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Prime VIP
`Bhagat wore white turban'
The Central and Punjab governments have used a “distorted painting“ to portray Shaheed Bhagat Singh in advertisements issued on his 79th martryrdom anniversary, according to historians and his family members.
They have objected to the martyr's photo used in advertisements, which appeared in all major newspapers on Tuesday.
“Both the governments have shown utter insensitivity in the matter. The Centre's advertisement shows Bhagat Singh in a red turban, while the Punjab government carried a photo showing him in a yellow one,“ said Professor Chaman Lal of Jawaharlal Nehru University, the editor of documents writ- ten by the martyr, and released by the Centre in 2007.
“It is a contemptuous treatment of the martyr's face. In spite of using real pictures that are available, a distorted painting has been used,“ professor Lal said.
“Even if someone wants to use a turbaned photo of Bhagat Singh, that is also available to the whole world through the internet. This photograph shows him in a white turban and a white kurta taken at National College, Lahore,“ he said. Professor Jagmohan, the martyr's nephew, said: “As a revolutionary, Bhagat Singh was known to sport a European hat. We are willing to provide his photos, but nobody con- sults us.“
Well-known historian Bipan Chandra said: “Bhagat Singh did not wear a turban for three years from 1928 till he was hanged on March 23, 1931, and he did not have a beard.“
Bhagat Singh was hanged with his comrade in arms, Rajguru and Sukhdev, following an order pronounced on October 7, 1930, by a three member tribunal appointed by Viceroy Lord Irwin in the Lahore conspiracy case.
This is not for the first time that the political class has bungled on facts related to the fire- brand freedom fighter.
In April 2008, BJP veteran L.K. Advani got the reason for Bhagat Singh's hanging wrong in his book `My Country My Life'. Four months later, on August 15, Bhagat Singh's statue, unveiled in Parliament, got his physical appearance wrong, leading to protests from his family members and historians.
The Central and Punjab governments have used a “distorted painting“ to portray Shaheed Bhagat Singh in advertisements issued on his 79th martryrdom anniversary, according to historians and his family members.
They have objected to the martyr's photo used in advertisements, which appeared in all major newspapers on Tuesday.
“Both the governments have shown utter insensitivity in the matter. The Centre's advertisement shows Bhagat Singh in a red turban, while the Punjab government carried a photo showing him in a yellow one,“ said Professor Chaman Lal of Jawaharlal Nehru University, the editor of documents writ- ten by the martyr, and released by the Centre in 2007.
“It is a contemptuous treatment of the martyr's face. In spite of using real pictures that are available, a distorted painting has been used,“ professor Lal said.
“Even if someone wants to use a turbaned photo of Bhagat Singh, that is also available to the whole world through the internet. This photograph shows him in a white turban and a white kurta taken at National College, Lahore,“ he said. Professor Jagmohan, the martyr's nephew, said: “As a revolutionary, Bhagat Singh was known to sport a European hat. We are willing to provide his photos, but nobody con- sults us.“
Well-known historian Bipan Chandra said: “Bhagat Singh did not wear a turban for three years from 1928 till he was hanged on March 23, 1931, and he did not have a beard.“
Bhagat Singh was hanged with his comrade in arms, Rajguru and Sukhdev, following an order pronounced on October 7, 1930, by a three member tribunal appointed by Viceroy Lord Irwin in the Lahore conspiracy case.
This is not for the first time that the political class has bungled on facts related to the fire- brand freedom fighter.
In April 2008, BJP veteran L.K. Advani got the reason for Bhagat Singh's hanging wrong in his book `My Country My Life'. Four months later, on August 15, Bhagat Singh's statue, unveiled in Parliament, got his physical appearance wrong, leading to protests from his family members and historians.
