Chandra Shekhar Azad

• Context (PIB): PM Narendra Modi paid tribute to revolutionary freedom fighter Chandra Shekhar Azad on his birth anniversary on 23 July 2025.

About Chandra Shekhar Azad

• Azad was born on July 23, 1906, in Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh, as Chandra Shekhar Sitaram Tiwari.
• At age 15, he was arrested during the Non-Cooperation movement (1920–21). In court, he declared his name as ‘Azad’, his father’s as ‘Swatantrata’, and his residence as ‘prison’.
• Chandrashekhar’s attitude in the court was defiant. He was reported to have announced his name as ‘Azad’, his father’s name as ‘Swatantrata’, and his residence as ‘prison’.

Role in Independence Struggle

• Militant Path: Azad was very upset when Gandhi called off the Non Cooperation Movement in February 1922. Like many of his contemporaries, his frustration pushed him down a more militant path.
• Hindustan Republican Army (HRA): Joined HRA of Ram Prasad Bismil and Sachindranath Sanyal.
• Kakori Mail Robbery (1925): Involved in Kakori Robbery under the leadership of Ram Prasad Bismil.
• Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA): In 1928, Azad and his comrades transformed the HRA into HSRA.
• Saunders Assassination (1928): Avenging Lala Lajpat Rai’s death, Bhagat Singh and Rajguru killed British officer John Saunders, while Azad shot a pursuing constable.
• Legislative Assembly Bombing (1929): It was at his instance that Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt exploded bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly on 8 April 1929.
• He was also indirectly involved in the attempt to blow up the Viceroy’s train in December 1929.

Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA)

• Meeting at Feroz Shah Kotla (1928): Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) reorganised into Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA).
• Key Members Present: Bhagat Singh, Bejoy Kumar Sinha, Shiv Varma, Jaidev Kapur, Bhagwati Charan Vohra, and Sukhdev (Chandrashekhar Azad did not attend the meeting).
• Objective: Bhagat Singh and his comrades advocated for socialism as a core objective.
  • They believed India’s freedom was not just political independence but also economic liberation.
• Leadership: Focused on collective leadership and mass movements rather than individual actions.
  • Azad was Commander of the Military Division responsible for leading organised armed resistance against British rule.

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Death

• Chandrashekhar Azad was betrayed by an associate to police on 27 February 1931 in Alfred Park, Allahabad (now Prayagraj).
• Fighting bravely, he used his last bullet to shoot himself, ensuring that he was never captured alive.