Inquilab Zindabad

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Inquilab Zindabad (Template:Langx; Template:Langx; Template:Langx) is a Hindustani phrase, which translates to "Long live the revolution".[1][2][3] Although originally the slogan was used by Indian independence movement activists in the British Indian Empire,[4] today it is used in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan by civil society activists during protests as well as by politicians from various ideological backgrounds.[5][6][7][8]

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.[9][10][11] It was popularized by Bhagat Singh (1907–1931) during the late 1920s through his speeches and writings.[12] It was also the official slogan of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association,[12][13] and the slogan of Communist Consolidation as well as a slogan of the All India Azad Muslim Conference.[14] 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.[15] 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.[12][16] Since then, it became one of the rallying cries of the Indian independence movement, with which the phrase has been most identified.[4][3] In Indian political novels chronicling the independence movement, a pro-independence sentiment is often characterized by characters shouting this slogan.[17]

Modern uses

File:Tongi graffiti 5.jpg
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 fall of the then ruling authoritarian government, the slogan was widely used.[18][19][20] As a result, it regained significant popularity in Bangladesh and continued to be used extensively in public gatherings in the following years.[21][22]

Controversy

On 21 February 2026, marking Language Movement Day and International Mother Language Day, Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hassan Mahmood criticized the slogan "Inquilab Zindabad", claiming it was not part of the Bangla language.[23] He said, Template:Blockquote

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.[24][25] 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."[26] The National Citizen Party, Hefazat-e-Islam, and other political parties also criticised his remarks.[27][28][29]

Subsequently, many users posted "Inquilab Zindabad" on Facebook in protest, and the phrase later trended on social media.[30][31][32]

References

  1. ↑ A Subaltern History of the Indian Diaspora in Singapore: The Gradual Disappearance of Untouchability 1872-1965{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Routledge(31 March 2016). ISBN 978-1-317-35380-5
  2. ↑ The Glass Palace{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Random House Digital, Inc.(2001)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Inquilab zindabad!: India’s farmers protest deserves our attention. San Francisco Foghorn(1 April 2021). Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Motivating Thoughts of Bhagat Singh{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Prabhat Prakashan(24 August 2023). ISBN 978-93-5562-065-1
  5. ↑ Arvind Kejriwal Calls His Win in Delhi Election the 'Birth of a New Politics'.
  6. ↑ Pakistan में Inquilab Zindabad और Azaadi के Slogan क्यों गूंज रहे हैं? (BBC Hindi). YouTube(29 November 2019).
  7. ↑ Inquilab Zindabad slogan will stay relevant till people continue their struggle against diverse inequalities(29 May 2022).
  8. ↑ At Umar Khalid's bail hearing, Delhi HC deliberates on meaning of 'inquilab': 'Revolution not necessarily bloodless'(20 May 2022).
  9. ↑ Indian Philately Digest{{#if:Pandya|, Pandya}. Indian Philatelists' Forum(2014-03-01)
  10. ↑ LITERACY NOTES: Hasrat Mohani – a unique poet & politician. Business Recorder(June 18, 2005). Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  11. ↑ India remembers Maulana Hasrat Mohani who gave the revolutionary slogan 'Inquilab Zindabad'. Zee News(2017-01-02). Retrieved 2018-04-06.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Bhagat Singh: Select Speeches And Writings, Edited by D. N. Gupta. archive.org. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
  13. ↑ Inquilab Zindabad: A War Cry for Change. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
  14. ↑ Partition of India and Patriotism of Indian Muslims. The Milli Gazette(17 July 2017).
  15. ↑ Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his Revolutionary Inheritance. Indian Historical Review({Template:Date).
  16. ↑ Full Text of Statement of S. Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt in the Assembly Bomb Case, Singh, Bhagat. www.marxists.org. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
  17. ↑ Indian Political Novel in English{{#if:Bhatnagar|, Bhatnagar}. Saruk and Sons(2007). ISBN 9788176257992
  18. ↑ Inquilab Zindabad: A timeless call for revolution. New Age(16 December 2024). Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  19. ↑ ছাত্র-জনতার আন্দোলনে বারুদ হয়ে ওঠা স্লোগানগুলো, ইমাম, সাদিয়া মাহ্‌জাবীন. Prothom Alo(12 August 2024). Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  20. ↑ জেনজি’র বজ্রকণ্ঠের স্লোগান জুগিয়েছিল লড়াইয়ের প্রেরণা, Rafid, Mahir Tajwar. Daily Inqilab(4 January 2025). Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  21. ↑ ‘ইনকিলাব জিন্দাবাদ’ কি নতুন দলের স্লোগান, কীভাবে এল, ইউসুফ, মোস্তফা. Prothom Alo(2 March 2025). Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  22. ↑ ‘ইনকিলাব জিন্দাবাদ’ স্লোগান এলো কীভাবে?. Daily Ittefaq(2 March 2025). Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  23. ↑ আজকের ছেলেমেয়েরা ইনকিলাব বলে, ইনকিলাব তো অন্যদের ভাষা: বিদ্যুৎমন্ত্রী. Ajker Patrika(21 February 2026). Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  24. ↑ ’ইনকিলাব জিন্দাবাদ’ নিয়ে টুকুর বিরূপ মন্তব্যে তুমুল সমালোচনা. Daily Inqilab(22 February 2026). Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  25. ↑ ‘ইনকিলাব জিন্দাবাদ’ স্লোগান ঘিরে রাজনৈতিক বিতর্ক. Daily Jugantor(23 February 2026). Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  26. ↑ ‘ইনকিলাব জিন্দাবাদ’ কোনো গোষ্ঠীর স্লোগান নয়, এটি স্বৈরশাসনের বিরুদ্ধে প্রতিবাদের প্রতীক:জামায়াতে ইসলামী. Daily Inqilab(23 February 2026). Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  27. ↑ 'ইনকিলাব জিন্দাবাদ' প্রসঙ্গে টুকুর বক্তব্যের তীব্র সমালোচনায় রাজনীতিবিদ-সেলিব্রেটিরা. Daily Inqilab(23 February 2026). Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  28. ↑ ইনকিলাব-আজাদি জুলাই গণ-অভ্যুত্থানের সম্পদ : হেফাজতে ইসলাম. Kaler Kantho(22 February 2026). Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  29. ↑ 'Tantamount to denying historical realities': Jamaat slams energy minister's remarks on 'Inquilab Zindabad'. The Business Standard(2026-02-22). Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  30. ↑ আজাদি, ইনকিলাব, বয়ান, বন্দোবস্তের মতো কিছু শব্দ হঠাৎ আলোচনায় কেন. BBC Bangla(22 February 2026). Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  31. ↑ ফেসবুকে কেন ট্রেন্ডিং ‘ইনকিলাব জিন্দাবাদ’? কীভাবে এল এই স্লোগান?. Desh Rupantor(22 February 2026). Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  32. ↑ ফেসবুকে হঠাৎ ‘ইনকিলাব জিন্দাবাদ’ স্লোগান কেন?. Kaler Kantho(21 February 2026). Retrieved 23 February 2026.
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