Book Review: Why I am an Atheist By Bhagat Singh

“𝑨𝒏𝒚 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒉” – 𝐁𝐡𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡

𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒔𝒕, penned by one of the most beloved icons of the Indian freedom struggle – Bhagat Singh – is a fascinating read of collected writings. It includes his thoughts on untouchability, religious riots and their solutions, and his approach to the revolution.

Jailed as a political prisoner and hanged at the age of 23, Bhagat Singh’s writings and thoughts from the court proceedings and his letters caused a stir among the common Indian populace at that time. He became a revolutionary symbol in the villages of Punjab and the rest of northern India.

He also reiterated many times that a revolution can only be led by the common masses.

“Why I am an atheist” was 𝐁𝐡𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡’𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤. After he was sentenced to be executed, Baba Randhir Singh, a god-fearing freedom fighter, visited him. It pained him that Bhagat Singh was a non-believer. But after hearing Bhagat Singh’s view on the topic, Baba Randhir Singh commented that Bhagat Singh was giddy with fame: he has developed an ego that is coming between God and him.

It was in reply to Baba Randhir Singh’s comment that Bhagat Singh wrote this important and thought-provoking article. He countered the prominent religions (Christianity, Islam and Hinduism) systematically and with sound arguments. He rejected the idea of God as an omnipresent, omnipotent entity. He shared how he came to be a non-believer and his reasons for being a realist.

While waiting for judgement, Sukhdev (another freedom fighter and prisoner) wrote to Bhagat Singh and said that in case he is convicted for life, he will commit suicide. Bhagat Singh reacted sharply to Sukhdev’s letter and said, “Escaping from hardship is cowardice.” Bhagat Singh’s reply opened another window into his views on the value of life.

Bhagat Singh’s writings not only have historical significance but also hold a mirror for the present generation on various issues plaguing Indian society.

Another icon of the Indian freedom struggle, Subhash Chandra Bose said, “Bhagat Singh had become the symbol of the new awakening among the youth.”

Even today, Bhagat Singh’s writings 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 in many.

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