I just finished reading “Why I Am an
Atheist” by Shaheed Bhagat Singh.
When writing this, I feel at the time many would have thought the personality of this man is so very different from his name “Bhagat”.
The name Bhagat typically evokes the image of a
devoted soul—one who serves God with deep emotion and unwavering faith. However, there is this very contrasting
personality of Bhagat Singh, questioning the very existence of God and a view
point rooted in clarity, courage and integrity, often hard earned through
doubt.
Essence of Bhagat:
To me, if you look closely, he represents what
the name “Bhagat” truly stands for. Devotion, Servitude and courage.
Devotion to the cause of freedom which best termed
as “Swaraj”. Servitude to the people of the country and Courage to fight for
their rights.
A true devotee who sacrificed his life to ignite
revolution in the minds of the masses.
Revolution, not just freedom:
“Swaraj” an idea rooted in the
legacy of great leaders like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj; was given a radical
and revolutionary edge by Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his comrades, who envisioned
not just political freedom but a complete transformation of society. At a time
when many within the Congress were negotiating for Dominion Status, they called
for true independence - of both thought and nation.
Greats such as Bhagat Singh (I put his name in
front as he is the inspiration for this article), Shaheed Shivaram Rajguru, Shaheed
Sukhdev Thapar, Shaheed Chandrashekhar Azad (most commonly known names) worked
hard to promote revolutionary ideals among the youth of the time and encourage
the idea of “Swaraj”.
Atheism and Clarity:
Bhagat Singh calls himself an atheist through
out the essay, after all Atheism finds freedom in questioning, in doubting and
finding the answers yourself, it is a lonely, however, a clear-sighted path as
he describes.
My Letter to Shaheed Bhagat Singh:
Dear Sir, allow me to refute you on this point
and put forth my argument. This is my personal view only based on the limited
understanding of history, politics and religion that I hold.
To me, despite the claims of being an atheist,
you are a theist in his truest form.
Theism signifies comfort through belonging to a
tradition, a god, exploring the mystery of the universe. A theist believes in
their god and works tirelessly to appease their beloved deity.
Your devotion to the revolution:
Tell me, is there a greater devotion than the
devotion to your motherland, a greater emotion of service than the will to
serve all your people without discrimination and courage to stand upon your
belief come what may. The only difference – their belief in God while you
believed in a bright future of our great nation and worked tirelessly for your
ideal.
My final argument:
You sir were a believer and a strong proponent
of Swaraj. Swaraj to you was not just passing on the baton from the British
imperialists to Indian elites, you championed the ideas of a socialist economy
and equality for all.
It was this belief for which you put forth your
life and attained martyrdom. Your struggles whilst in Jail, in the face of
adversity to stand true to your ideals is this not truly a “Bhagat’s” duty?
So dear sir, forgive me for saying so but in my
eyes, you are the essence of the name Bhagat and its meaning.
As a person who identifies as a theist, I believe
we can learn a lot from your life and the devotion to achieve your goals. It is
my sincere wish that we as an individual and as a country we can one day truly
be worthy of you and your comrades sacrifice.
A Revolution, a Hope within:
To me Shaheed Bhagat Singh symbolizes the revolution
needed within, a radical change for personal growth to achieve one’s goal. Only
through individual hard work and integrity can we expect to contribute to the
collective consciousness and
Inquilaab Zindabad!
