the country yearned for freedom and
that they struggled for freedom to the best of their ability.’
Considering the conditions of the day he gave this advice to the youth of India:
‘I know this for certain the revolutionary movement in India will not succeed for the next
50 years. The conditions are not favourable…..
Give up the desire to arm yourselves with pistols and revolvers and become real servants of
the country – this is my last message to our youth.’
The Poet Bismil
Bismil’ is the pen-name of Ramaprasad.
As ‘Bismil’ he is well known as a great revolutionary poet in Hindi.
At the end of his autobiography, he has reproduced some selected poems.
Every line of his poems throbs with patriotic fervor.
In one poem he prays:
“Even if I have to face death a thousand times for the sake of my motherland, I shall not be sorry. Oh
Lord! Grant me a hundred births in Bharath. But grant me this, too that each time I may give up life in
the service of the Motherland”.
In a poem written just before going to the gallows, he prays: ‘Oh Lord! Thy will be done. You are
unique. Neither I nor my tears will endure. Grant me this boon, that, to my last breath and the last
drop of my blood, I may think of You and be immersed in Your work’.
Hard As a Diamond, Yet Soft As a Flower
Ramaprasad Bismil was an exemplary man who lived like a hero and died like a hero.
In him were blended those great qualities which Indian culture has regarded as ideal and has held in
great respect.
The Motherland, trodden under the iron heel of the foreigner, should become free; the right
way to achieve it was armed revolution – so he thought.
No matter what problems and obstacles came in his way, no matter what thorns crowded his way, he
walked with his head high.
Death lay in wait on that path. But yet he did not flinch.
He was never treacherous to anyone. When he suspected treachery, he denounced the traitors without
caring for their position or prestige.
In a way, he had to die only because he was not prepared to be treacherous.
In his autobiography he has narrated how he was arrested and taken to the police station in
connection with the Kakori Case.
‘The arrests had kept the police officers busy throughout the night and they had not slept.
They all went away. Even one constable who was on guard was fast asleep. Only one clerk
was in the station busy writing. He was Roshan Singh’s cousin. If I had wished, I could
have simply walked out. But the clerk would have got into great trouble. I called him and
told him that I would walk away if he was prepared to face the consequences. He knew me
well. He fell at my feet and said that he would be arrested if I did so and that his wife and
children would have to starve and die. I pitied him’.
After a little while Ramaprasad found an excuse to go out; the constable on guard went with
him. The other constables said, “Put him in chains” but he declared, “I have faith in him, he will
not run away.”
‘We went to a lonely place. I placed my palms on the wall and looked back. The guard was
watching wrestling match and was absorbed in it. One leap – and I could have scaled the
wall. After that who could have caught me?'
'But my inner self said,
“Would you cheat and send the poor constable to prison who trusted you and gave you so
much freedom? Is it right? What will his wife and children think of you?”
This thought filled my mind, I drew a long breath, called the guard and returned to the
police station.'
Whether it was a clerk or a constable, the man who had trusted him should not be betrayed. This was
his principle.
Even in prison, the prison guards had great faith in him because of his conduct.
Even after he was sentenced to death, his principles remained unchanged.
He was not prepared to escape, leaving those who had trusted him in trouble.
The Kakori Rail Dacoity is a great land mark in the history of the revolutionary movement of
India. It was the brave Ramaprasad Bismil who planned and executed it faultlessly.
Ramaprasad Bismil lives for ever in our memory as a revolutionary, as a revolutionary-
writer and above all, as an ideal man.
“Even if I have to face death a thousand times for the sake of my motherland I shall not be
sorry. Oh Lord! Grant me a hundred births in Bharath. But grant me this too, that each time
I may give up my life in the service of the Motherland.”
This prayer should echo in each and every soul in free India.
--------------------------------------------THE END-------------------------------------------
FAMOUS POEM BY RAMAPRASAD BISMIL
As Ramaprasad Bismil was a poet there is a famous poem by him. "Sarfaroshi Ki
tamanna ab Hamare dil mey hai......."
We all would have heard of this song in movie "Legend of Bhagat Singh".
Here is the link.u can see to it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Sarfaroshi_ki_Tamanna#The_poem_transliterated_version_in_English_language
The poem version in English language
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai
Dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil mein hai
Aye watan, Karta nahin kyun doosra kuch baat-cheet
Dekhta hun main jise who chup teri mehfil mein hai
Aye shaheed-e-mulk-o-millat main tere oopar nisaar
Ab teri himmat ka charcha ghair ki mehfil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai
Waqt aanay dey bata denge tujhe aye aasman
Hum abhi se kya batayen kya hamare dil mein hai
Khainch kar layee hai sab ko qatl hone ki ummeed
Aashiqon ka aaj jumghat koocha-e-qaatil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai
Hai liye hathiyaar dushman taak mein baitha udhar
Aur hum taiyyaar hain seena liye apna idhar
Khoon se khelenge holi gar vatan muskhil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai
Haath jin mein ho junoon katt te nahi talvaar se
Sar jo uth jaate hain voh jhukte nahi lalkaar se
Aur bhadkega jo shola-sa humaare dil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai
Hum to ghar se nikle hi the baandhkar sar pe kafan
Jaan hatheli par liye lo barh chale hain ye qadam
Zindagi to apni mehmaan maut ki mehfil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai
Yuun khadaa maqtal mein qaatil kah rahaa hai baar baar'
Kya tamannaa-e-shahaadat bhi kisee ke dil mein hai
Dil mein tuufaanon ki toli aur nason mein inqilaab
Hosh dushman ke udaa denge humein roko na aaj
Duur reh paaye jo humse dam kahaan manzil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai
Wo jism bhi kya jism hai jismein na ho khoon-e-junoon
Toofaanon se kya lade jo kashti-e-saahil mein hai
Chup khade hain aaj saare bhai mere khaamosh hain
Na karo to kuchh kaho mazhab mera mushkil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai.
Dekhna hai zor kitna baazuay qaatil mein hai.
Poem's English Translation
The desire for sacrifice is now in our hearts
We shall now see what strength there is in the boughs of the enemy.
Why do you remain silent thus?
Whoever I see, is gathered quiet so...
O martyr of country, of nation, I submit myself to thee
For yet even the enemy speaks of thy courage
The desire for struggle is in our hearts...
When the time comes, we shall show thee, O heaven
For why should we tell thee now, what lurks in our hearts?
We have been dragged to service, by the hope of blood, of vengeance
Yea, by our love for nation divine, we go to the streets of the enemy
The desire for struggle is in our hearts...
Armed does the enemy sit, ready to open fire
Ready too are we, our bosoms thrust out to him
With blood we shall play Holi, if our nation need us
The desire for struggle is in our hearts...
No sword can sever hands that have the heat of battle within,
No threat can bow heads that have risen so...
Yea, for in our insides has risen a flame,
and the desire for struggle is in our hearts...
Set we out from our homes, our heads shrouded with cloth,
Taking our lives in our hands, do we march so...
In our assembly of death, life is now but a guest
The desire for struggle is in our hearts...
Stands the enemy in the gallows thus, asking,
Does anyone wish to be sacrificed?...
With a host of storms in our heart, and with revolution in our breath,
We shall knock the enemy cold, and no one shall stop us...
What good is a body that does not have passionate blood,
How can one conquer a storm while in a shored boat.
The desire for struggle is in our hearts,
We shall now see what strength there is in the boughs of the enemy.
||VANDE MATARAM||
||BHARAT MATA KI JAI||