Students shown documentaries

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 24

Shaheed Bhagat Singh Study Centre (SBSSC) Arya College, Ludhiana, observed the 111th birth anniversary of martyr Shivram Hari Rajguru, popularly known as Rajguru.

Two documentaries were shown to students which included the last 12 hours spent by the martyrs before kissing the rope at the gallows. The other one was about the biographical sketch of Rajguru.

Prof PS Bhogal, honorary director, SBSSC and head, PG department of political science, addressed students and members of the staff.

He enlightened them about the ideological orientations of revolutionaries and narrated several anecdotes about the life of the revolutionary and his associates.

According to Prof Bhogal, martyr Rajguru was known for his sharp shooting skills and he was especially chosen to be with Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Chandra Shekhar Azad on December 17, 1928, when Assistant Superintendent of Lahore police John P Saunders was killed mistakenly instead of Superintendent of Police Lahore, Scott. Rajguru fired the first shot and Shaheed Bhagat Singh followed with more shots killing the British Police officer on the spot.

Martyr Rajguru hailed from Khed village near Pune in modern Maharashtra state. Nowadays the name of this town has been changed from Khed to Rajguru Nagar as a mark of tribute to the great martyr. Right from his childhood, he was highly motivated to fight against colonial government. When he was young, he had a chance encounter with Bal Gangadhar Tilak and got his blessings. He belonged to a very poor family. He lost his father when he was just 6-year-old. He was brought up by his elder brother. He came to Benaras for his higher studies, where he came in contact with revolutionaries like Chandra Shekhar Azad and thus started his glorious journey to struggle and martyrdom.