Bhagat Singh Against Communalism and Casteism

IT is shameful that some communal fascist outfits name themselves after Bhagat Singh! Bhagat Singh himself was an atheist, but more importantly, he and his comrades were firmly against communal politics.

In April 1928, Bhagat Singh and his comrades made it clear at the Naujawan Bharat Sabha conference that youth belonging to communal organisations were not allowed to become members of the revolutionary Naujawan Bharat Sabha.

Bhagat Singh revered Lala Lajpat Rai and avenged his death at the hands of the colonial police – but when Lajpat Rai turned to communal politics, Bhagat Singh did not spare him: he printed a pamphlet with Rai’s photograph on it, with Browning’s poem ‘The Lost Leader’ as the caption!

In the June 1928 issue of the magazine Kirti, Bhagat Singh wrote two articles titled Achoot ka Sawaal (On Untouchability) and Sampradayik Dange Aur Unka Ilaj (Communal riots and their solutions).

In the latter, he firmly identified the role of ‘communal politicians and newspapers’ in fomenting riots. He ridiculed the so-called nationalist leaders who were either too timid to speak up against communalism or themselves got carried away by the communal tide.

Think of the likes of Zee News and Times Now today when you read Bhagat Singh’s words:

‘The business of journalism, once considered noble, has become most dirty… the real duty of the newspapers is to educate, to cleanse the minds of people, to save them from narrow sectarian divisiveness, and to eradicate communal feelings to promote the idea of common nationalism. Instead, their main objective seems to be spreading ignorance, preaching and propagating sectarianism and chauvinism, communalising people’s minds leading to the destruction of our composite culture and shared heritage.” (Bhagat Singh, 'Sampradayik Dange Aur Unka Ilaj', Kirti, June, 1928)

Bhagat Singh saw revolutionary Marxism as the answer to communalism. He wrote:

“The material questions of the belly are at the bottom of everything, this is one of Marx’s major insights…. To stop mutual riots, class consciousness is needed. The poor, toilers and peasants need to recognize the capitalist as their real enemy. It’s in their interest to get rid of discrimination on the grounds of religion, colour, race, nationality and nation, and unite to take power in their own hands. This will free them of their shackles and give them economic freedom...

Those who know Russia’s history know that the Tsarist rule divided people and there were riots among communities. But there have been no riots since the rule of the workers has come into being. Now every person is seen as a ‘human being’ not as a ‘religious being.’

Among all the depressing news of the riots, there was some encouraging news from Kolkata: trade union workers did not join the rioting, rather Hindu and Muslim workers joined hands to try and stop riots. …Class consciousness is the beautiful way to prevent riots. …It is good news that India’s youth today reject the efforts to foment mutual hatred and violence in the name of religion. Rather, instead of seeing themselves as Hindu, Muslim or Sikh they see themselves first as human beings and then as Indians. Such ideas will ensure a bright future for India.

The martyrs of 1914-15 separated religion from politics. They said religion is a personal matter and none should interfere in it. Nor should religion be introduced in politics because it prevents unity. The Gadar movement remained united because the Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims all sacrificed their lives together.” (Bhagat Singh, 'Sampradayik Dange Aur Unka Ilaj', Kirti, June, 1928)

Note that Bhagat Singh here makes it a point here to place humanity above religious identity, even above Indianness, and absolutely rejects any communal politics and categorically emphasizes separation of religion from politics. He would have abhorred the idea of inhuman lynchings and rapes being celebrated in the name of nationalism, and of ‘India’ being defined as ‘Hindu Rashtra.’

Bhagat Singh frontally attacked untouchability. On the hue and cry against conversions, this is what he had to say:

“…the harsh truth (is) that if you (the Hindus) treat them worse than your cattle, they shall desert you, join to the fold of other religions where they hope to enjoy more rights, where they are treated as fellow beings.” (Bhagat Singh, 'Achhot Ka Sawal', Kirti, June, 1928)

And he did not speak merely of reform or of ‘uplift’ of the untouchables. Rather he called upon Dalits to emancipate themselves – calling them the “real working class”:

“Those who would be free must themselves strike the first blow.’ It must be kept in mind that every one belonging to the privileged class, strives to enjoy his own rights, but would try his utmost to keep on oppressing those below him, and keeping the underprivileged under his heel. Thus might is held to be right. Then waste no time and unite to stand on your own feet and challenge the existing order of society. Let it then be seen as to who dares to deny to you your due. Do not be at the mercy of others and have no illusions about them. Be on guard so as not to fall in the trap of officialdom, because far from being your ally it seeks to make you dance on its own tunes. The capitalist bureaucratic combine is, truly speaking responsible for your oppression and poverty. Hence always shun it. Be on guard about its tricks. This is then the way out. You are the real working class. Workers unite – you have nothing to lose but your chains. Arise and rebel against the existing order. Gradualism and reformism shall be of no avail to you. Start a revolution from a social agitation and gird up your loins for political economic revolution. You and you alone are the pillars of the nations and its core strength. Awake, O sleeping lions! Rebel, raise the banner of revolt.” (Bhagat Singh, 'Achhot Ka Sawal', Kirti, June, 1928)