Pakistan Calls Bhagat Singh a Terrorist, Drops Plan to Rename a Place After Him

The decision by Pakistan to cancel plans for renaming Shadman Chowk in Lahore after Bhagat Singh, and the labeling of him as a “terrorist” by a retired military official, has stirred both controversy and debate within Pakistan and beyond.

The cancellation and the comments made about Bhagat Singh—an iconic freedom fighter and revolutionary—have sparked discussions about his legacy, Pakistan’s national identity, and the perspectives surrounding historical figures.

Bhagat Singh: A Revolutionary or “Terrorist”?

Bhagat Singh is widely celebrated in India and parts of the subcontinent as a revolutionary and martyr who dedicated his life to resisting British rule. His execution, alongside fellow revolutionaries Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru in 1931, was a turning point in India’s freedom struggle.

Singh’s advocacy for independence and his dedication to the cause of justice have made him a legendary figure across generations. However, in Pakistan, perspectives on Bhagat Singh have been more complex and, at times, divisive.

The recent controversy arose when Lahore’s Metropolitan Corporation decided to cancel its plan to rename Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh. This decision was reportedly influenced by Commodore (retd.) Tariq Majeed, who was part of the official committee appointed to oversee the renaming process.

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Majeed argued that Singh should not be honored due to his actions, labeling him as a “criminal” who killed a British police officer and claiming he was driven by ideologies incompatible with Pakistan’s culture and religion. According to Majeed, Singh’s actions make him a “terrorist” by today’s standards, suggesting that placing a statue of Singh or renaming a location in his honor would go against Islamic values and Pakistani identity.

The Lahore High Court Petition and Public Response

The decision not to honor Bhagat Singh at Shadman Chowk was met with opposition, particularly from the Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation in Pakistan, which had been actively working towards memorializing Singh. The foundation’s chairman, Imtiaz Rasheed Qureshi, filed a contempt petition at the Lahore High Court in response to the decision.

In his petition, Qureshi questioned the Metropolitan Corporation’s grounds for rejecting the renaming proposal, labeling the accusations against Singh as baseless and deeply offensive. Qureshi argued that Singh was a martyr and revolutionary, not a terrorist, and that his legacy deserves recognition.

Qureshi also criticized the use of Singh’s religious and ideological beliefs as grounds for rejection, stating that Bhagat Singh’s contributions were beyond religion, aimed at achieving independence from colonial rule. He contended that Singh’s ideas and actions aligned with justice and bravery rather than terrorism, and any attempt to suppress or tarnish his legacy should be challenged.

In response, Assistant Advocate General Asghar Leghari presented a written statement to the Lahore High Court supporting the decision to halt the renaming plan. The statement emphasized concerns raised by Majeed and added that the Bhagat Singh Foundation’s efforts were perceived as “hostile” to Islamic values and Pakistani culture.

Majeed’s suggestion to ban the foundation due to its alleged “anti-Islamic” stance further heightened the controversy. The situation illustrates the challenges surrounding historical figures whose actions and legacies transcend national boundaries but remain subject to reinterpretation based on current political and cultural perspectives.

Historical Figures, National Identity, and Pakistan’s Cultural Landscape

The debate around Bhagat Singh’s legacy also raises questions about national identity, historical interpretation, and the criteria for honoring public figures in Pakistan. While Singh is celebrated as a hero in India, Pakistan’s historical narratives and national symbols have primarily focused on figures from the Islamic and Pakistani nationalist context, particularly those connected to the country’s own formation and ideological foundations.

The conflicting viewpoints about Bhagat Singh also reflect broader tensions in how history is remembered and whose stories are given precedence. For some in Pakistan, Bhagat Singh remains a complex figure; he fought against the same colonial rule that eventually led to the creation of both India and Pakistan.

However, his identity as a Sikh revolutionary and his secular, socialist beliefs make his place within Pakistan’s historical narrative ambiguous and, at times, contentious.

The reluctance to honor Singh in Pakistan also highlights the sensitivities around religious and ideological differences. Some officials argue that naming a public space after Singh and erecting a statue would clash with Islamic teachings that discourage idolization and statues.

The allegations of Bhagat Singh being an atheist have added to the complexities of his legacy in Pakistan, where religious identity and nationalism are closely intertwined. For supporters of Singh, however, these arguments ignore his broader contributions as a freedom fighter, independent of religion, and downplay his commitment to a larger cause of justice.

Imtiaz Rasheed Qureshi and supporters of the Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation argue that this perspective is overly restrictive and fails to acknowledge the shared history and struggles of the Indian subcontinent. They believe that figures like Bhagat Singh should be celebrated for their courage and ideals, which transcend religious and national divides.

The controversy raises questions about inclusivity and whether Pakistan’s cultural and historical narratives can embrace figures whose identities and beliefs may not align fully with the current state ideology.