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| Mohammad Abdullah who was hanged |
The role of revolutionaries in creating the awakening among masses and their sacrifices for the motherland, can never be forgotten.
The fact is that martyrs were the real heroes--those who hanged and happily went to gallows for the cause of freedom.
Remember, it was an era when Indians were treated like slaves and there were large-scale killings after 1857.
Even in later years, the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre and Qissakhwani Bazar Killings, had infuriated Indians.
After 1857, freedom movement saw participation of hundreds of such patriots who were willing to give their life for the cause of independence.
Mohammad Abdullah had assassinated the judge who was known for giving harsh sentence to freedom fighters, especially, the revolutionaries. History books mention that John Paxton Norman was assassinated by Mohammad Abdullah.
The incident took place in Kolkata (then, Calcutta). The judge John Paxton Norman was known for harsh sentences on freedom fighters and revolutionaries. Historians, for this reason, mention that the revolutionaries despite strong repressive measures, preferred to die but remained committed to the cause of freedom.
Sir Paxton Norman was acting chief justice of Calcutta High Court in 1871. Abdullah was later hanged. His portraits adorn museums and homes, now. Just like later years freedom fighters and revolutionaries who wanted the atrocities to end, and took up initiative--Bhagat Singh and Rajguru killed Saunders, and got hanged, the flame of resistance continued to burn.
Each such incident and martyrdom in the era--every hanging and freedom fighter shot or killed, was a major event and it led to the rise in nationalistic fervour and as a result created awakening among the people.
The list of martyrs and revolutionaries is long from Tatya Tope to Azimullah, Sher Ali, Bhagat Singh, Ashfaqullah, Rajguru, Madanlal Dhingra, Mohammad Abdullah to Chandrashekhar Azad and many others.
READ: Sher Ali, revolutionary freedom fighter who assassinated Viceroy, got hanged