Inquilab Zindabad (; , Bangla: ইনকিলাব জিন্দাবাদ) is a Hindustani phrase, which translates to "Long live the revolution". Although originally the slogan was used by

Indian independence movement The Indian independence movement was a series of historic events in South Asia with the ultimate aim of ending British Raj, British colonial rule. It lasted until 1947, when the Indian Independence Act 1947 was passed. The first nationalistic ...

activists in

British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in South Asia. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one form or another ...

, today it is used in

Bangladesh Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

and

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

by civil society activists during protests as well as by politicians from various ideological backgrounds.

History

This slogan was coined by the Islamic scholar, Urdu poet, Indian freedom fighter, prominent leader of Indian National Congress and one of the founders of communist party of India, Maulana Hasrat Mohani in 1921. It was popularized by

Bhagat Singh Bhagat Singh (27 September 1907 – 23 March 1931) was an Indian anti-colonial revolutionary who participated in the mistaken murder of a junior British police officer in December 1928 in what was intended to be retaliation for the deat ...

(1907–1931) during the late 1920s through his speeches and writings. It was also the official slogan of the

Hindustan Socialist Republican Association Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), previously known as the Hindustan Republican Army and Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), was a radical left-wing Indian revolutionary organization, founded by Sachindranath Sanyal. After ...

, and the slogan of Communist Consolidation as well as a slogan of the

All India Azad Muslim Conference The All India Azad Muslim Conference (), commonly called the Azad Muslim Conference (literally, "Independent Muslim Conference"), was an organisation of nationalist Muslims in India. Its purpose was advocacy for composite nationalism and a unite ...

. In April 1929, this slogan was raised by Bhagat Singh and his associate

Batukeshwar Dutt Batukeshwar Dutta (or Dutta; 18 November 1910 – 20 July 1965) was an Indian socialist and independence fighter in the early 1900s. He is best known for having exploded two bombs, along with Bhagat Singh, in the Central Legislative Assembly ...

who had shouted this after bombing the

Central Legislative Assembly The Central Legislative Assembly was the lower house of the Indian Legislature, the legislature of British India. It was created by the Government of India Act 1919, implementing the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms. It was also sometimes calle ...

in Delhi. Later, for the first time in an open court, this slogan was raised in June 1929 as part of their joint statement at the High Court in Delhi. Since then, it became one of the rallying cries of the

, with which the phrase has been most identified. In Indian political novels chronicling the independence movement, a pro-independence sentiment is often characterized by characters shouting this slogan. This slogan also became widely popular during the

July Revolution The French Revolution of 1830, also known as the July Revolution (), Second French Revolution, or ("Three Glorious ays), was a second French Revolution after French Revolution, the first of 1789–99. It led to the overthrow of King Cha ...

in Bangladesh.

References

1921 quotations Bangladeshi political slogans Indian political slogans Pakistani political slogans Memorials to Bhagat Singh Indian independence movement Communist Party of India {{Bangladesh-hist-stub