Question

Bhagat Singh always carried a photo of his mother in his pocket. Who is his mentor?
A) Chandrashekhar Azad
B) Kartar Singh Sarabha
C) Lala Lajpat Rai
D) Mahatma Gandhi

Answer 1

Hint: Bhagat Singh (1907–23 March 1931) was an Indian socialist revolutionary who became a folk hero of the Indian independence struggle after two acts of dramatic violence against the British in India and his death at the age of 23.

Complete answer:
Kartar Singh Sarabha was a revolutionary in India. He joined the Ghadar Party when he was 15 years old, rose through the ranks to become a leading luminary, and began fighting for Indian independence. He was one of the movement's most active members.

Bhagat Singh's mother, Mata Vidyawati, recalled Kartar Singh Sarabha, saying, "A photograph of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha was obtained from Bhagat Singh during his incarceration." He kept this photograph in his pocket at all times. 'Dear mother, here is my hero, friend, and companion,' Bhagat Singh would often show me that portrait and remark.

Shaheed Kartar Singh was one of the Ghadar Movement's youngest martyrs in 1914-15. Bhagat Singh used to sing the Punjabi couplet that Kartar Singh used to sing at home. Thus, Kartar Singh Sarabha was his guru as a small boy, and he kept a photo of him in his pocket at all times. Indians regard Singh as a martyr for taking action to avenge the killing of Lala Lajpat Rai.

Therefore, Bhagat Singh’s mentor was “Kartar Singh Sarabha”. So, option (B) is correct.

Note: After his mentor’s death, Bhagat Singh became a renowned folk hero. Singh, a lifelong atheist and socialist, gained followers in India from across the political spectrum, including communists and right-wing Hindu nationalists. Many of Singh's colleagues, as well as many Indian anti-colonial revolutionaries, were involved in daring activities and were either killed or died brutal deaths, but few were lionised to the same extent as Singh in popular art and literature.