Meet the Freedom Fighter Chandra Shekhar Azad- ‘Symbol of Courage’

Countless people get goosebumps when the name is announced. A name synonymous with bravery and lionhearted attitude. Sometimes, we run short of adjectives to describe him in one word. Yes, we are talking about the freedom fighter who is not feared of death or anyone. His name is Chandra Shekhar Azad. His sheer exuberance to counter the enemies with relative ease makes him a class apart.

Chandra Shekhar Azad embodied an indomitable spirit during his stint. His impeccable legacy will remain forever. He is the brave son of Bharat Mata. He sacrificed himself so that his fellow citizens get freedom from colonialism. Generations of Indians are inspired by his courage and that’s why he is recognised as ‘symbol of courage.’

He is a one-man army and always likes to deal with things on his own. Even the British Raj got scared of Azad’s activities. Day by day when Azad grew from strength to strength, he became the big problem for British Authorities. In addition to that, his ultimate goal was to create as many problems for the British Government. That sums up the essential fighter for you!

He is still recognised as one of the bravest and stellar figures of Indian armed revolution. He always felt a great sense of accomplishment doing something great for his country. He also dreamt of a free India based on socialist ideals and dedicated himself towards realizing his dream. His immense contributions didn’t pave the way for an immediate freedom, but his grand sacrifice triggered the Indian revolutionaries to fight the British rule even more aggressively.

When Azad stamped his authority and dominated in his stint, the British Raj made as many efforts to capture Azad either dead or alive. The British authorities also announced a cash reward of Rs.30,000 on his head, which was deemed as the biggest cash prize at that time. Huge cash reward triggered people to know more about Azad’s location. It was on February 27, 1931, Chandrashekhar Azad met his friends at Alfred Park, Allahabad.

Pre-informed cops surrounded the park and asked Chandrashekhar Azad to surrender. Azad didn’t give up that easily as he single-handedly fought bravely and took care of his friends simultaneously. In the battle between Azad and the policemen, Azad killed three policemen with his razor-sharp shooting skills.

The battle didn’t end and unfortunately, Azad got injured. He ran short of ammunition and he knew that he couldn’t escape with several other policemen surrounding him. So, he shot himself in the head with the last bullet. He made sure that he was not captured by the British. He had already pledged never to be caught alive.

He is still living in the hearts of brave people. He not only sacrificed his life but also won our hearts for his bravery. JAI HIND! He was born on July 23, 1906. Today is his birth anniversary. Most people on social media sent tributes to the great Chandra Shekhar Azad.

Post the independence, to remember the bravery of Chandrashekhar Azad, Allahabad’s Alfred Park was renamed as ‘Chandrashekhar Azad Park.‘We should certainly be proud of this hero as multiple patriotic films have portrayed Azad’s character.

In 2002, Ajay Devgan featured in the biopic of Bhagat Singh where Azad’s character was depicted by Akhilendra Mishra. The ultimate patriotism of Azad, Rajguru, Pandit Ram Prasad Basil and Ashfaqula Khan was portrayed in Rang De Basanti, a 2006 Bollywood film where Amir Khan played the character of Chandra Shekhar Azad.

Hailing from Chennai, Chaithanya G is the Managing Director of TheYouth. He has dedicated his whole life to reading and writing.