Why I Am An Atheist and other essays

by Bhagat Singh

Bhagat Singh was a prominent young revolutionary hero of the Indian Independence movement, who was martyred at the age of 23. He wrote a series of essays that reflects his revolutionary fervor and ranges from 1925 to 1931. One of his most famous essays, “Why I am an Atheist” was written while he was imprisoned in the Lahore Central Jail. Bhagat Singh’s honesty and intense patriotism are entailed in the essays and weave a prismatic story that aimed to ignite a spark of hope, courage, and revolution among the readers.

96 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2020

About the author

Bhagat Singh was an Indian socialist considered to be one of the most influential revolutionaries of the Indian independence movement. He is often referred to as "Shaheed Bhagat Singh", the word "Shaheed" meaning "martyr" in a number of South Asian and Middle Eastern languages. Born into a Sikh family which had earlier been involved in revolutionary activities against the British Raj, as a teenager Singh studied European revolutionary movements and was attracted to anarchist and Marxist ideologies. He became involved in numerous revolutionary organisations, and quickly rose through the ranks of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) to become one of its main leaders, eventually changing its name to the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in 1928.

Reviews

[Smit Nikam · Rating 5 out of 5]

".... Reasoning is the guiding principle of life. But belief, I should say blind belief is disastrous. It deprives a man of his understanding power and makes him reactionary.” ~ Bhagat Singh

This is a collection of 21 essays and letters written by Indian revolutionary and freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. In one of his most famous essays - 'Why I am an Atheist', Bhagat Singh explains why his atheism is not out of vanity but is based on logical reasoning. Other works include 'Letter to Father' in which he tells his own father that he had betrayed all that he stood for when he filed a petition to defend Bhagat Singh. In his response to Sukhdev's letter regarding suicide, he tries to dissuade his fellow revolutionary friend from committing suicide, again with reasoning. Some other letters and essays give us insights into many little-known faces and incidences of the Indian freedom movement.

While one may not agree with some of his thoughts, we must admit that Bhagat Singh was wise beyond his years. The fact that we lost him too early (at 23) and many of his writings were not found is unfortunate.

[Khushi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a collection of letters, statements, speeches and other types of written communications like the red pamphlet through which we can understand the true ideas of Sardar Bhagat Singh, the revolutionary. Its really inspiring and reveals the innocence of the tenacious young man. The publisher isn't that good though. There were a lot of printing mistakes in it the book.

[Vinodh Dharani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharp, to-the-point, biting words from a young revolutionary. A rare breed who not only wanted independence from the yokes of colonial Britain, but also from the capitalist forces that lurked - who seemed like someone who genuinely believed that labor is the fuel that makes the world go around.

[Keio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love elevates the character of a man

[Rav · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible essay reflective of not only Colonial India but the present in which blind faith in one leads to a dangerous path fueled by heightened emotion. Bhagat Singh's main points remain truer than ever to this day and many arguments can be directly applied to the present. While I am not an atheist myself, his compelling arguments and passion behind his writing serve as a an excellent read and a chilling reflection of both 1930s India and the present day in which his end goal for equality among all humans has not been reached.

5/5

[Ritika Jakhotiya · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title of the book is itself misleading. Other than the essay, rest are almost all letters. I mostly liked only the main essay, rest I just read to complete the book (occasionally liking some sentences here and there from the letters).

[Nikita]

aise dastoor ko subah-e-be-noor ko
mai nahi maanta mai nahi jaanta

[Amrendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of essays, lectures, court appeals and letters that Bhagat Singh wrote mostly during his incarceration at the Lahore Central Jail in late 1920s.

These works contain his views on atheism, his pride at the Babbar Akali's martyrdom in Punjab, his correspondence with Sukhdev, his motives for the Assembly Bomb Case, his vision of a revolution and a post-revolution society, the way and process of revolution, the need for arousing fervour amongst the peasants and the workers, reasons for hunger strike and for not attending the court, etc.

This also contains a letter to his father where Bhagat Singh accuses him of backstabbing him by filing a defence petition without consulting him. He pleads to make his letter public so that his comrades and the public know that he did not plead for mercy with the British.

In his last letter to the British Government, Bhagat Singh says that he is proud of his fellow revolutionaries like Azad and he has proved it that their trial was only a farce. He says that revolution neither began with us, nor will it end with us but the British Government stands exposed in its real motives. He was of the view that - ' We shall use our lives to the fullest. Since we are prisoners of war for waging war against H.M. King George of England we claim to be treated as such, i.e. we claim to be shot dead instead to be hanged.'

Such was the revolutionary zeal and fervour of Bhagat Singh and his comrades. This book gives a fair first hand account of his thoughts and ideals, his vision of a socialistic state and his idea of revolution. In his own words - 'Revolution is not the cult of bomb and pistol. The sword of revolution is sharpened on the grinding stone of ideas'.

[Mit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although that is not the aim of the book a little context before each letter or even a brief history would be great. I could still manage to understand as I am partly aware of Bhagat Singh’s history. For someone who does not know anything about him or his movement, this book would not make much sense.