Bipan Chandra

Bhagat Singh revered Lajpat Rai as a leader. But he would not spare even Lajpat Rai, when, during the last years of his life, Lajpat Rai turned to communal politics. He then launched a political-ideological campaign against him. Because Lajpat Rai was a respected leader, he would not publicly use harsh words of criticism against him. And so he printed as a pamphlet Robert Browning__ famous poem, __he Lost Leader,_ in which Browning criticizes Wordsworth for turning against liberty. The poem begins with the line __ust for a handful of silver he left us._ A few more of the poem__ lines were: __e shall march prospering, not thro_ his presence; Songs may inspirit us, not from his lyre,_ and __lot out his name, then, record one lost soul more._ There was not one word of criticism of Lajpat Rai. Only, on the front cover, he printed Lajpat Rai__ photograph!

There was a greater truth _ that of a glorious struggle, hard-fought and hard-won, in which many fell martyrs and countless others made sacrifices, dreaming of the day India would be free. That day had come. The people of India saw that too, and on 15 August _ despite the sorrow in their hearts for the division of their land danced in the streets with abandon and joy.

The deceiver loses when there is correct response from the deceived...