Economic Nationalism and Indigenous Commerce: Bhagat Singh’s Anti-Colonial Economic Vision

Abstract

Bhagat Singh is predominantly remembered as a martyr and revolutionary nationalist, but his writings and ideological evolution reveal a robust and sophisticated economic vision deeply rooted in Marxist and socialist principles. This paper critically examines Bhagat Singh’s economic philosophy, focusing on his conceptualizations of class struggle, labor rights, and opposition to exploitative colonial commerce. Drawing upon his essays, prison writings, and HSRA manifestos, the study explores how Singh viewed imperialism not merely as political domination but as an economic system engineered to drain India’s wealth and suppress its working classes. His advocacy for dismantling feudal structures, ensuring equitable labor conditions, and fostering collective ownership aligns closely with early 20th-century socialist economic thought. Singh’s engagement with global revolutionary movements, especially Soviet Marxism and the writings of Karl Marx and Lenin, further shaped his vision for a post-colonial economy driven by justice, labor dignity, and national self-sufficiency. By situating his philosophy within the broader framework of anti-colonial political economy, this research reveals the ideological sophistication of Singh’s revolution — one that extended beyond slogans and sacrifice to articulate a structured critique of capitalism and imperialism. In doing so, the paper contributes to the emerging scholarship that reevaluates freedom fighters not only as political actors but as theorists of economic justice in the decolonial struggle.