Chandra Shekhar Azad, History

Chandra Shekhar Azad, popularly known as Azad, was one of the most fearless and greatest freedom fighters of India. He, son of Pandit Sitaram Tiwariand Jagrani Devi, was born on 23rd July 1906, in village Bhavra in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh He received his early education in Bhavra. For further education he went to the Sanskrit Pathshala at Varanasi. He was a great worshipper of Lord Hanuman.Once he disguised himself as a priest in a Hanuman temple to escape from theclutches of the British police.

Young Chandra Shekhar was attracted by the non-violence, non-cooperation movement of 1920-21 under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. He joined the movement and was arrested and produced before the magistrate. He gave his name as ‘Azad'(free), his father's name as 'Swatantra' (freedom) and his residence as “Prison’. This provoked the magistrate who sentenced him to fifteen lashes. Fromthen on he was known as Azad. Azad's patriotism and courage inspired others to join the freedom struggle. Chandra Shekhar was the mentor of Bhagat Singh, who was also a great freedom fighter.

Both Chandra Shekhar and Bhagat Singh actively participated in revolutionary activities. He was deeply disturbed by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar in 1919. He also played a key role in the Kakori case. Chandra Shekhar was a terror for the British Police. He was on their hit list and the British Police badly wanted to capture him dead or alive. On 27h February 1931, Chandra Shekhar Azad was at Alfred Park in Allahabad (now Prayagraj). He was betrayed by an informer for the British Police. The police surrounded the park and ordered Chandra Shekhar Azad to surrender. Azad fought bravely and killed the policemen. Finally, finding himself surrounded by the police, he shot himself. Thus, he kept his pledge of not being caught alive. He used to recite his favourite Hindi couplet.