Ungrateful Congress, Forgetful Nation & Madan Lal Dhingra’s Sacrifice

Shame !!! Shame !!! Shame !!!

Congress, the ruling party of India, our own government of India and specially we, the people of India, forgot the sacrifice and martyrdom of Madan Lal Dhingra. Exactly a century ago, he was hanged in London for shooting a British M.P. Curzon Wyle. He was the first freedom fighter to be executed in the imperial capital of the British on August 17, 1909. On Monday, August 17, 2009, it was the 100th year of his martyrdom. It was virtually ignored by the government of India and Indian National Congress. His home state, Punjab, organized just one function. It goes without saying that it was a halfhearted effort. The Congress, established by a British A. O. Hume and currently led by an Italian lady, is not expected to be Indian or National in any sense of the term. They have so many Gandhis and Nehrus in their pantheon. They have to think about the coronation of Rahul baba. They are more worried about the bruised ego of Shahrukh Khan. Who cares about a freedom fighter, who cannot fetch them a single extra vote? But what about us? We, the people of India? We also forgot his supreme sacrifice.

Shame !!! Shame !!! Shame !!!

Madan Lal Dhingra’s father Rai Sahib Dr. Ditta Mal was the richest man of Amritsar. He was a renowned civil surgeon and was the first car owner in the city. While in the college in Lahore, Dhingra came in touch with Lala Lajpat Rai and Bhagat Singh and started taking part in the freedom struggle. An alarmed father sent him to London for higher studies. Dhingra knew his father’s hidden motive but was persuaded to go by his elder brother. In London, he was influenced by freedom fighters like Shyamji Krishna Varma and Veer Savarkar and continued his struggle for independence. In fact Veer Savarkar encouraged him to shoot Curzon wyle, who was a rabid India hater. Dhingra shot him and he was hanged for this crime after a 45-day trial on August 17, 1909. He was 26 years old at the time of his hanging.

A life, so young, was lost for our freedom. Son of an immensely rich person, who owned 6 bungalows and first car in Amritsar, died for us. He could have lived a life of comfort and luxury. But he kissed the noose and chose the gallows, happily and voluntarily. Alas! He is not remembered by his own province, his own country and his own fellow countrymen.

And I cannot absolve myself. I am very much part and parcel of the ungrateful and guilty Indians. I am writing this blog 2 days later and that too after reading an article in today’s Hindustan Times.

Shame !!! Shame !!! Shame !!!

Vidur

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