Those revolutionaries who have, by chance, escaped the gallows should live and show to the world that they cannot only embrace gallows for the ideal but also bear the worst type of tortures in the dark, dingy prison cells.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the resilience of revolutionaries who endure severe trials and continue to fight for their ideals even from imprisonment.
Bhagat Singh expresses that those revolutionaries who have narrowly escaped execution should continue to manifest their strength and commitment to their ideals. They demonstrate that their resolve is not broken by the hardships they endure, including imprisonment and suffering. This resilience serves as an inspiration to others and showcases the true spirit of revolutionary courage.
In practice
During a speech on the importance of courage in activism, one might quote Bhagat Singh to inspire others to persist despite challenges.
One should not interpret the word “Revolution” in its literal sense. Various meanings and significances are attributed to this word, according to the interests of those who use or misuse it. For the established agencies of exploitation it conjures up a feeling of blood stained horror. To the revolutionaries it is a sacred phrase.
Non-violence is backed by the theory of soul-force in which suffering is courted in the hope of ultimately winning over the opponent. But what happens when such an attempt fail to achieve the object? It is here that soul-force has to be combined with physical force so as not to remain at the mercy of tyrannical and ruthless enemy.
Love always elevates the character of man. It never lowers him, provided love be love
A rebellion is not a revolution. It may ultimately lead to that end.
They may kill me, but they cannot kill my ideas. They can crush my body, but they will not be able to crush my spirit.
Our entire family is replete with sentiments of patriotism. Uncle Swarna Singh left for his heavenly abode in jail in 1910, two or three years after my birth. Uncle Ajit Singh is leading the life of an exile in foreign countries.
I think any woman who has felt violated or felt mistreated in any way, they have every right to speak up.
Transcend your abuse and transform it into a source of courage, creativity and compassion.
Civil disobedience has an honourable history, and when the urgency and moral clarity cross a certain threshold, then I think that civil disobedience is quite understandable, and it has a role to play.
People of color have to do this work as a mater of everyday survival. And so long as they have to, who am I to act as if I have a choice in the matter? Especially when my future and that of my children in large part depends on the eradication of racism? There is no choice.
O God of battles! steel my soldiers’ hearts. Possess them not with fear.
I just take it day by day, and I hope one day I can say I feel good - not just be cancer free, but just feel good. I'm just living every day to the fullest: I enjoy myself, I have fun, and I pray every day that it doesn't come back.
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