February 27, 2021, marks the 90th death anniversary of the Indian revolutionary Chandra Shekhar Azad.
Azad was killed on this day in 1931 in Alfred Park, Allahabad after an associate betrayed him. For quite some time, he held the well-armed police that circled him at bay, single-handedly with a small pistol and a few cartridges.
However, left with just one bullet, he shot himself in the head and lived up to his resolve that he would never be arrested and dragged to the gallows to be hanged.
Chandra Shekhar was born on July 23, 1906, in Bhabra, Madhya Pradesh to Pandit Sitaram Tiwari and Jagrani Devi. At Bhavra he received his basic education and for higher studies, he went to Sanskrit Pathshala in Varanasi. He started participating in radical activities at a very young age.
Chandra Shekhar in his prime was fascinated by the national rise of the non-violent, non-cooperation movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi(Bapu).
Chandra Shekhar was arrested for joining the movement and produced before the magistrate and on being asked, he gave his name as ‘Azad’, father’s name as ‘Swatantra’ and residence as ‘jail'(prison). The title of Azad stuck thereafter, making him Chandra Shekhar Azad.
