Shaheed Bhagat Singh is a terrorist for Delhi University

April 27, 2016 15:51
Shaheed Bhagat Singh is a terrorist for Delhi University

Freedom fighter Bhagat Singh has been called a terrorist in a Delhi University textbook titled India's Struggle for Freedom. Bhagat Singh's compatriots, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Surya Sena and many others who fought and died for India's freedom have been labelled as 'revolutionary terrorists' by the Delhi University.

The Chittagong movement has been referred to as a 'terrorist act' in the book, and the killing of Sanders has been called an 'act of terrorism'. This book has been in circulation for almost two and a half decades.

Union HRD Minister, Smriti Irani called in to suggest that no amount of intellectual cover could be used to demean those who have lost their lives. She termed the error as an 'academic murder'. "If I am to be called intolerant to ensure that Bhagat Singh is not called a terrorist, then that is a tag I will proudly wear," she added. She gave an assurance that the corrections will be made in the chapter and that the disapproval would be expressed to the university.

"We will be raising the issue of Delhi University textbook referring to Shaheed Bhagat Singh as a 'terrorist' in the Rajya Sabha today," JD-U general secretary K.C. Tyagi said.

Abhey Singh Sandhu, the nephew of Bhagat Singh, said that the controversy over the legendary freedom fighter being labelled as 'revolutionary terrorist' in a Delhi University textbook is extremely unfortunate as even the Britishers described him as a 'true revolutionary'.

"This is a very sad precedent that even after 68 years of Independence such words are used for the revolutionaries, who gave their lives for the freedom of the nation. The Britishers, who hanged Bhagat Singh, described him as 'true revolutionary' in their judgment, even they didn't use words like terror or terrorism," Sandhu told ANI.

"Using such words for revolutionaries in an attempt to stir controversy is very unfortunate," he added.

The book written by Bipin Chandra in 1990 was amended later. "But where that new edition has gone, nobody knows. This thing has been there since past 26 years, it should have been removed. I would urge the government to roll back the concerned book and re-issue it with amendments," he added.

By Premji

If you enjoyed this Post, Sign up for Newsletter

(And get daily dose of political, entertainment news straight to your inbox)

Rate This Article
(1 Vote)