In the Indian freedom struggle, who first coined the revolutionary slogan “Inquilab Zindabad” (Long Live the Revolution), which was later popularised by other leaders?

Introduction / Context:
This question deals with one of the most famous slogans of the Indian freedom struggle, Inquilab Zindabad, which translates as Long live the revolution. It became widely associated with revolutionary organisations and leaders such as Bhagat Singh. However, the person who first coined or introduced this slogan is often a separate figure. Knowing both the originator and the populariser of slogans is a frequent exam requirement in modern Indian history.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The slogan is “Inquilab Zindabad”.
- The question asks who first coined this slogan in the Indian context.
- The options list Hasrat Mohani, Ashfaqulla Khan, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and Ram Prasad Bismil.
- We assume awareness that the slogan became famous during the revolutionary activities of the 1920s and 1930s.

Concept / Approach:
While Bhagat Singh and his comrades made the slogan “Inquilab Zindabad” widely famous, historical accounts indicate that it was first coined by Maulana Hasrat Mohani, a nationalist and poet. He used this slogan in the early 1920s to call for complete independence and revolutionary change. Later, Bhagat Singh adopted it and popularised it through dramatic actions, such as throwing harmless bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly and shouting the slogan. The correct approach is to distinguish between the originator (Hasrat Mohani) and the later popularisers (Bhagat Singh and others).

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that “Inquilab Zindabad” is a Hindi-Urdu slogan meaning “Long live the revolution”. Step 2: Recall that Maulana Hasrat Mohani was a prominent freedom fighter, poet and early advocate of complete independence, who used radical language before many others. Step 3: Understand that he is credited with coining this slogan during the early 1920s in political meetings and writings. Step 4: Remember that Bhagat Singh later adopted this slogan and shouted it during revolutionary actions, making it widely known to the public. Step 5: Therefore, among the options, identify Hasrat Mohani as the first to coin the slogan, even though others greatly popularised it.

Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative check is to recall how exam books and biographies phrase this fact. They often mention that Maulana Hasrat Mohani coined “Inquilab Zindabad” and that Bhagat Singh made it a household slogan. When multiple choice questions specifically ask who coined the slogan, the expected answer is Hasrat Mohani. Only when the question asks who popularised the slogan does Bhagat Singh usually appear as the correct choice. This consistent pattern across question banks confirms that option A is correct here.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Ashfaqulla Khan: A brave revolutionary involved in the Kakori conspiracy case, but not credited with coining this particular slogan.
Bhagat Singh: He made “Inquilab Zindabad” famous by using it in dramatic protests, but he was not the first to coin it.
Chandrashekhar Azad: A leading revolutionary who also used radical slogans, but he is not generally recorded as the originator of this particular phrase.
Ram Prasad Bismil: Another important revolutionary poet and leader of the Kakori conspiracy, but he is known for different poems and slogans, not for coining “Inquilab Zindabad”.

Common Pitfalls:
Because Bhagat Singh is so strongly associated with “Inquilab Zindabad”, many students automatically choose his name when they see the slogan. This is an understandable but incorrect shortcut. The careful reader will note whether the question asks who coined or who popularised the slogan. In this question, the key word is coined. Remembering this distinction helps you avoid the trap and confidently select Hasrat Mohani as the right answer.

Final Answer:
The slogan “Inquilab Zindabad” was first coined by Hasrat Mohani, and later popularised by Bhagat Singh and other revolutionaries.