India’s first woman serial killer, & Bhagat Singh's life | #148
Also, The Great Indian Novel 🇮🇳 👉
Hello friends,
Bhagat Singh, a man of fire,
Revolution, his one true desire.
Inquilab, his battle cry,
Against oppression, he dared to defy.
He challenged the might of the British Crown,
A fearless spirit that knew no bounds.
His legacy lives on, a shining light,
For those who still strive for what is right.
On March 23, 1931 - Bhagat Singh along with Rajguru and Sukhdev were executed for their role in the murder of George Saunders.
This week’s newsletter pays tribute to Bhagat Singh and his comrades with some stories you may not have heard before.
Things we learnt this week 🤓
Auguste Vaillant was a French Anarchist who in Dec 1893 went to the French Chamber of Deputies, sat in the viewing gallery, and threw a home-made bomb. He did not resist the arrest as he wanted to inspire the public to speak out against the unfavorable laws of the government. The weakness of the bomb revealed the aim of Vaillant - not to kill anyone in the Chamber but to take revenge for the execution of Ravachol, another French anarchist. Later on, Vaillant was sentenced to death. Bhagat Singh read about Vaillant at the Dwarka Das library in Lahore and was inspired to do the same. In a bid to oppose the Public Safety Bill and the Trade Dispute Act, Bhagat Singh along with Batukeshwar Dutt dropped bombs inside the Central Legislative Assembly and got arrested. They used the court hearings to spread their word about the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. A Vaillant effort.
Talking of Bhagat Singh’s accomplices, Batukeshwar Dutt threw the bomb in the assembly. He was among the many to receive life sentences for their involvement in the incident. Dutt struggled to make ends meet in independent India and tried his hand at various jobs such as working for a cigarette company and running a transport business, but to no avail due to lack of financial aid from the government. Just before his death, he penned the story of Bhagat Singh for the movie Shaheed, directed by Manoj Kumar, which was a success at the box office. Dutt along with Din Dayal Sharma, were given the National Award for the best screenplay, making Dutt one of the few people who have gone from bombing an assembly to not bombing at the box office.
Everybody knows about the Beating Retreat ceremony at the Wagah Border, but another ceremony happens at Hussainiwala. This place has an interesting history - it was the place where Bhagat Singh, Shivram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar were cremated in secret after their execution. In 1947, Hussainiwala became a part of Pakistan. In 1961, 12 villages from then India were given to Pakistan in exchange for Hussainwala. The National Martyrs Memorial is built at the place where our revolutionaries were cremated in 1931. In a way, Hussainiwala may have given away a dozen villages, but it also gave India three immortal martyrs who continue to inspire generations of revolutionaries.
From IWTK, with love 💌
The shocking tale of India’s first woman serial killer. Watch it here.
“Delighted to unveil my latest literary venture, an exploration of the labyrinthine Mahabharata, a timeless epic. This tome elucidates its intricate tapestry, transcending mere storytelling to reveal profound philosophical tenets and human dualities. Eagerly awaiting your discerning reflections on our vibrant cultural heritage.” This might have been the message by Shashi Tharoor to his friends about his version of the Mahabharata. Watch more here.
Only In India 🇮🇳
He was tying the knot with the bottle and good on the bride.
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❤️ IWTK
I think you missed the case of Troilokyo. This article can give you some ide:- https://www.getbengal.com/details/the-first-female-serial-killer-of-bengal-troilokya-devi-seven-years-before-jack-the-ripper