February 27 is the death anniversary of Chandrashekhar Azad. On this day, in the year 1931, he was betrayed by an informer and was besieged by the British police in Alfred Park, Allahabad. He shot himself to remain ?free?.

INDIAN FREEDOM struggle during the year 1920-35 saw emergence of young revolutionaries. It was in this period when Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Ramprasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, etc arrived and created thunder in the British administration. This young brigade sacrificed their family, job, entertainment and all comforts at very tender age and plunged into the freedom movement.

 
They were oozing with confidence and had just one motto: ‘Freedom from the British Rule’. As the Rang De Basanti says, "In this world there are two kinds of people one who calmly go toward death and another who go with lot of noise and irritation but these stands in the third category, which happily, knowingly and willingly walk into the mouth of death."
 

February 27 is the death anniversary of Chandrashekhar Azad. If you read the saga of self sacrifice and courage of Azad, you will remember the words of Thomas Jefferson, "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure."
 
Azad joined the freedom struggle when Gandhiji launched Non Co-operation Movement, in 1920. But with the sudden withdrawl of the movement, in 1922, following Chauri-Chaura incident, like thousands of his countrymen, Azad too was greatly disappointed. Azad switched over to armed revolution and formed ‘Hindustan Socialist Republican Association’ with other revolutionaries to spread the message of complete independence.
 
Chandrashekhar Azad was involved in Kakori train robbery (1926), the attempt to blow up the Viceroy’s train (1926), and the shooting of Saunders at Lahore (1928) to avenge the killing of Lala Lajpat Rai. Azad was a terror for the British police. He was on their hit list and the British police badly wanted to capture him, dead or alive. For his part, Azad had also vowed that he would never be arrested by the British police and that he would die a free man.
 
On this day, in the year 1931, Azad was betrayed by an informer and was besieged by the British police in Alfred Park, Allahabad. Azad fought valiantly till he had ammunition but later killed himself as he vowed to stay ‘Azad’ (free) throughout his life.
 
Chandrashekhar Azad is a legend and motivated many people to join the freedom struggle. Legends are fearless, selfless and passionate about the things they do and Azad certainly belongs to this category. Chandrashekhar Azad was the heart of all revolutionary leaders and his poetic composition, ‘Dushman ki goliyon ka hum samna karenge, Azad hee rahein hain, azad hee rahenge’ is still recited by Indian soldiers.