The Hero's Word .

- The British Magistrate ordered the soldiers, "Fire!" The rifles exploded with a rapid series of shots, and bullets whistled through the air.

- Jivram Joshi

T he state of Rewa, or Reva, held sway over a part of Central India (Madhya Pradesh). In this kingdom lay a village named Krupalpur, where a Jagirdar (feudal lord or local king) ruled. This Raja had two sons.

The elder prince, Gadadharsinh, inherited the throne. The younger prince, Padmasinh, was studying at the local high school.

One day, the glass paperweight from the Principal's desk went missing.

The Principal questioned the students, asking the one who had taken the paperweight to confess, promising that no punishment would be given. No student came forward.

The Principal then said, "In that case, any student who knows who took the paperweight should tell me privately."

A student secretly met the Principal and claimed that it was Padmasinh, the Raja's son, who had taken it.

This student had lied.

The Principal confronted Padmasinh and said, "You are the one who took the paperweight."

Padmasinh vehemently denied it, saying, "That is absolutely false. I did not take the paperweight."

The Principal refused to believe Padmasinh. He insulted the prince, called him a thief, and made him stand isolated in the classroom as punishment.

Padmasinh was deeply hurt by this humiliation. He was overcome with such intense rage that he focused his anger entirely on the Principal who had insulted him.

He went home, retrieved a double-barreled shotgun, returned to the school, and aimed the gun directly at the Principal. The Principal panicked and ran for his life, but Padmasinh fired a shot. The aim was true.

The Principal was struck by the bullet, but fortunately, the cartridge contained only small pellets (birdshot). While the pellets wounded the Principal, he survived the attack, sustaining only minor injuries.

The Principal filed a police report. The police arrived, arrested Padmasinh, and a case was filed against him. Padmasinh was sentenced to three years in prison.

Padmasinh served his time.

Three years passed, and he was released and returned home. To continue his education, Padmasinh was sent to a high school in Allahabad. He began studying there while staying in a hostel. After completing high school, he progressed to college.

It was the year 1942. The British ruled India. To free Mother India from the slavery of foreign rule, Mahatma Gandhi launched the Satyagraha movement (Quit India Movement). Gandhi issued a call to student youth to participate in this struggle.

Allahabad is also known as Prayag.

A meeting of young students from the University of Prayag was held. In this meeting, it was decided that students would close down colleges. A student leader issued a challenge: all young people willing to sacrifice themselves for the nation's independence should come forward and take a pledge that they would not study until the nation gained freedom and would instead participate in the fight for independence.

Among the young men who stepped up to take this pledge, Padmasinh was the very first. He took the initial vow, saying, "I will sacrifice my life for the freedom of Mother India."

Hearing his heroic declaration, thirty other young men immediately stood up and took the same pledge.

This historic day was August 11, 1942.

A surge of energy and determination spread among the students. All schools in the city of Prayag closed down. The University went on strike.

A meeting of these determined young men was held. It was decided that the next day, they would picket the government offices and ensure they were shut down.

When government officials learned of this news, police authorities scrambled into action. Armed guards were immediately stationed outside the government offices.

The youth organized a large procession. Crowds of young people, roaring their slogans of victory, marched toward the government offices. The determined group of 31 young men led the procession. Shouting "Vande Mataram" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai," the procession reached the government office building.

Standing there was the District Magistrate, a British officer. Police Superintendent, Mr. Aga, stood guard at the office door with a pistol. A long line of rifle-carrying soldiers stood ready.

As the procession approached, the fair-skinned District Magistrate, Mr. Dikeson, ordered the Police Superintendent to stop the procession. Mr. Aga positioned the rifle-carrying soldiers in front.

The procession did not stop.

The young men surged forward, attempting to break through the police line.

The British Magistrate stepped forward and commanded, "Halt! Take one more step, and we will shoot you."

Still, the procession did not stop.

The British officer ordered the police chief, "Prepare your rifles!"

The soldiers leveled their guns at the procession.

Padmasinh was at the front. With a heroic shout, he yelled to his fellow youth, "No one shall take a step back!"

The British Magistrate ordered the soldiers, "Fire!"

The rifles exploded with a rapid series of shots, and bullets whistled through the air.

The young men and the people in the procession immediately lay face down on the ground.

It was a rule of the British army not to shoot above the waist and not to fire upon those who were lying down.

Everyone in the procession was lying face down on the road, but one young man stood absolutely firm. He held the national flag in his hands.

The British officer angrily addressed him, "Why are you standing up?"

The young man replied, "I hold the National Flag in my hand. The National Flag must never be allowed to fall to the ground."

The British officer shouted, "Then you will be shot! I am giving you one last chance: either lie down or leave this place immediately!"

The young man retorted, "I am no coward."

The British officer laughed. He said, "You may not be a coward, but you are certainly a fool. Everyone else has lain down to save their lives, and you are the only idiot standing. Look! Do you see any other fool like you? Why are you standing here, trying to be a hero and throw away your life among these thousands of cowards?"

Padmasinh, who was nearby, immediately stood up and declared, "There are no cowards here! I stand with my companion!"

The British officer said, "Then you, too, will have to die."

The furious British officer then said, "So, you are not going to retreat?"

Padmasinh firmly stated, "No, I will not retreat."

Saying this, Padmasinh took the National Flag into his own hands and raised the slogan, "Bharat Mata Ki Jai!" (Victory to Mother India!).

The British officer commanded the soldiers, "Fire the bullet!"

The shots rang out.

Pierced by the bullets, Padmasinh fell onto the earth. His blood stained the scarf of Mother India.

After that, crowds of young men rushed towards the scene. The British officer's guns were shamed into silence. The youth lifted Padmasinh's body.

The life of that brave young man was gone.

That valiant youth had given his life as a sacrifice for freedom.

It was through the sacrifices of thousands of determined heroes like him that we attained independence. But today! Undeserving people are enjoying the fruits of freedom as ministers. Bogus patriots, who made no sacrifice for the nation, are ruining the country through corruption, bribery, and black marketing.