RAS question
The famous book 'Why I Am an Atheist' was written by:
Correct answer: (A) Bhagat Singh.
Why I Am an Atheist was written by Bhagat Singh during his imprisonment in 1930.
Explanation
Bhagat Singh wrote Why I Am an Atheist in jail in 1930. It is one of his prominent prison writings and a self-reflective autobiographical essay about his life, his engagement with religion and his rejection of it. The essay reflects his rationalist and socialist outlook, scientific vision, humanist concern for people's suffering, and an intellectual outlook influenced by Marxism and Bertrand Russell's writings. During his imprisonment, he also studied philosophy, politics, history and society extensively. The title refers to this specific essay in Bhagat Singh's prison corpus, not to a generic revolutionary slogan.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Chandrashekhar Azad was a revolutionary, but he did not write this essay; Why I Am an Atheist is one of Bhagat Singh's prominent prison writings.
- (C) Ram Prasad Bismil did not write this essay; Why I Am an Atheist belongs to Bhagat Singh's prison writings.
- (D) Udham Singh was another freedom fighter, but he did not write this essay; Why I Am an Atheist belongs to Bhagat Singh's prison writings.
Concept
Revolutionary literature and prison writings form part of modern Indian history. Knowing who wrote a work helps connect the author's life with their ideology. Bhagat Singh's writings link the freedom struggle with rationalist, socialist and broader intellectual currents.