State PCS - Haryana (HCS)

• 01 Aug 2025

Tribute to Shaheed Udham Singh on Martyrdom Day

Why in News? 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Shaheed Udham Singh (Ram Mohammad Singh Azad) on his 86th martyrdom day (on 31st July), calling him an immortal son of India and emphasizing that his patriotism and bravery will continue to inspire the nation. 

Key Points About Shaheed Udham Singh 

• About: Born on 26th December 1899, in Sunam, Punjab, Singh exposure to Sikhism and revolutionary activities, including the Komagata Maru incident and the Ghadar Party's uprising, shaped his anti-colonial stance. 
• Revolutionary Activities: In 1924, Udham Singh joined the Ghadar Party to overthrow colonial rule. In 1927, he was arrested for illegal possession of firearms and sentenced to five years in prison. 
  • Udham Singh avenged the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919 by assassinating Michael O’Dwyer, the then Lieutenant Governor of British Punjab, during a meeting at Caxton Hall in London in March 1940. 
• Death: He was tried and sentenced to death and was hanged on 31st July 1940, in Pentonville Prison, London.  
  • Singh’s remains were repatriated in 1974, and memorials, museums, and colleges honor his sacrifice in Punjab and beyond. 
• Legacy: The Haryana government has declared July 31st, as a gazetted holiday to observe Shaheed Udham Singh Martyrdom Day. 
  • A district in Uttarakhand, Udham Singh Nagar, was named after him in 1995  as a tribute.