Chandra Shekhar Azad remembered

Tribune News Service

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Haridwar, February 27

A function was organised to mark the 86th martyrdom of legendary freedom fighter Chandra Shekhar Azad at Azad square in Jwalapur. Under the aegis of Shahid Bhagat Singh Vichar Prachar Samiti, people from various walks of society paid tributes to the martyr.

People took pledge to follow the ideals of Chandra Shekhar Azad and also ensure installation of a statue of the martyr at Azad square within three months.

Former city legislator Ambrish Kumar, who is the founder of the committee, said, “We want to give a message to society that Uttarakhand, apart from being home to deities and numerous shrines, also recognises the contribution of our freedom fighters.”

“We had formed the committee to make the younger generation aware of the contribution of freedom fighters. It is their contribution that has given us an independence. We are installing statues of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad and other eminent freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives at a young age for freedom of the motherland,” said Ambrish.

Murali Manohar, labour leader, said, “Chandrashekhar joined the Mahatma Gandhi’s non-cooperation movement in December 1921 when he was just 15. He was arrested for that. He was involved in killing of tyrant British officer JP Saunders to avenge the killing of Lala Lajpat Rai. He was indulged in the famous Kakori train robbery which forced Britishers to arrest him. He shot himself dead on February 27, 1931 at Alfred park in Allahabad when he was surrounded by the police as he didn’t want to be either captured or shot by Britishers. Such was his courage that mobilised thousands of youths to take part in the freedom struggle.”

Committee members Anil Sharma, Ankit Chauhan, Sandeep Gada, Naeem, Kuldeep Saini, Shahabuddin Ansari, Sher Khan, Darshan, Sazid, Bhupendra Bisht, Sachin Beniwal, Sonu among other youth activists were present.