Martyrs' Day: 'Never take violent path, but fight for your rights,’ says Bhagat Singh’s niece Gurjit Kaur

Gurjit Kaur with farmer leaders in Hansi, Haryana

It has been 91 years since three of India's freedom fighters - Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru - were hanged to death in Lahore by the British for being part of the country's independence struggle. Ever since, the day (March 23) is commemorated as one of India's six Martyrs' Days. Speaking to mid-day on the occasion of Martyrs' Day, from the farmers' agitation site at the Singhu border, Bhagat Singh's niece Gurjit Kaur, 71, said, "Shaheed Bhagat Singh's dream of bringing equality in society remains unfulfilled."

Gurjit Kaur

On March 18, Kaur had flagged off the AIKS-CITU-AIAWU-led ‘Shaheed Yaadgar Padayatra' from the historic Lal Sadak in Hansi, Haryana, where, in 1857, the British crushed scores of freedom fighters under road rollers. The padayatra reached Singhu border on March 20 and they have been camping there since then, having pledged their support to the farmer's movement. In an interview with mid-day, Kaur speaks about the farmers' agitation, farm laws and how much we can draw from Bhagat Singh's vision of independence.

Excerpts:

Would Bhagat Singh have joined the farmers' agitation if he was alive today?
"If he was among us today, he too would have fought against the unjust farm laws. His life's mission was to fight for equality in society and to ensure that poor people like the farmers and labourers lived in proper conditions. Today when kisan and mazdoor are getting severely affected by the farm laws and are facing dangers because of them, he (Bhagat Singh) would have never stood by and watched this happen. He believed that everyone should get equal rights. However, his dream of bringing about equality remains unfulfilled. If he had been alive today, this situation might not have arisen. Our present leaders, irrespective of party affiliation, have deceived us."

What dangers do the farm laws pose?
"The three farm laws come with individual problems and their corporate nature is extremely harmful for farmers. At the end of it, they (farm laws) are detrimental to the growth of Indian farmers, because there is no mechanism to safeguard their rights under these laws. Farmers also cannot afford to pay for their own transport and bargain for prices in open mandis. If these private mandis are opened, they will mark the end of the APMC, and will buy farming produce at whatever price they wish. Lastly, there is already major unemployment problems in the Indian farming sector, which is only bound to increase if these three farm laws are implemented."

What lessons can we learn from Bhagat Singh in the current political environment?
"Bhagat Singh had given his life for the freedom of the country, so that everyone could be free and live as equals. We have to remember that we, as individuals, need to protect and fight for our freedom. When the Ambani sarkar is in the wrong, we the people need to stand against them because ultimately, the government is of the people (not the other way around). This is why we are an ‘azaad mulk' (a democratic nation), in which the voices of everyone living in it should be rightfully heard. If you look around and feel that whatever is going on is harmful for you, then you need to fight for your freedom. This is the time to wake up."

Bhagat Singh is also known for taking a violent stand in India's fight for independence. Should the modern-day Indian society draw something from this?
"He was very clear in pointing out the difference between ‘hinsa' and ‘ahimsa'. When we stand in self-defense, it is not counted as being violent. However, if someone is forcefully imposing their unjust views on others, that is considered to be violence. Bhagat Singh always believed in taking a stand. I will never say to take the road of violence, but you need to raise your voice for your rights."