Thursday, July 23, 2020

Chandrashekhar Tiwari "Azad": Jayanti of the Great Indian Freedom Fighter


Today (July 23rd) is the birth anniversary of the great freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Azad.

Late Chandrashekhar Azad's real name was Chandrashekhar Tiwari. He was born in MP and his father was Pandit Sitaram Tiwari. He later took the symbolic name "Azad" meaning "Free". He also used a name 'Balraj' while signing documents for his revolutionary organization.

Chandrashekhar’s family wanted him to become a Sanskrit scholar, so he went to Kashi Vidyapeeth, Banaras. He got agitated hearing about Jallianwala Bagh massacre and joined freedom movement.

He first took part in Non-Cooperation Movement under MahatmaGandhi at the age of 15 and he was given "15 whip-lashes" by the British police as punishment. When the police asked about his details, he replied that his name was ‘Azad’ (free), father’s name as ‘Swatantrata’ (independence) and his residence was ‘Jail’.

After Gandhi ji suspended the non-cooperation movement in 1922, he joined the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) formed by revolutionaries Ram Prasad Bismil, Chatterji, Shachindra Nath Bakshi and Sachindra Nath Sanyal. He rose in ranks and later took charge of the organization. He successfully led many revolutionary campaigns and was counted as one of the foremost revolutionaries or freedom fighters in his time. 

Chandrashekhar Tiwari "Azad" sacrificed his life at the age of merely 29. 

- Rahul Tiwary


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