|
Letter
to
Father
[When
the
case
was
in
its
final
stage,
Sardar
Kishan
Singh
(Bhagat
Singh's
father)
made
a
written
request
to
the
Tribunal,
saying
that
there
were
many
facts
to
prove
that
his
son
was
innocent
and
that
he
had
nothing
to do
with
Sounder's
murder.
He
also
requested
that
his
son
be
given
an
opportunity
to
prove
his
innocence.
When
Bhagat
Singh
came
to
know
of it
he
was
very
angry,
and
wrote
this
strong
letter
to
his
father,
protesting
against
his
move.]
Oct.
4,
1930
MY
DEAR
FATHER,
I
was
astounded
to
learn
that
you
had
submitted
a
petition
to
the
members
of
the
Special
Tribunal
in
connection
with
my
defence.
This
intelligence
proved
to be
too
severe
a
blow
to be
borne
with
equanimity.
It
has
upset
the
whole
equilibrium
of my
mind.
I
have
not
been
able
to
understand
how
you
could
think
it
proper
to
submit
such
a
petition
at
this
stage
and
in
these
circumstances.
Inspite
of
all
the
sentiments
and
feelings
of a
father,
I
don't
think
you
were
at
all
entitled
to
make
such
a
move
on my
behalf
without
even
consulting
me.
You
know
that
in
the
political
field
my
views
have
always
differed
with
those
of
yours.
I
have
always
been
acting
independently
without
having
cared
for
your
approval
or
disapproval.
I
hope
you
can
recall
to
yourself
that
since
the
very
beginning
you
have
been
trying
to
convince
me to
fight
my
case
very
seriously
and
to
defend
myself
properly.
But
you
also
know
that
I was
always
opposed
to
it. I
never
had
any
desire
to
defend
myself
and
never
did I
seriously
think
about
it.
Whether
it
was a
mere
vague
ideology
or
that
I had
certain
arguments
to
justify
my
position,
is a
different
question
and
that
cannot
be
discussed
here.
You
know
that
we
have
been
pursuing
a
definite
policy
in
this
trial.
Every
action
of
mine
ought
to
have
been
consistent
with
that
policy,
my
principle
and
my
programme.
At
present
the
circumstances
are
altogether
different,
but
had
the
situation
been
otherwise,
even
then
I
would
have
been
the
last
man
to
offer
defence.
I had
only
one
idea
before
me
throughout
the
trial,
i.e.
to
show
complete
indifference
towards
the
trial
inspite
of
serious
nature
of
the
charges
against
us. I
have
always
been
of
opinion
that
all
the
political
workers
should
be
indifferent
and
should
never
bother
about
the
legal
fight
in
the
law
courts
and
should
boldly
bear
the
heaviest
possible
sentences
inflicted
upon
them.
They
may
defend
themselves
but
always
from
purely
political
considerations
and
never
from
a
personal
point
of
view.
Our
policy
in
this
trial
has
always
been
consistent
with
this
principle;
whether
we
were
successful
in
that
or
not
is
not
for
me to
judge.
We
have
always
been
doing
our
duty
quite disinterestedly.
In
the
statement
accompanying
the
text
of
Lahore
Conspiracy
Case
Ordinance
the
Viceroy
had
stated
that
the
accused
in
this
case
were
trying
to
bring
both
law
and
justice
into
contempt.
The
situation
afforded
us an
opportunity
to
show
to
the
public
whether
we
ere
trying
to
bring
law
into
contempt
or
whether
others
were
doing
so.
People
might
disagree
with
us on
this
point.
You
might
be
one
of
them.
But
that
never
meant
that
such
moves
should
be
made
on my
behalf
without
my
consent
or
even
my
knowledge.
My
life
is
not
so
precious,
at
least
to
me,
as
you
may
probably
think
it to
be.
It is
not
at
all
worth
buying
at
the
cost
of my
principles.
There
are
other
comrades
of
mine
whose
case
is as
serious
as
that
of
mine.
We
had adopted a
common
policy
and
we
shall
stand
to
the
last,
no
matter
how
dearly
we
have
to
pay
individually
for
it.
Father,
I am
quite
perplexed.
I
fear
I
might
overlook
the
ordinary
principle
of
etiquette
and
my
language
may
become
a
little
but
harsh
while
criticising
or
rather
censoring
this
move
on
your
part.
Let
me be
candid.
I
feel
as
though
I
have
been
stabbed
at
the
back.
Had
any
other
person
done
it, I
would
have
considered
it to
be
nothing
short
o
treachery.
But
in
your
case,
let
me
say
that
it
has
been
a
weakness
- a
weakness
of
the
worst
type.
This
was
the
time
where
everybody's
mettle
was
being
tested.
Let
me
say,
father,
you
have
failed.
I
know
you
are
as
sincere
a
patriot
as
one
can
be. I
know
you
are
as
sincere
a
patriot
as
one
can
be. I
know
you
have
devoted
your
life
to
the
cause
of
Indian
independence,
but
why,
at
this
moment,
have
you
displayed
such
a
weakness?
I
cannot
understand.
In
the
end,
I
would
like
to
inform
you
and
my
other
friends
and
all
the
people
interested
in my
case,
that
I
have
not
approved
of
your
move.
I am
still
not
at
all
in
favour
of
offering
any
defence.
Even
if
the
court
had
accepted
that
petition
submitted
by
some
of my
co-accused
regarding
defence,
etc.,
I
would
have
not
defended
myself.
My
applications
submitted
to
the
Tribunal
regarding
my
interview
during
the
hunger
strike,
were
misinterpreted
and
it
was
published
in
the
press
that
I was
going
to
offer
defence,
though
in
reality
I was
never
willing
to
offer
any
defence.
I
still
hold
the
same
opinion
as
before.
My
friends
in
the
Borstal
Jail
will
be
taking
it as
a
treachery
and
betrayal
on my
part.
I
shall
not
even
get
an
opportunity
to
clear
my
position
before
them.
I
want
that
public
should
know
all
the
details
about
this
complication,
and,
therefore,
I
request
you
to
publish
this
letter.
Your
loving
son
Bhagat
Singh.
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