The revolutionaries learn that the Viceroy, Lord Irvin was scheduled to leave Delhi to some other place. A plan to make an attempt was made by the revolutionaries. The idea was mooted by Azad. The details were gathered.
Lord Irvin was to pay a visit to Mathura. He was to travel by a special train. All along the Delhi-Mathura railway line policemen were posted at regular intervals. All the trains were stopped at Delhi and Mathura stations.
The Viceroy’s special train steamed off from Delhi. As the train reached near Faridabad an explosion was heard. The bomb explosion was powerful enough to blast away some 100 yards of railway line. Some coaches of the train were damaged. But the saloon of the Viceroy escaped any damage. Azad and his comrades had planted a time bomb to the railway line.
It shocked the Viceroy. The administration was fear struck. The Viceroy stopped moving out for fear for the revolutionary attack. The Englishman were feeling unsafe. As a result security arrangements were tightened. The suspected revolutionary militants were put in jails in large numbers. Many innocent people were also jailed on mere suspicion. The jails became over crowded.
Simon commission kills Lalaji
The repressive policies of British resulted in the leftist revolutionaries reaching in aggressive manner. They drew plans to eliminate British authorities one by one.
Non-cooperation movement launched by Congress was also in full swing. British government had gone back on its promises given to Congress during the World War-I.
When the situation became worse, The British announced that they were sending a commission to review the demands of the people, administrative reforms and to suggest the format for the transfer of political and administrative powers to Indians.
Earlier it was mutually agreed upon that the commission would consist of equal numbers of British and Indian members. But when finally the commission was constituted and sent to India, it had no Indian member on its penal. All the seven members were British. The commission was named ‘Simon Commission’ because it was headed by Sir John Simon.
The Indian leaders realised that they had been cheated once more. The commission being purely an English outfit could prove little good to India. The Congress decided to boycott the commission and gave a call to the countrymen to greet it with black flags and ‘Simon Go Back’ slogans. Simon Commission was a fraud being played on India by British, it declared.
In India, wherever Simon Commission went it met fierce opposition and protesting demonstrations. And one day, the commission reached Lahore by train on 30th October, 1928. Some British bootlickers were trying to organise a reception for the commission. But thousands of youth were marching towards the railway station to demonstrate their anger against the commission. The march was being led by Lala Lajpat Rai. Sardar Bhagat Singh’s ‘Young India forum’ was the spirit behind it. The protestors were holding black flags and ‘Simon Go Back’ placards. Anti-Simon slogans were ranting the air.
As the march progressed more and more people joined the procession. The police tried to stop the march to save Simon Commission from embarrassment. But the procession marched on towards the station.
The D.C.P. Scott ordered his deputy S.S.P. Sanders to lathi charge the demonstrators to disperse them. The policemen began canning the mob mercilessly. The D.S.P. Sanders himself charged with his baton and targetted Lala Lajpat Rai who received severe blows on his chest and shoulders. The demonstration was called off as he fell down gravely injured.
The medical examination revealed internal injuries. What really hurt was the blow to his self respect. The feeling of humiliation aggravated his condition and he breathed his last 18 days later.
It shocked the country and the nation was plunged into grief. It ignited the anger of the militant youth. ‘Hindustan Socialist Republican Army’ held a meeting and decided to settle scores with the British. Lalaji’s death was to be avenged. Azad and Bhagat Singh were particularly infuriated. They sat down to work out a revenge plan.
It was mandatory for every plan to be okayed by the Central Committee of the party. But all the members of the party were not present in Lahore. So, a meeting was organised in Mazang colony. The members present sanctioned the plan with verbal consent sent by the members not present.
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