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readwithshashank's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
It’s a short discourse by Shaheed Bhagat Singh about his atheist philosophy with supporting arguments. I agree with the overall concept that the concept of God helps people handle difficult situations where they need the additional mental support. I don’t however agree that believing in the Almighty is a sign of weakness, as is the interpretation in the book/ article. I fully agree on the need to be self reliant and believe in self, even in tough situations, yet I feel it’s ok to feel comfortable about an external power to guide, help and support. We could also believe in the support of a friend to stand by us in the times of need, only to find the person absent when most needed. I don’t think that makes the person believing in the friend weak; it’s actually the friend who’s weak.
I’m not very religious but I would just share the concept someone gave about Godmen (I’d let others decide on the applicability to God) - there might be something special about the people if they make their followers feel more comfortable, strong and happy. If a normal person can’t achieve that but they can, they deserve some credit for it.
I strongly believe that religion is a very personal choice and it’s not fair for me or anyone else to judge how others should behave. The only condition being that don’t misuse the religious angle to hurt others. As long as ‘live and let live’ is accepted, all types of people with different religious beliefs and atheists can happily co-exist.
I’m not very religious but I would just share the concept someone gave about Godmen (I’d let others decide on the applicability to God) - there might be something special about the people if they make their followers feel more comfortable, strong and happy. If a normal person can’t achieve that but they can, they deserve some credit for it.
I strongly believe that religion is a very personal choice and it’s not fair for me or anyone else to judge how others should behave. The only condition being that don’t misuse the religious angle to hurt others. As long as ‘live and let live’ is accepted, all types of people with different religious beliefs and atheists can happily co-exist.
shuchipt's review against another edition
3.0
How a person can argue such a rational and unapologetically honest discourse while imprisoned and waiting to be hanged at 22 is beyond me. While many of his reasonings are commonplace, to believe in them so boldly when your environment so strongly encourages otherwise is an act of bravery and clarity of another level.
mosalahdosa's review against another edition
5.0
We've always associated Bhagat Singh with adjectives like brave and strong but this essay ( along with the others) make you understand how intelligent and well read he was.
A must read.
A must read.
mr4du1's review
5.0
Bhagat Singh comes across as ruthless in his desire for true revolution based on socialistic and communist ideals. The desire for Indian Independence movement to engage the labourers is repeated again and again.
Perhaps the part that stood out to me in this book is the way he dissects religion for the sham it is. No religion is spared and he declares himself an atheist. His criticism of Hinduism based on Criminal Theory is perhaps the best dissection of the religion I've ever read.
His ultimate sacrifice and his letters to his father and his fellow prisoner friends define revolutionary thinking.
His main issue with Gandhi led movement was his avoidance of class based integration of people in the independence movement. He respects Pt. Nehru but no one else from the Congress.
It is a bad joke that the right wing swears in his name and uses the word communist in a derogatory sense.
I do not think that the revolution he envisioned would have solved everything or even that it would be possible to execute but it certainly has high ideals and vision.
That generation made unimaginable sacrifices of childhood, innocence and youth and we return the favour by making a caricature out of them today.
He should be read widely and now frequently, even if you disagree with the left ideology.
Revolutions Resurrect. And we definitely need one to come out of the right wing hangover.
Perhaps the part that stood out to me in this book is the way he dissects religion for the sham it is. No religion is spared and he declares himself an atheist. His criticism of Hinduism based on Criminal Theory is perhaps the best dissection of the religion I've ever read.
His ultimate sacrifice and his letters to his father and his fellow prisoner friends define revolutionary thinking.
His main issue with Gandhi led movement was his avoidance of class based integration of people in the independence movement. He respects Pt. Nehru but no one else from the Congress.
It is a bad joke that the right wing swears in his name and uses the word communist in a derogatory sense.
I do not think that the revolution he envisioned would have solved everything or even that it would be possible to execute but it certainly has high ideals and vision.
That generation made unimaginable sacrifices of childhood, innocence and youth and we return the favour by making a caricature out of them today.
He should be read widely and now frequently, even if you disagree with the left ideology.
Revolutions Resurrect. And we definitely need one to come out of the right wing hangover.
singh_reads_kanwar2's review
5.0
This book is collection of letter , bhagat singh wrote in life to his friends, colleagues , HSRA (hindu socialist Republican party), family, Sukhdev, B.K.Dutt, to govt., To viceroy, to state, to judges, to commission, to congress commission , to king , to various other dignatories, revolutionaries, for him revolution is not just for the freedom , but equal rights in jail, dignity for political prisoners, right to education in jail, things that are given to European prisoners, special cells for political prisoners, proper diet , no forced labour. Even during his struggle and fight against injustice behaviour to political prisoners , he made up his mind to fight against injustice. He was free even when in jail. He is stubborn and man of his words and stand by his words, friends and loyal to freedom moment and motivation to many , he condemn the suicide death by revolutionary, and defence counsel demand for plee for revolutionary actions can't be justified by any means and demand of death by execution.
rohan_jora04's review against another edition
5.0
Title: Why I Am An Atheist
Author: Bhagat Singh
Genre: Biography
Pages: 126
Why I Am An Atheist And Other Works by Bhagat Singh is not a biography but a compilation of essays and letters written by Bhagat Singh at the threshold of his death in jail. It is well-articulated opinions and ideas of young revolutionary Bhagat Singh, a member of HSRA, who had made supreme sacrifice for the revolution and independence of our country(India). Generally speaking, one cannot define the great Bhagat Singh in words because he is not only the revolutionary but the hero for millions across the world.
We may know about many freedom strugglers across the world still many of us are not intimate with the struggle, sacrifice, and great ideas of Bhagat Singh. This book provides the valued writings might be in a precise way, but they are explicitly defined.
I would recommend this book to everyone and especially to those who are still not grateful for their freedom and independence.
I'd give it a rating of 5/5
"Lovers, lunatics, and poets are made of the same stuff" is one of my favorite quotes from this book.
PATRIOTIC READ
Author: Bhagat Singh
Genre: Biography
Pages: 126
Why I Am An Atheist And Other Works by Bhagat Singh is not a biography but a compilation of essays and letters written by Bhagat Singh at the threshold of his death in jail. It is well-articulated opinions and ideas of young revolutionary Bhagat Singh, a member of HSRA, who had made supreme sacrifice for the revolution and independence of our country(India). Generally speaking, one cannot define the great Bhagat Singh in words because he is not only the revolutionary but the hero for millions across the world.
We may know about many freedom strugglers across the world still many of us are not intimate with the struggle, sacrifice, and great ideas of Bhagat Singh. This book provides the valued writings might be in a precise way, but they are explicitly defined.
I would recommend this book to everyone and especially to those who are still not grateful for their freedom and independence.
I'd give it a rating of 5/5
"Lovers, lunatics, and poets are made of the same stuff" is one of my favorite quotes from this book.
PATRIOTIC READ
winireads's review against another edition
5.0
a clean five
it was very well written, and the emotions he wanted to convey? They got across. definitely, yup.
it was very well written, and the emotions he wanted to convey? They got across. definitely, yup.
sapphicwarlord's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
I recently started questioning my faith and have since doubted the validity of actual scientific facts just because of how ingrained the religious doctrine is in my mind. I didn't expect this to be so thorough, but my God (oops) this was brilliant. The very reason he wrote this book - because of his companions' claims that he was an atheist because of his vanity - is a prejudice faced by non believers even today, because apparently, if you don't want to ignore scientific facts and natural history, you're vainglorious.
To be so outright with your beliefs in a dangerous time as his is an act of valour not many can commit. His explanation is definitive, at least to me. I'm definitely going to read and re read this multiple times. Recommended to both theists and atheists.
To be so outright with your beliefs in a dangerous time as his is an act of valour not many can commit. His explanation is definitive, at least to me. I'm definitely going to read and re read this multiple times. Recommended to both theists and atheists.