Introduction
On April 8, 1929, the halls of the Central Assembly in Delhi (today's Parliament House) echoed with explosions—not of destruction, but of defiance. This was the day Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt, members of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), carried out a symbolic bombing to shake the foundations of British colonial rule. Their act was not aimed at killing, but at making the “deaf” rulers hear the cry of a nation yearning for freedom.
This episode became one of the most dramatic and defining moments in India's freedom struggle, elevating Bhagat Singh into a legendary figure of resistance.
The Road to the Central Assembly Bombing
The HSRA, after much debate, decided to bomb the Central Assembly to protest oppressive laws and expose the futility of British-controlled institutions. While Chandrashekhar Azad opposed the plan—fearing Bhagat Singh's inevitable capture—Bhagat believed his arrest and possible martyrdom would inspire the masses.
Inspired by the French revolutionary Auguste Vaillant (who had bombed the French parliament), Bhagat Singh sought to replicate the act—not to kill, but to awaken India's conscience.
Jaydev Kapoor secured entry passes, allowing Bhagat and Azad to test security. Their successful infiltration confirmed the plan. Initially, HSRA considered targeting the Viceroy at a Holi banquet, but when he avoided the route, focus returned to the Assembly itself.
April 8, 1929: The Bombs that Shook the Empire
Two controversial bills, aimed at suppressing revolutionary movements, were introduced in the Assembly. When the Speaker invoked special powers to pass them despite opposition, Bhagat Singh and Dutt rose to protest.
From the visitors' gallery, they hurled bombs wrapped in newspapers toward empty seats. The explosions filled the chamber with smoke and panic, scattering British officials. Pamphlets proclaiming HSRA's message fluttered across the hall.
Bhagat Singh then fired two shots in the air and, alongside Dutt, shouted slogans of Inquilab Zindabad (Long live the revolution). Importantly, neither attempted escape. Instead, they surrendered peacefully, declaring they would explain their actions in court. The pamphlet read:
If the deaf want to hear, the sound must be very loud.
The Trial and Revolutionary Statements
The trial began on May 7, 1929, with Asaf Ali defending the revolutionaries. Bhagat Singh used the courtroom as a political stage, delivering electrifying statements that soon spread across India. He clarified:
- Revolution did not mean senseless violence, but the overthrow of a system built on exploitation.
- The Assembly was a façade of representation, symbolizing India's helplessness under colonial rule.
His words—“We are ready to burn our souls as incense sticks on this altar of sacrifice”—ignited patriotic fervor nationwide.
On June 12, 1929, both Bhagat Singh and Dutt were sentenced to life imprisonment. They appealed, not to reduce punishment, but to continue spreading their message.
Hunger Strikes and Public Sympathy
Transferred to Lahore and Mianwali jails, Bhagat Singh and fellow revolutionaries launched hunger strikes demanding equal treatment for political prisoners—better food, reading material, newspapers, and exemption from forced labor.
The protest lasted 114 days. The death of Yatindra Nath Das during the strike shocked the nation and intensified anger against British brutality. Bhagat Singh emerged as a hero, his health condition becoming front-page news across India.
The Lahore Conspiracy Case
Alongside the Assembly Bomb Case, Bhagat Singh was tried for the 1928 assassination of British officer J.P. Saunders. The British introduced the Lahore Conspiracy Case Ordinance, enabling trial in the absence of the accused and lawyers.
Despite repeated boycotts, beatings, and farcical proceedings, Bhagat Singh remained defiant, turning the trial into a battlefield of ideology. Leaders like Subhas Chandra Bose and Jinnah expressed open admiration for his courage.
On October 7, 1930, the tribunal sentenced Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev to death. Others received life sentences or imprisonment in the Andamans.
Bhagat Singh's Final Days
While appeals were filed to the Privy Council, Bhagat Singh himself opposed mercy petitions. When his father attempted one, he sternly rejected it, declaring:
My life is not such a great asset that I must sacrifice the highest values of life to preserve it.
On March 23, 1931, Bhagat Singh, aged just 23, walked calmly to the gallows with Rajguru and Sukhdev. Singing patriotic songs, they embraced martyrdom at 7:33 p.m.
The British secretly cremated their mutilated bodies on the banks of the Sutlej River at Ferozepur, fearing public uprising. Yet, locals discovered the half-burnt remains and gave them a proper funeral.
Legacy of the Central Assembly Bombing
The British destroyed Bhagat Singh's body, but not his spirit. His sacrifice immortalized him as the face of revolutionary nationalism. His courtroom speeches, hunger strikes, and ultimate martyrdom inspired generations to rise against oppression.
Even today, the echoes of April 8, 1929, remind us that freedom was not merely granted—it was seized by fearless revolutionaries who dared to challenge an empire.
Conclusion
The Central Assembly Bombing was more than an explosion in Parliament—it was an explosion in the hearts of millions of Indians. Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt proved that ideas are bulletproof and that courage can ignite revolutions.
Their act remains one of the most symbolic milestones in India's freedom struggle, ensuring that the cry of Inquilab Zindabad will forever resound in the nation's memory.