We recently celebrated India’s Independence Day, remembering the numerous freedom fighters who fought against Britishers and sacrificed their lives for the independence of motherland. Among the many, one will always find the mention of Shivaram Hari Rajguru, one of the revolutionary freedom fighter who challenged Britishers with all bravery.
He showed extreme dedication and courage. Once he was seen touching a hot iron rod with his hands and when Chandra Shekhar Azad inquired about this insanity, he smiled calmly and said that he was testing himself if he can bear police torture.
Marking the birth anniversary of Rajguru on August 24, we salute him and remember him for his contribution in freedom of nation.
Here are few lesser known facts lost in the pages of history about the courageous soul
Shivaram Hari Rajguru was born into middle-class Deshastha Brahmin family at Khed in Pune district of Maharashtra, on August 24, 1908.
He grew up witnessing the injustice and exploitation the British Raj continually wrought upon India. These experiences instilled within him a strong urge to join the revolutionaries in their fight for India’s freedom.
He had a great admiration for Shivaji and his guerrilla tactics. Besides this, Chandrashekhar Azad’s fiery words, courage and deep love for India especially captured Rajguru’s imagination.
Rajguru joined the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA), where he met Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev.
Rajguru’s belief was diametrically opposite to Mahatma Gandhi’s policy of nonviolent civil disobedience. Rajguru believed that ferocity against oppression was far more effective to end the yoke of British rule.
Rajguru was a good shooter and was regarded as the gunman of the party. He took part in various activities of the revolutionary movement, the most important being Saunders’ murder.
Shivaram Rajguru was only 22 when he was hanged on March 23, in Lahore Jail, along with his friends Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev.
The trio was hanged for conspiring to kill British police officer John P Saunders, though the initial plot was to kill superintendent of police James Scott to avenge the death of leader Lala Lajpat Rai caused by lathi charge during protest against Simon Commission.
