Shivaram Rajguru Biography 
Shivaram Rajguru was an Indian freedom fighter and revolutionary and a martyr associated with the legendary Bhagat Singh. He along with Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev Thapar were executed at Lahore following Lahore conspiracy case. He along with his co-ordinates was executed on 23 March 1931. Trail and execution of these three patriots is regarded as one of the most important chapters of India’s freedom struggle movement. Though Congress made many attempts to save their lives it proved futile. The triple execution proved to be the greatest fuel and inspiration to many young Indians to become revolutionary and join freedom struggle movement. The nation as a whole opposed this heinous act of British as well. The sacrifice of these three revolutionaries played a major role in India’s freedom also.
Rajguru was born at Khed, near Pune in 1924. He got active with revolutionary movement, which quite prevailed in North and east India, particularly among the youth. He was a member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army, just opposite the principles of non-violence by Gandhi. He joined the trio of Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev Thapar to kill British police officer, J. P. Saunders, at Lahore in 1928, in revenge of the miserable death of veteran leader Lala Lajpat Rai in British police custody.
Two days after killing Saunders, the trio was helped by Durgawati Devi to escape from Lahore to Kolkata. After the murder of Saunders, Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev Thapar reached her home and she also helped Bhagat Singh to escape from police, by accompanying him on the train journey. She posed herself as the wife of Bhagat Singh, while Singh shaved off his beard and cut his hair short to change his identity. Rajguru carried their luggage as their servant and travelled in the third-class compartment. Thus they escaped from police.
Following Central Assembly Hall bombings in New Delhi in 1929, the three revolutionaries were arrested and sentenced to death. Despite nationwide protest and attempts made by Congress, they could not be saved. They were informed just 11 hours before the execution. After execution, they were secretly cremated inside prison’s promises to avoid wide protests. Rajguru was only 22 then.
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Updated: July 21, 2014
