Why this matters now
Bhagat Singh is among the most iconic revolutionaries — the HSRA, the Assembly bomb incident and his thought are tested in GS-1.
HSRA and the Saunders killing
Bhagat Singh joined revolutionary politics and helped found the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in 1928 (with Chandrashekhar Azad). To avenge Lala Lajpat Rai’s death from a police lathi-charge, Bhagat Singh and Rajguru shot dead the British officer J.P. Saunders in Lahore (1928).
The Assembly bomb
On 8 April 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw two non-lethal bombs and leaflets into the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi to protest the Public Safety Bill and Trade Disputes Bill. The act was theatrical — “to make the deaf hear”. They surrendered and used the trial as a public platform.
Trial, ideas and martyrdom
The Lahore Conspiracy Case tied them to the Saunders murder. From prison, Bhagat Singh went on a famous hunger strike for political-prisoner rights and wrote extensively — including “Why I am an Atheist”. He, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged on 23 March 1931 — “Shaheed Diwas”. He became a permanent symbol of revolutionary nationalism.
UPSC angle
Know HSRA (1928, with Azad), Saunders killing (Lahore, to avenge Lajpat Rai), Assembly bomb (8 Apr 1929, with B.K. Dutt, against Public Safety/Trade Disputes Bills), Lahore Conspiracy Case, hunger strike, hanged 23 Mar 1931 with Rajguru & Sukhdev.
Frequently asked questions
What was the HSRA?
The Hindustan Socialist Republican Association — a revolutionary group founded in 1928, in which Bhagat Singh was a founding member.
Why did Bhagat Singh kill J.P. Saunders?
To avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, who had died after a lathi-charge during a Simon Commission protest.
What was the Assembly bomb incident?
On 8 April 1929 Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt threw non-lethal bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly to protest oppressive bills.
When was Bhagat Singh hanged?
On 23 March 1931, along with Rajguru and Sukhdev — observed as Shaheed Diwas.