Who coined ‘Inquilab Zindabad’? How Bhagat Singh made it a freedom cry

New Delhi: "Inquilab Zindabad", Long Live the Revolution, remains one of the most recognisable slogans associated with India's freedom struggle. Though the phrase is widely associated with revolutionary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, who popularised it during the struggle against British rule, its origins can be traced to Urdu poet and freedom fighter Hasrat Mohani.

As the country marks the 119th birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh on Monday, the slogan he helped immortalise offers a glimpse into the revolutionary's political beliefs and his vision of a society free from colonial rule and exploitation.

Born on September 28, 1907, in Banga, in present-day Pakistan's Punjab province, Bhagat Singh became one of the most prominent figures of India's revolutionary movement. His association with "Inquilab Zindabad" transformed the phrase into a rallying cry that resonated far beyond the events of the freedom struggle.

Who coined 'Inquilab Zindabad'?

The slogan "Inquilab Zindabad", which translates to "Long Live the Revolution", is generally credited to Hasrat Mohani, an Urdu poet, political activist and freedom fighter who introduced it in 1921.

Mohani was among the early advocates of complete independence from British rule. He also championed the struggle against social and economic inequality, giving the slogan a broader meaning beyond the demand for political freedom.

Although Mohani is credited with coining the phrase, it was Bhagat Singh and his revolutionary associates who brought it into widespread use during the late 1920s. The slogan became closely associated with the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), the revolutionary organisation to which Bhagat Singh belonged.

The Assembly bombing that popularised the slogan

One of the defining moments in the history of "Inquilab Zindabad" came on April 8, 1929, when Bhagat Singh and fellow revolutionary Batukeshwar Dutt threw bombs into the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi to protest against colonial legislation.

The bombs were intended to make a political statement rather than cause mass casualties. Following the explosion, the two revolutionaries raised slogans of "Inquilab Zindabad" and distributed leaflets explaining their opposition to British rule.

They deliberately stayed at the scene and allowed themselves to be arrested, using the subsequent legal proceedings to publicise their political message.

Bhagat Singh and Dutt continued to use the slogan during their legal proceedings, turning the courtroom into a platform for their political beliefs.

The phrase gained further prominence through Bhagat Singh's speeches, writings and public statements. It became a defining expression of the revolutionary movement and was widely used by activists during India's struggle for independence.

Bhagat Singh was convicted in the Lahore Conspiracy Case and executed alongside fellow revolutionaries Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar on March 23, 1931. He was 23.