The Covert Cremation of Bhagat Singh: A Misguided British Strategy
Why did the British authorities cremate Bhagat Singh's body covertly? This act, prompted by fears of a mass uprising, inadvertently fueled nationalist sentiments, solidifying Singh's status as a hero in the Indian independence movement.
Impending Unrest and Nationalist Sentiments
Bhagat Singh, along with his comrades Sukhdev and Rajguru, was convicted on March 23, 1931. The British feared that his execution could ignite widespread protests and an unwanted uprising. To prevent this, they cremated his body in secret and buried it in an unmarked grave. Their intent was to minimize the potential for martyrdom that might inspire further resistance against colonial rule. However, their actions had the opposite effect, fueling anger and resentment among Indians.
The Role of Gandhi and the Gandhi-Irwin Pact
The British imperialists were terrified of a radicalized left revolutionary current taking hold of the mass movement against imperialist rule, leading to the silencing of these young revolutionaries. Evidence suggests that Mahatma Gandhi could have saved the lives of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev by making a plea for clemency during his negotiations with the British. The Gandhi-Irwin Pact of March 19, 1931, did little to address their concerns, leading to widespread outrage.
Subhash Chandra Bose, one of the prominent leaders of the Congress, was particularly furious. He said, "Between us and the British lies an ocean of blood and a mountain of corpses. Nothing can induce us to accept this compromise which Gandhi has signed." News of the deal spread, causing further dissent and the solidification of Singh's status as a national hero and martyr.
Operation Trojan Horse: The Covert Cremation Plan
The British had a well-planned operation known as 'Operation Trojan Horse'. According to this plan, Bhagat Singh and his co-conspirators were not hanged in Lahore jail. Instead, they were hanged, taken off the gallows in a semi-conscious condition, and secretly transported to Lahore Cantonment. There, a death squad comprising the Saunders family shot them. Saunders' father-in-law was the Secretary to the Governor of Punjab.
This entire operation was conducted at night to avoid public attention. No postmortem was conducted, and the bodies were secretly taken six miles from Lahore and cremated on the bank of the Sutlej and Beas rivers. To misdirect the public, two agents were sent to Lahore to spread a story about a big burning pyre at Ganda Singh Wala. People believed this story and rushed to the site. They took the ashes and a half-burnt arm, which they thought were from Bhagat Singh and his comrades, and took them to Lahore for a proper cremation.
These events are detailed in a new book by Chaman Ahuja, titled 'Some Hidden Facts: Martyrdom of Shaheed Bhagat Singh', subtitled "Secrets Unfurled by an Intelligence Bureau Agent of British-India." The book is a compelling read that presents the full picture of what transpired during this covert cremation.
Consequences and Legacy
The British's misinformed actions backfired, intensifying nationalist feelings in India rather than suppressing them. The covert cremation of Bhagat Singh's body, along with the move to eliminate any chance of him becoming a martyr, only served to ignite even greater resentment and fuel the fires of independence. This episode underscores the complexity of colonial power dynamics and the unintended consequences of such strategies.
For more information, consult the Trending Now source and read the detailed account in Chaman Ahuja's book.