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Title: Letter to Father
Author: Bhagat Singh
Date: October 4, 1930
Language: en
Topics: letter
Source: Retrieved on 2020-05-07 from http://www.shahidbhagatsingh.org/index.asp?link=letter_father
Notes: When the case was in its final stage, Sardar Kishan Singh (Bhagat Singh’s father) made a written request to the Tribunal, saying that there were many facts to prove that his son was innocent and that he had nothing to do with Sounder’s murder. He also requested that his son be given an opportunity to prove his innocence. When Bhagat Singh came to know of it he was very angry, and wrote this strong letter to his father, protesting against his move.

Bhagat Singh

Letter to Father

MY DEAR FATHER,

I was astounded to learn that you had submitted a petition to the

members of the Special Tribunal in connection with my defence. This

intelligence proved to be too severe a blow to be borne with equanimity.

It has upset the whole equilibrium of my mind. I have not been able to

understand how you could think it proper to submit such a petition at

this stage and in these circumstances. Inspite of all the sentiments and

feelings of a father, I don’t think you were at all entitled to make

such a move on my behalf without even consulting me. You know that in

the political field my views have always differed with those of yours. I

have always been acting independently without having cared for your

approval or disapproval.

I hope you can recall to yourself that since the very beginning you have

been trying to convince me to fight my case very seriously and to defend

myself properly. But you also know that I was always opposed to it. I

never had any desire to defend myself and never did I seriously think

about it. Whether it was a mere vague ideology or that I had certain

arguments to justify my position, is a different question and that

cannot be discussed here.

You know that we have been pursuing a definite policy in this trial.

Every action of mine ought to have been consistent with that policy, my

principle and my programme. At present the circumstances are altogether

different, but had the situation been otherwise, even then I would have

been the last man to offer defence. I had only one idea before me

throughout the trial, i.e. to show complete indifference towards the

trial inspite of serious nature of the charges against us. I have always

been of opinion that all the political workers should be indifferent and

should never bother about the legal fight in the law courts and should

boldly bear the heaviest possible sentences inflicted upon them. They

may defend themselves but always from purely political considerations

and never from a personal point of view. Our policy in this trial has

always been consistent with this principle; whether we were successful

in that or not is not for me to judge. We have always been doing our

duty quite disinterstedly.

In the statement accompanying the text of Lahore Conspiracy Case

Ordinance the Viceroy had stated that the accused in this case were

trying to bring both law and justice into contempt. The situation

afforded us an opportunity to show to the public whether we ere trying

to bring law into contempt or whether others were doing so. People might

disagree with us on this point. You might be one of them. But that never

meant that such moves should be made on my behalf without my consent or

even my knowledge. My life is not so precious, at least to me, as you

may probably think it to be. It is not at all worth buying at the cost

of my principles. There are other comrades of mine whose case is as

serious as that of mine. We had adoped a common policy and we shall

stand to the last, no matter how dearly we have to pay individually for

it.

Father, I am quite perplexed. I fear I might overlook the ordinary

principle of etiquette and my language may become a little but harsh

while criticising or rather censoring this move on your part. Let me be

candid. I feel as though I have been stabbed at the back. Had any other

person done it, I would have considered it to be nothing short o

treachery. But in your case, let me say that it has been a weakness — a

weakness of the worst type.

This was the time where everybody’s mettle was being tested. Let me say,

father, you have failed. I know you are as sincere a patriot as one can

be. I know you are as sincere a patriot as one can be. I know you have

devoted your life to the cause of Indian independence, but why, at this

moment, have you displayed such a weakness? I cannot understand.

In the end, I would like to inform you and my other friends and all the

people interested in my case, that I have not approved of your move. I

am still not at all in favour of offering any defence. Even if the court

had accepted that petition submitted by some of my co-accused regarding

defence, etc., I would have not defended myself. My applications

submitted to the Tribunal regarding my interview during the hunger

strike, were misinterpreted and it was published in the press that I was

going to offer defence, though in reality I was never willing to offer

any defence. I still hold the same opinion as before. My friends in the

Borstal Jail will be taking it as a treachery and betrayal on my part. I

shall not even get an opportunity to clear my position before them.

I want that public should know all the details about this complication,

and, therefore, I request you to publish this letter.

Your loving son

Bhagat Singh