Q1. [4]
'To the altar of this revolution we have brought our youth as incense'
Many nationalists thought that the struggle against the British could not be won through non-violence. In the year 1928, the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA) was founded at a meeting in Ferozeshah Kotla ground in Delhi. Amongst its leaders were Bhagat Singh, Jatin Das and Ajoy Ghosh. In a series of dramatic actions in different parts of India, the HSRA targeted some of the symbols of British power. In April 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutta threw a bomb in the Legislative Assembly. In the same year there was an attempt to blow up the train that Lord Irwin was travelling in. Bhagat Singh was 23 when he was tried and executed by the colonial government. During his trial, Bhagat Singh stated that he did not wish to glorify 'the cult of the bomb and pistol' but wanted a revolution in society –
'Revolution is the inalienable right of mankind. Freedom is the imprescriptible birthright of all. The labourer is the real sustainer of society. To the altar of this revolution we have brought our youth as incense, for no sacrifice is too great for so magnificent a cause. We are content. We await the advent of revolution. Inquilab Zindabad!'
Read the given source carefully and answer the questions that follow :
- 8.1 Why is the formation of 'Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA)' considered as a turning point in the freedom struggle of India ? [1]
- 8.2 How did Bhagat Singh's trial speeches transform him from a revolutionary to a philosopher of freedom ? [1]
- 8.3 In what way did Bhagat Singh redefine the meaning of 'revolution' for his generation ? Explain. [2]
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2026 32/1/1 Q8
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 06:52 · grounding stimulus
Model Answer
8.1 The formation of HSRA (1928) is considered a turning point because it marked an organised shift from non-violent methods to armed resistance against British rule, directly targeting symbols of British power across India.
8.2 During his trial, Bhagat Singh clarified that he did not wish to glorify "the cult of the bomb and pistol" but sought a broader social revolution — transforming him from merely an armed rebel into a thinker who articulated freedom as a birthright of all mankind.
8.3 Bhagat Singh redefined revolution not as mere violence but as a complete social transformation. He declared revolution "the inalienable right of mankind" and freedom "the imprescriptible birthright of all." He highlighted the labourer as the real sustainer of society, giving revolution a socialist dimension. He inspired his generation to sacrifice youth willingly — "as incense" — for a just cause, making revolution a moral and philosophical ideal, not just a political act.
Source: The Nationalist Movement in Indo-China / Nationalism in India, HSRA and Revolutionary Nationalism section
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Explanation
- 8.1 is 1 mark — one crisp sentence on the significance of HSRA's founding is enough.
- 8.2 is 1 mark — focus on the contrast between "bomb and pistol" and his broader philosophical vision of revolution as stated in the trial speech.
- 8.3 gets 2 marks — you must cover at least two distinct points: (i) revolution as a right/social transformation, not just violence; (ii) role of the labourer / socialist idea; (iii) sacrifice of youth as a noble cause. Pick any two-three and keep it tight. Always quote or paraphrase the source directly — examiners reward textual reference.
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