Lucknow’s Yashpal was a close aide of Bhagat Singh
LUCKNOW: When the nation is remembering heroes of the freedom movement – Sardar Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev – on Martyr’s Day (March 23, 1931 when the trio was hanged), Lucknow is also reminded of Padma Bhushan Yashpal, a freedom fighter and author from the city who was closely associated with the movement.
Yashpal was a close aide of Bhagat Singh. His family lives in Mahanagar area of Lucknow in the same house where Yashpal lived and breathed his last in 1976.
Yashpal and Bhagat Singh first met at National College in Lahore. Yashpal’s son, Anand recalls, “My father has written a lot about Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev in his book ‘Singhavlokan’. He took part activities of the college along with Bhagat Singh ji.”
“As a member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, my father took part in many revolutionary activities, including the attempt to free Bhagat Singh from Borstal Jail in Lahore. He made bombs, and exploded one of those under the train carrying Lord Irwin, the viceroy of India. The viceroy survived,” he said. “My father and Bhagat Singh ji were fond of boating. As students they often went boating on Ravi river . One day, when they were on the boat, they stopped in the middle of the river and sat quietly for some time. My father gave his hand to his dear friend and said, ‘Let us pledge our life to our country’. Bhagat Singh also gave his hand to my father, saying ‘I too pledge’,” said Anand.
Yashpal’s wife Prakashwati also took part in freedom movement. At 7, she left her house to meet Durga Bhabhi and joined her group. Yashpal and Prakashwati got married in jail.
Anand recounts, “Dharmpal, my chachaji, was also arrested for some reason. He was in the Lahore jail with Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru.”
“It was a rule in the jail that those who were to be hanged were to be taken with handcuffs. But Sukhdev was not ready to do so. The warden Charat Singh went to Bhagat Singh and urged that Sukhdev was opposing the rule. Only after Bhagat Singh asked him to wear handcuffs that Sukhdev moved forward for the hanging ,” said Anand, recalling experiences shared by Dharmpal.