‘Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another’s skin, another’s voice, another’s soul.’
– Joyce Carol Oates
A Glimpse of My Life is a remarkable account of the life of Ram Prasad Bismil (1897-1927) inside the jail. Originally written in Hindi, it indeed stands apart as a life dedicated to the nation. Ram Prasad Bismil was a well-read man with excellent command over Urdu, Hindi and English; a poet who wrote:
kya hi lazzat hai ki rag-rag se aati hai sada/ Dam na le talwar jab tak jaan Bismil mein rahe
Every vein in the body joyously declares/ Bismil’s sword shall not rest as long as he breathes (p. 3).
The English translation by Awadhesh Tripathi is a significant addition to translation studies. Awadhesh Tripathi, translator and literary critic from Bhopal, brings us close to the world view of the freedom fighter known and admired as Bismil. A young man on death row wrote with emotional candour, Nij Jiwan ki Ek Chhata. Two days before he was hanged, he completed his autobiography. ‘I write these lines on 16 December 1927. The day when this body will be hanged and this life will end has been decided: 19 December 1927 at six thirty in the morning. It is the Almighty God’s leela; after all, he decides everything…’ (p. 186). These aren’t ordinary words—these are the outpourings of a great freedom fighter who chose to die for his country, a mystic who understood the inner meaning of life, the purpose of his existence. His love for God and for the country of his birth, the courage and conviction that led him on is visible in this heartfelt memoir.
As a founder of the Hindustan Republican Association, a revolutionary organization dedicated to the idea of setting India free from British rule, Bismil will always be remembered for his courage and commitment.
The book encapsulates the vision of a man whose faith in the spirit of oneness guided all his actions. It was his motherland that mattered to him. He was convinced that religious animosity and distrust must go, and caste barriers should be annihilated. Part one, ‘Self Portrait’, is a vivid account of Bismil’s childhood, life at home with his parents, adolescent years and the influence of his Gurudev Swami Somdevji. He also writes about his relationship with his mother. She was a constant source of encouragement to him. Bismil wrote with conviction that ‘Knowledge, strength and intelligence are all gifts of Brahmacharya.’ As a young man he was conscious of the influence of actions, habits and thoughts, and he put all his efforts into moulding his character with strong will power, moral responsibility and determination. Is it not surprising that a man who was not yet thirty and aware of the death sentence had little to say about anxieties and fears related to himself, but was completely drawn towards the plight of the poor in the rural Indian villages? A life beset by challenges, the poet in him could not be silenced.
Marte ‘Bismil’, ‘Roshan’, ‘Lahir’, ‘Ashfaq’ atyachaar se/ Honge paida sainkadon veer inke rudhir ki dhaar se.
‘Bismil’, ‘Roshan’, ‘Lahiri’, ‘Ashfaq’ die at the hands of tyranny./ Hundreds of brave souls shall be born from their blood (p. 200).
The English translation of Bismil’s autobiography is of immense value because it brings us close to the lives of extraordinary men who lived in the most difficult times. It is also a sincere reminder that freedom of India was not an easy dream. It called for sacrifice of personal gains and demanded selfless service to the nation. And men like Bismil paid a heavy price for India’s Independence. The autobiography fills one with a deep sense of gratitude and respect. In some of the most heart-rending moments, Bismil reveals the betrayal of friends and support of comrades. This awe-inspiring autobiography is not an ordinary effusion of remorse or grief of a young zealot waiting for death, but reflections of a young mind, a visionary whose unconditional love for his country is brimming with ideas and ideals for the future. Here was a man full of concern undeterred by the loss of his own life if others could live. He laid emphasis on ‘organizing rural society, improving the farmers’ lot, and trade unions for the labouring class’. He saw education and equal social rights as the only way to eradicate untouchability in India. The Kakori train robbery case is one of the most daring episodes in the history of the nationalist movement in India. Bismil gives us first-hand account of the revolutionaries who betrayed the cause and the few who gave up their lives for the country.
Bismil’s friendship with Ashfaqullah Khan (who too was put to death on 19 December 1927) is one of the most poignant relationships described in the book. The revolutionary Bismil is a man with fine intellect. He is candid about his mistakes and in his final days, makes a call for communal harmony and urges young people not to resort to weapons. He understood the politics of the day. His passion for poetry adds a distinct fervour to his revolutionary spirit. The poet in him surrenders himself to the will of the Almighty.
Awadhesh Tripathi has translated the poet’s couplets with compassionate ease.
Sataye tujh ko jo koi bewafa ‘Bismil’/ Toh muh se kuchh na kehna, aah kar lena/ Hum shaheedane wafa ka deen-o-iman aur hai/ Sijde karte hain hamesha paanv par jallad ke
The treacherous may torment you, Bismil./ Speak no words of complaint, give in with a sigh./ We are martyrs to our promise, our commitment goes beyond,/ Our heads bow down forever, at the feet of our executioners.
These are the words of a revolutionary steeped in deep resilience and mature surrender. This rare autobiography will be of great relevance to the students of Indian history, literature and life. It must be read by young people because the life of Bismil is sure to be an inspiration to those who find themselves caught in the mundane and wish to break the trappings of a stale socio-economic order. In the times that we live, it encourages us to dream and act for a better society, a better India. It compels us to strive for a world where humanity prevails, and human values bridge socio-cultural and religious differences. Howsoever brief, brave lives matter and Bismil set an example of fearless fortitude. His was a voice that could not be suppressed. Written in secret on loose sheets of paper, it was ‘smuggled out of the prison in three parts with the help of a sympathetic warder’ (p. xiii). The editor of Pratap, Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi published his story in 1928 as Kakori Ke Shaheed (The Martyrs of Kakori). The autobiography, once banned by the British government, is today a powerful reminder of the contribution made by young revolutionaries so that future generations may live in a free society. Many thanks to the Ashoka Centre of Translation for initiating this series from a ‘perspective to foster India’s multilingual ethos’.
Ranu Uniyal, former Professor of English at the University of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh is a bilingual poet and a disability activist based in Lucknow.