Bhagat Singh was one of the most prominent leaders of the Indian independence movement. He is remembered as a martyr who sacrificed his life for the cause of India's freedom. Bhagat Singh was an admirer of Mahatma Gandhi and his philosophy of non-violence. However, he disagreed with Gandhi's methods of achieving independence through peaceful means. Bhagat Singh believed that violence was the only way to gain independence from British rule.

Bhagat Singh was born into a Sikh family in British India. His father, Kishan Singh, supported the Indian National Congress (INC). Bhagat Singh was educated at the DAV College in Lahore. He joined the nationalist youth organization, Naujawan Bharat Sabha, in 1926. Bhagat Singh became involved in the independence movement and soon became a target of British police. He was arrested and jailed several times.

In 1928, Bhagat Singh and his associates assassinated a British police officer, in revenge for the killing of Lala Lajpat Rai. They were sentenced to death, but their sentences were later commuted to life imprisonment. Bhagat Singh went on a hunger strike in prison to protest the inhuman conditions of the jail. He was released from prison in 1931 but was soon re-arrested.

After Bhagat Singh's death, Gandhi said, 'Bhagat Singh did not die for himself. He died for his country.' Gandhi also said that Bhagat Singh was “a martyr of the freedom movement.” What is clear is that Bhagat Singh respected Gandhi as a leader, and he thought that Gandhi's goals were important.

Bhagat Singh was hanged on 23 March 1931. His martyrdom made him a national hero and inspired other freedom fighters. Even after his death, Bhagat Singh's ideas and methods continue to influence the Indian independence movement.

What's the truth

It is often said that Bhagat Singh, one of India's most famous revolutionaries, did not support Mahatma Gandhi and his methods of peaceful resistance. This is not entirely accurate. While it is true that Singh was critical of Gandhi's leadership, he did admire Gandhi's commitment to non-violence and his ability to rally support from the Indian people.

In fact, Singh even went so far as to say that Gandhi was the only man who could lead India to independence. However, he felt that Gandhi's methods were too slow and that more drastic measures were needed to achieve independence. This disagreement led to a split between the two men, with Singh eventually joining the more militant wing of the independence movement.

Despite their differences, Gandhi and Singh shared a mutual respect for each other. After Singh's death, Gandhi paid tribute to him, saying 'Bhagat Singh was one of the most outstanding leaders of the Indian freedom movement. He gave up his life for the cause of India's freedom.'

Even in the end, Shaheed Bhagat Singh believed in the Mahatma. 'You must support your general,' Kishen Singh Shaheed Bhagat Singh said in one of his final conversations with his father (Gandhi). Only then will you be able to secure the country's independence.'

It is clear, then, that while they did not always see eye-to-eye, Bhagat Singh and Mahatma Gandhi were both committed to the cause of Indian independence.