Camorabug at 06:08, 17 March 2026

2026-03-17T06:08:09Z

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{{Short description|Hindustani phrase meaning "Long live the revolution"}}
{{for|the 1971 Indian film|Inqulab Zindabbad}}
{{other uses|Inquilaab (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

'''Inquilab Zindabad''' ({{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|اِنقلاب زِنده باد}}}}; {{langx|hi|इंक़िलाब ज़िंदाबाद}}; {{Langx|bn|ইনকিলাব জিন্দাবাদ}}) is a [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]] phrase, which translates to "Long live the revolution".<ref name="Solomon2016">{{cite book |last1=Solomon |first1=John |title=A Subaltern History of the Indian Diaspora in Singapore: The Gradual Disappearance of Untouchability 1872-1965 |date=31 March 2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-35380-5 |language=en |quote=... India newspaper in Singapore reported that at a Sunday parade, “the air was rent with lusty shouts of Hindustani phrases such as 'Inquilab Zindabad', 'Azad Hind Zindabad' and 'Netaji ki Jai'”.}}</ref><ref name="Ghosh2001">{{cite book|author=[[Amitav Ghosh]]|title=The Glass Palace|quote=This was followed by other shouts and slogans, all in Hindustani: ''"Inquilab zindabad"'' and ''Halla bol, halla bol!"''|publisher=[[Random House Digital, Inc.]]|year=2001}}</ref><ref name="Mehmi2021">{{cite web |last1=Mehmi |first1=Vineet |title=Inquilab zindabad!: India’s farmers protest deserves our attention |url=https://sffoghorn.com/inquilab-zindabad-indias-farmers-protest-deserves-our-attention/ |publisher=[[San Francisco Foghorn]] |access-date=8 January 2025 |date=1 April 2021 |quote=In Hindi, the phrase “Inquilab zindabad!” means “Long live the revolution!” This was the rallying cry shouted by Indian revolutionary Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh in 1929 in front of the high courts of Delhi during the Indian Independence Movement.}}</ref> Although originally the slogan was used by [[Indian independence movement]] activists in the [[British Raj|British Indian Empire]],<ref name="Sharma2023">{{cite book |last1=Sharma |first1=Shikha |title=Motivating Thoughts of Bhagat Singh |date=24 August 2023 |publisher=Prabhat Prakashan |isbn=978-93-5562-065-1 |language=en |quote=A beacon of inspiration and a founding member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, Bhagat Singh played a pivotal role in shaping the course of the Indian Independence Movement. His indomitable spirit and the resounding catchphrase "Inquilab zindabad” (Long live the revolution) became emblematic of the struggle for a free India.}}</ref> today it is used in [[Bangladesh]], [[India]] and [[Pakistan]] by civil society activists during protests as well as by politicians from various ideological backgrounds.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://thewire.in/politics/arvind-kejriwal-delhi-assembly-elections-win | title=Arvind Kejriwal Calls His Win in Delhi Election the 'Birth of a New Politics' }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRRtaqOQPjY | title=Pakistan में Inquilab Zindabad और Azaadi के Slogan क्यों गूंज रहे हैं? (BBC Hindi) | website=[[YouTube]] | date=29 November 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-idealism-behind-inquilab-zindabad-indian-freedom-struggle-umar-khalid-delhi-high-court-7941740/ | title=Inquilab Zindabad slogan will stay relevant till people continue their struggle against diverse inequalities | date=29 May 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-high-court-umar-khalid-speech-pm-modi-krantikari-northeast-riots-7928252/ | title=At Umar Khalid's bail hearing, Delhi HC deliberates on meaning of 'inquilab': 'Revolution not necessarily bloodless' | date=20 May 2022 }}</ref>

== 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, [[Hasrat Mohani|Maulana Hasrat Mohani]] in 1921.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4g1_BAAAQBAJ&dq=zindabad+mohani&pg=PA2|title=Indian Philately Digest|last=Pandya|first=Prashant H.|date=2014-03-01|publisher=Indian Philatelists' Forum|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://fp.brecorder.com/2005/06/20050618282881|title=LITERACY NOTES: Hasrat Mohani – a unique poet & politician|date=June 18, 2005|work=Business Recorder|access-date=April 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406065746/https://fp.brecorder.com/2005/06/20050618282881/|archive-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/india/india-remembers-maulana-hasrat-mohani-who-gave-the-revolutionary-slogan-inquilab-zindabad_1963758.html|title=India remembers Maulana Hasrat Mohani who gave the revolutionary slogan 'Inquilab Zindabad'|date=2017-01-02|work=Zee News|access-date=2018-04-06|language=en}}</ref>
It was popularized by [[Bhagat Singh]] (1907–1931) during the late 1920s through his speeches and writings.<ref name="book_bhagat_singh_speeches_writings_2007"/> It was also the official slogan of the
[[Hindustan Socialist Republican Association]],<ref name="book_bhagat_singh_speeches_writings_2007"/><ref name="livehistory_2017_inquilab_article">{{Cite news|url=https://www.livehistoryindia.com/snapshort-histories/2017/08/06/inquilab-zindabad-a-war-cry-for-change|title=Inquilab Zindabad: A War Cry for Change|access-date=2018-04-06|archive-date=10 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110234242/https://www.livehistoryindia.com/snapshort-histories/2017/08/06/inquilab-zindabad-a-war-cry-for-change|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the slogan of [[Communist Consolidation]] as well as a slogan of the [[All India Azad Muslim Conference]].<ref name="Ali2017">{{cite web |last1=Ali |first1=Afsar |title=Partition of India and Patriotism of Indian Muslims |url=http://www.milligazette.com/news/15756-partition-of-india-and-patriotism-of-indian-muslims |publisher=[[The Milli Gazette]] |language=en |date=17 July 2017}}</ref>
In April 1929, this slogan was raised by Bhagat Singh and his associate [[Batukeshwar Dutt]] who had shouted this after bombing the [[Central Legislative Assembly]] in Delhi.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Habib|first=S. Irfan|date=2007|title=Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his Revolutionary Inheritance|journal=Indian Historical Review|volume=34|issue=2|pages=79–94|doi=10.1177/037698360703400205|s2cid=143159505}}</ref>
Later, for the first time in an open court, this slogan was raised in June 1929 as part of their [[s:Joint Statement of Bhagat Singh and B. K. Dutt in the Assembly Bomb Case|joint statement]] at the High Court in Delhi.<ref name="book_bhagat_singh_speeches_writings_2007">{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/BhagatSinghSelectSpeechesAndWritingsD.N.Gupta/Bhagat%20Singh%20Select%20Speeches%20And%20Writing's%20-%20D.N.%20Gupta|title=Bhagat Singh: Select Speeches And Writings, Edited by D. N. Gupta|website=archive.org|access-date=2018-04-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marxists.org/archive/bhagat-singh/1929/06/06.htm|title=Full Text of Statement of S. Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt in the Assembly Bomb Case|last=Singh|first=Bhagat|website=www.marxists.org|access-date=2018-04-06}}</ref>
Since then, it became one of the rallying cries of the [[Indian independence movement]], with which the phrase has been most identified.<ref name="Sharma2023"/><ref name="Mehmi2021"/> In Indian political novels chronicling the independence movement, a pro-independence sentiment is often characterized by characters shouting this slogan.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j1Abhv0NUaUC&dq=inquilab+zindabad&pg=PA42 |title=Indian Political Novel in English |first=O.P. |last=Bhatnagar |publisher=Saruk and Sons |location=Delhi |year=2007 |isbn=9788176257992 |page=42}}</ref>

== Modern uses ==
[[File:Tongi graffiti 5.jpg|thumb|[[Graffiti]] of Inquilab Zindabad slogan from [[Bangladesh]], drawn by the students after the [[July Uprising]] in 2024]]

During the [[July Uprising]] in Bangladesh in 2024, which led to the [[Resignation of Sheikh Hasina|fall of the then ruling authoritarian government]], the slogan was widely used.<ref>{{Cite news |author-link=HM Nazmul Alam |date=16 December 2024 |title=Inquilab Zindabad: A timeless call for revolution |url=https://www.newagebd.net/post/opinion/252905/inquilab-zindabad-a-timeless-call-for-revolution |access-date=24 February 2026 |work=[[New Age (Bangladesh)|New Age]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=ইমাম |first=সাদিয়া মাহ্‌জাবীন |date=12 August 2024 |title=ছাত্র-জনতার আন্দোলনে বারুদ হয়ে ওঠা স্লোগানগুলো |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/145xh9480o |access-date=23 February 2026 |website=[[Prothom Alo]] |language=bn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rafid |first=Mahir Tajwar |date=4 January 2025 |title=জেনজি’র বজ্রকণ্ঠের স্লোগান জুগিয়েছিল লড়াইয়ের প্রেরণা |url=https://dailyinqilab.com/national/article/718398 |access-date=23 February 2026 |website=[[Daily Inqilab]] |language=bn}}</ref> As a result, it regained significant popularity in Bangladesh and continued to be used extensively in public gatherings in the [[Aftermath of the July uprising|following years]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=ইউসুফ |first=মোস্তফা |date=2 March 2025 |title=‘ইনকিলাব জিন্দাবাদ’ কি নতুন দলের স্লোগান, কীভাবে এল |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/3defcr44n3 |access-date=23 February 2026 |website=[[Prothom Alo]] |language=bn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2 March 2025 |title=‘ইনকিলাব জিন্দাবাদ’ স্লোগান এলো কীভাবে? |url=https://www.ittefaq.com.bd/721662/%E2%80%98%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AC-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E2%80%99-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8B-%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%87%C2%A0 |access-date=23 February 2026 |website=[[Daily Ittefaq]] |language=bn}}</ref>

== Controversy ==
On 21 February 2026, marking [[Language Movement Day]] and [[International Mother Language Day]], [[Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources|Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources]] [[Iqbal Hassan Mahmood]] criticized the slogan "Inquilab Zindabad", claiming it was not part of the Bangla language.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 February 2026 |title=আজকের ছেলেমেয়েরা ইনকিলাব বলে, ইনকিলাব তো অন্যদের ভাষা: বিদ্যুৎমন্ত্রী |url=https://www.ajkerpatrika.com/national/ajpizpjiidz03 |access-date=27 February 2026 |website=[[Ajker Patrika]] |language=bn}}</ref> He said,
{{blockquote|If the people of Bangladesh truly embraced [[Bengali language|Bangla]] as their mother tongue, then slogans such as "Inquilab Zindabad" could not continue. "Inquilab Zindabad" has no connection with the Bangla language, and it is the language of those who once attempted to deprive Bengalis of their right to speak their mother tongue and failure to properly understand and value Bangla had hindered the development of nationalism. Referring to younger generations, if people had reflected more deeply on the language, [[Generation Z|Gen Z]] would not be chanting "Inquilab", by adding that the hearing of the slogan "Inquilab Zindabad" made "heart bleed". The words such as "Inquilab Zindabad", "[[Inquilab Moncho]]" and "Azadi" were increasingly being heard in public discourse, and it is asserted that they have no connection with Bangla.
|author=[[Iqbal Hassan Mahmood]]<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=21 February 2026 |title=বাংলাকে যদি ধারণ করতে হয়, তাহলে ইনকিলাব জিন্দাবাদ চলবে না: বিদ্যুৎমন্ত্রী |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/district/rnj7lluf9k |access-date=23 February 2026 |website=Prothom Alo |language=bn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 February 2026 |title=It makes my heart bleed to hear them say ‘Inquilab Zindabad’: Tuku |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/it-makes-my-heart-bleed-hear-them-say-inquilab-zindabad-tuku-4111426 |access-date=23 February 2026 |website=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] |language=en}}</ref>}}

His remarks drew widespread protests and criticism from politicians and student leaders, who argued the slogan was historically linked to the [[July Uprising]], defending it as part of the nation's political and cultural history.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 February 2026 |title=’ইনকিলাব জিন্দাবাদ’ নিয়ে টুকুর বিরূপ মন্তব্যে তুমুল সমালোচনা |url=https://dailyinqilab.com/national/article/866856 |access-date=23 February 2026 |website=[[Daily Inqilab]] |language=bn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 February 2026 |title=‘ইনকিলাব জিন্দাবাদ’ স্লোগান ঘিরে রাজনৈতিক বিতর্ক |url=https://www.jugantor.com/tp-second-edition/1069317 |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=[[Daily Jugantor]] |language=bn}}</ref> [[Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami]] opposed his comments, stating that "Inquilab Zindabad is not the exclusive slogan of any particular group but a symbol of protest against exploitation, injustice, and autocratic rule."<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 February 2026 |title=‘ইনকিলাব জিন্দাবাদ’ কোনো গোষ্ঠীর স্লোগান নয়, এটি স্বৈরশাসনের বিরুদ্ধে প্রতিবাদের প্রতীক:জামায়াতে ইসলামী |url=https://dailyinqilab.com/national/article/867173 |access-date=27 February 2026 |website=[[Daily Inqilab]] |language=bn}}</ref> The [[National Citizen Party]], [[Hefazat-e-Islam in the post-revolution Bangladesh|Hefazat-e-Islam]], and other political parties also criticised his remarks.<ref>{{Cite web |title='ইনকিলাব জিন্দাবাদ' প্রসঙ্গে টুকুর বক্তব্যের তীব্র সমালোচনায় রাজনীতিবিদ-সেলিব্রেটিরা |url=https://dailyinqilab.com/politics/news/867159 |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=[[Daily Inqilab]] |language=bn|date=23 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=22 February 2026 |title=ইনকিলাব-আজাদি জুলাই গণ-অভ্যুত্থানের সম্পদ : হেফাজতে ইসলাম |url=https://www.kalerkantho.com/online/Politics/2026/02/22/1651166 |access-date=23 February 2026 |website=[[Kaler Kantho]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-22 |title='Tantamount to denying historical realities': Jamaat slams energy minister's remarks on 'Inquilab Zindabad' |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/tantamount-denying-historical-realities-jamaat-slams-energy-ministers-remarks-inquilab |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=[[The Business Standard]] |language=en}}</ref>

Subsequently, many users posted "Inquilab Zindabad" on [[Facebook]] in protest, and the phrase later trended on [[social media]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 February 2026 |title=আজাদি, ইনকিলাব, বয়ান, বন্দোবস্তের মতো কিছু শব্দ হঠাৎ আলোচনায় কেন |url=https://www.bbc.com/bengali/articles/cz6eg9099p4o |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=[[BBC Bangla]] |language=bn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ফেসবুকে কেন ট্রেন্ডিং ‘ইনকিলাব জিন্দাবাদ’? কীভাবে এল এই স্লোগান? |url=https://www.deshrupantor.com/666723/%E0%A6%AB%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%9F%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%82-%E2%80%98%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AC-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E2%80%99-%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%87 |access-date=23 February 2026 |website=[[Desh Rupantor]] |language=bn|date=22 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 February 2026 |title=ফেসবুকে হঠাৎ ‘ইনকিলাব জিন্দাবাদ’ স্লোগান কেন? |url=https://www.kalerkantho.com/online/social-media/2026/02/21/1650858 |access-date=23 February 2026 |website=[[Kaler Kantho]]}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:1921 quotations]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi political slogans]]
[[Category:Indian political slogans]]
[[Category:Pakistani political slogans]]
[[Category:Memorials to Bhagat Singh]]
[[Category:Indian independence movement]]
[[Category:Communist Party of India]]

Inquilab Zindabad - Revision history

Camorabug at 06:08, 17 March 2026