Photo Source; Babushahi Bureau
Legacy of Bhagat Singh sparks legal clash in Pakistan: Foundation challenges historical claims
Harish Monga
Ferozepur/Lahore, November 12, 2024: The Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation in Lahore has voiced strong objections to the Punjab government’s opposition to renaming Shadman Chowk as "Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chowk," following a 2023 High Court directive.
The Foundation's chairman, Imtiaz Rasheed Qureshi, criticized the government’s stance, labeling it as a "distortion of history" and "tampering with facts" in an attempt to avoid honoring the revolutionary figure born in present-day Pakistan.
Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation Pakistan Chairman Imtiaz Rasheed Qureshi, Raja Zulqarnain Advocate Supreme Court Munawar Hussain Khokhar, and others today hold a press conference.
The Punjab government, in a controversial response submitted to the High Court, argued that Bhagat Singh, widely known as a revolutionary freedom fighter, is instead viewed by them as a criminal and a terrorist by today’s standards.
This stance sharply contrasts with Pakistan’s foundational history and even the views of Pakistan’s founder, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who once defended Singh's actions in the Indian independence movement. In response, the Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation has vowed to defend the historical legacy of Bhagat Singh in the High Court.
The Foundation pointed out that Quaid-e-Azam himself acknowledged Singh's sacrifice in a 1929 speech after a bombing incident by revolutionary youth in the Central Assembly. Jinnah openly praised Singh and questioned British laws, aligning his values with Singh’s. The Foundation argues that the Punjab government's position inadvertently implies that Jinnah supported criminals, an assertion that would be antithetical to Pakistan’s founder and Islamic principles of justice and fairness.
The Foundation challenged the Punjab government's claim that naming a location after an atheist or erecting statues would violate Islamic principles. It argued that martyrdom represents a sacrifice for humanity and justice, values upheld in Islam. Furthermore, they highlighted that Bhagat Singh’s atheism has no bearing on his status as a revolutionary. His essay, "Why I am an Atheist," primarily critiques societal discrimination, which he saw as incompatible with Islamic values. The Foundation urged the government to study his works more closely before passing judgments.
The Foundation further argued that the current government’s view of Singh as a "criminal and terrorist" mirrors the colonial British stance, a view Pakistanis rejected by supporting the independence movement. The Punjab government’s response also included a surprising comparison, suggesting no one becomes a revolutionary at age 23. The Foundation countered this by pointing to historical examples of young revolutionaries and religious figures who led at an early age, challenging the government’s rigid interpretation of revolutionary maturity.
On broader grounds, the Foundation warned that the Punjab government's stance not only undermines Bhagat Singh’s legacy but also threatens Lahore’s rich revolutionary history. The Lahore Central Jail, where Singh was executed along with his comrades, remains a symbol of resistance and sacrifice. By dismissing Bhagat Singh’s contributions, the Foundation argued, the government risks erasing a shared historical memory valued by Pakistanis and the international community.
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The Punjab government’s affidavit also raised questions about the Foundation’s financial sources, suggesting foreign involvement. Qureshi responded that while the Foundation is open to investigations, it only receives moral support, both locally and internationally, for promoting values of peace, humanity, and progress. The Foundation clarified that it is a non-political entity focused on upholding a dignified past, contrasting it with political entities that foster societal division.
As the case returns to court on January 17, 2025, the Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation plans to respond with full historical evidence, emphasizing that this legal battle over a simple renaming has reignited awareness of Bhagat Singh’s legacy.