Kanpur was home of the nationalist daily ‘Pratap’ edited by the great patriot Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi. Mr. Vidyaarthi, was a friend of several leaders and revolutionaries. So, it was natural for Azad to visit the office of ‘Pratap’ to exchange views, discuss the latest development and future prospects of the political and the militant parties.
One day, when Azad reached the office of Pratap and entered the editorial wing Mr. Vidyarthi greeted him, “Welcome Panditji.”
Suddenly, Azad saw a young lean Sikh youth with a lose turban sitting behind a desk working with his head bent down on some papers. Azad had to be alert against the C.I.D. informers. He looked at Mr. Vidyarthi questioningly. Mr. Vidyarthi smiled to tell Azad that there was nothing to worry.
Meanwhile, the Sikh youth had raised his head and he was staring at the impressive personality of Azad. Some bell was ringing in the back of his mind. Mr. Vidyarthi had addressed the visitor as ‘Panditji’ which was how the famous revolutionary Azad was called by the friends.
Mr. Vidyarthi announced in an ecstatic voice, “Well, what a great moment! You two know each other very well. Though you are coming face to face for the first time. Panditji, meet Sardar Bhagat Singh. And you are Chandra Shekhar Azad.”
That was enough. Azad and Bhagat Singh ran into each other’s arms and hugged warmly. They had heard about each other so much but never had met before. It was a historic moment because two of the most daring, dedicated and brilliant revolutionary sons of India were coming together to open a new chapter in the history of the freedom struggle of our country. This meeting would lead to events that would continue to dazzle the youth of India for ever.
They at once set down to discus the revolutionary ideology, current events, plans and reorganisation of the organisation.
Meeting with Bhagat Singh had a dramatic effect on Azad. He was no more despondent. Months of depression he was suffering from disappeared. New spirit, hope and aspiration was surging in him again. Azad was again itching for action. He had met his soul mate. In that meeting all the losses were recovered and all the voids filled.
Infact Bhagat Singh had come to Kanpur to avoid marriage his family was forcing on him. He had dedicated his life to the cause of the country’s freedom. There was no place for a wife in his life. He had arrived in Kanpur because it had become the centre of Bengali revolutionaries whom he adored. He had met them and was a part of their revolutionary group and activities. And he had found a job in the editorial department of Pratap whose editor was sympathetic to all kinds of freedom fighters. Bhagat Singh was serving there under a pseudonym of ‘Balwant Singh.’
The union of Azad and Bhagat Singh was the most decisive moment in the revolutionary freedom struggle of India.
The police comes close
Meanwhile, Jagrani Devi again waited for the son. Now she was more worried. She had heard about ‘Kakori Robbery’ and after that her son didn’t come home for a long time. She could guess that her son too had something to do with it. She also learnt the names of the revolutionaries sentenced to death in that case. Those names had a familiar ring about them. The names her son used to mention. Things were becoming more difficult for Azad, she felt. Jagrani Devi had cause for more concern for Chandra Shekhar.
Azad came to meet her on that hot afternoon. It was as summer day. He didn’t stay for long. Like a cat he came in and went away. After his departure his close friend Shukla came and stayed to take a rest to comfort the old lady.
On the other side, Azad had rented a room in another area where he lived with Bhagat Singh and Rajguru. This room had become mini headquarter of revolutionaries. Here reorganisation of the revolutionary party was being worked out. Somehow police had got wind of it and a party was despatched to raid the place. But Azad and his comrades were alert. They sensed the danger. They fired at the police and fled through the back door. They went to the house of Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi who got them away to a safe place.
After failing to nab Azad and party in that room the police decided to raid the house where Jagrani Devi lived. The police had learnt about that house from an arrested revolutionary in Kakori case. At 2 p.m. the police laid a siege to the house. When the police warnings didn’t bring any one out of the house for surrender, the D.I.G. ordered the policemen to break open the door.
When they tried to do that firing began from inside the house. Several policemen were injured. It was Shukla who happened to be resting there and who was a revolutionary himself. The police thought that they had finally cornered Azad, opened fire. Shukla fired back in reply but not for a long time. Very soon he ran out of bullets. He decided to make an escape bid. Through a widow he climbed up on to the roof. Two bullets fired by a police officer from the nearby house hit him in the back. He fell down dead.
With trepidation the policemen entered the house. To their dismay there was no Azad. Only an old woman was there in a corner in a confused state of mind. And a dead body lay on the roof. The police went away with the dead body of Shukla and the injured policemen. All the police action went in vain.
Azad was safe at another place in the same city. His companions had left for Delhi.
The police outwitted again
A few days hence Delhi police got the information that Azad was going towards the railway station from the Mall Road. He was indeed in Delhi. He had left Kanpur as the police had started raiding all the known hideouts there in search of Azad. The police had spread a wide net to nab Azad.
Azad was an expert in disguises. He could change into a new guise within minutes. He learnt about the trap the police had set. In between Mall Road and Delhi Railway Station, he changed into guise quiet different from what the police was looking out for. Azad arrived at the railway station without raising any suspicion. He walked through the policemen and boarded Delhi Mail bound for Kanpur.
Meanwhile, the police had looked into every nook and corner of the city to find out Azad. But he had vanished in thin air. The police even questioned Jagrani Devi about her son. She stated, “My son had come here two years ago. He went away in a hurry. That was the last I saw of him. He didn’t write any letter even. If you find him please let me know. I would like to see my Chandra. Where is he, only God knows!”
The police didn’t bother her any more. Obviously she had precious little to reveal.
