Every year on February 14, when the world celebrates Valentine's Day, many in India take an issue with the 'Western trend'. While there are campaigns to celebrate the day as 'Matra Pitra Pujan Divas', some want us to mark it as 'black day' based on unfounded rumours.
For the last few years, on every Valentine's Day, a WhatsApp message is circulated that the trio of freedom fighters - Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev - were hanged to death on February 14, 1931. The message comes with an appeal that the day should not be celebrated as Valentine's Day but instead as 'black day' to mark the martyrdom.
This claim is far from the truth as the three were executed on March 23, 1931 and this is a matter of record.
For a few years, the myth has been continuously busted by many. However, on every Valentine's Day, the hoax resurfaces on WhatsApp and spread through various social media platforms.
When those claiming that Bhagat Singh was hanged on February 14 could not provide any evidence in support of their claim, they spun a new theory.
Last year, right-wing outfits claimed that Bhagat Singh and two other freedom fighters were actually awarded the death sentence on this day and they were hanged on March 23.
Activists of Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) and Shiv Sena Punjab said last year that Valentine's Day should be observed as 'black day' as the freedom fighters were awarded the death sentence on this day in 1931.
The activists, while paying tributes to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, claimed that the trio was awarded death sentence in the Lahore conspiracy case on February 14, 1931 though they were hanged on March 23 that year.
Inderjit Karwal, senior state Vice-President Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) and Rajesh Palta, Vice President Shiv Sena Punjab, said February 14 was a "black day, rather than a love day, as our heroes were awarded death sentence on this day".
The claim has no basis as the judgment sentencing Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru to death was delivered on October 7, 1930.
In fact, February 14 has no significance to the trial of the trio.
Bhagat Singh was arrested on April 8, 1929 from the Central Assembly in Delhi where he and Batukeshwar Dutt threw bombs. The trial in Delhi bomb case began on May 7, 1929. On June 12, both were convicted and transported for life.
Bhagat Singh was also an accused in the Lahore conspiracy case, related to the murder of British officer John Saunders.
The trial in this case began on July 10, 1929.
That judgment sentencing Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru to the gallows was delivered on October 7, 1930 and they were sent to their deaths on March 23, 1931.
