Amid political posturing, Bhagat Singh’s statue to finally come up in Parliament

As Bhagat Singh lobbed bombs in the Central Assembly Hall in April 8, 1929...

As Bhagat Singh lobbed bombs in the Central Assembly Hall in April 8, 1929, the leaflets thrown alongside said: “It takes a loud voice to make the deaf hear.” It has taken Parliament over six decades of Independence to resolve to install in its precincts the statue of this martyr, who was all of 23 when he made the supreme sacrifice.

Gratifying though, the decision by the joint parliamentary committees on installation of portraits and statues has not been easy, thanks to a competitive effort of politicians – first to appropriate credit and then an attempt by Rajya Sabha member M S Gill, now Minister of State for Sports, to give a religious spin to the martyr’s appearance. Faced with conflicting claims of donors, committee chairman Somnath Chatterjee put a lid on the controversy last month by deciding that the Lok Sabha Secretariat would bear the cost of the 18-foot bronze statue. This places Bhagat Singh in the same league as Mahatma Gandhi, whose statue has been gifted by the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

The towering figure, being sculpted by Ram Suthar, is expected to be ready by August, well before the birth centenary year of Bhagat Singh comes to a close on September 28. Though Gill had initially proposed that Bhagat Singh’s statue may be placed in a Rajya Sabha lobby niche, the committee decided that he would stand next to Subhas Chandra Bose in the courtyard.

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CPI(M) Lok Sabha member Mohammad Salim and Gill had both mooted proposals for installation of the statue. The latter, considering the CPI(M) history of claiming Bhagat Singh’s legacy, offered to donate it too. When the committee called them both on August 17, 2007, Salim said two organisations, Bhagat Singh Memorial Youth Trust and Shaheed Yadgar Sangathan, had collected the money needed for the purpose. Gill, however, stated that the Punjab Government was ready to bear all expenses. He also produced a letter to this effect from Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, whom he had once served as a principal secretary.

When the question of the posture and appearance cropped up, Salim said Bhagat Singh should be depicted in his legendary image — in a British felt hat and moustaches — which had inspired freedom fighters across the country while Gill was firm that he be shown in a turban. Later, Gill also shot off a letter to Chatterjee insisting that the statue depict the martyr in a turban.

The committee met again in December. Both Gill and Salim were heard. The latter pressed his claim on the ground that he had made the first offer. Gill wanted the home state of the martyr to get this honour. The committee members, apparently seeing the risks involved in backing either side, authorised the Lok Sabha Speaker to take the decision. Chatterjee chose the safe course – declining the claims of both – and accepting the turban posture.

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