Shaheed Diwas: Nation remembers Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on death anniversary

Shaheed Diwas is celebrated on 23rd March every year in India to honor the supreme sacrifice made by three great Indian freedom fighters – Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru. Among these three, Bhagat Singh remains the most prominent figure, and his contribution to the Indian freedom struggle is unparalleled. He was born on 28th September 1907 in a small village called Banga in Punjab. Bhagat Singh was an Indian socialist revolutionary who became an influential figure in the Indian independence movement.

History of Shaheed Diwas

The history of Shaheed Diwas goes back to the pre-independence era of India when the country was struggling for freedom from British colonial rule. Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru were three young revolutionaries who were involved in a conspiracy to assassinate a British police officer, John Saunders, in Lahore in 1928. Their aim was to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, a freedom fighter who had died after being brutally beaten by the police during a protest against the Simon Commission. However, the plan did not go as expected, and instead, another police officer, J. P. Saunders, was mistakenly shot and killed. Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru were arrested and charged with murder and conspiracy. They were tried in a special court, and despite their defense, they were found guilty and sentenced to death. On 23rd March 1931, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru were hanged to death in Lahore Central Jail.

Bhagat Singh

Bhagat Singh, born September 27, 1907, Lyallpur, western Punjab, India now in Pakistandied March 23, 1931, Lahore now in Pakistan, revolutionary hero of the Indian independence movement. Bhagat Singh attended Dayanand Anglo Vedic High School, which was operated by Arya Samaj a reform sect of modern Hinduism, and then National College, both located in Lahore. He began to protest British rule in India while still a youth and soon fought for national independence. He also worked as a writer and editor in Amritsar for Punjabi- and Urdu-language newspapers espousing Marxist theories. He is credited with popularizing the catchphrase Inquilab zindabad Long live the revolution.

Sukhdev Thapar

Sukhdev 1907-1931 was a famous Indian revolutionary who played a major role in the Indias struggle for Independence. He is amongst those great Indian freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of their country. His full name is Sukhdev Thapar and he was born on 15th May, 1907. His ancestral house is in Naughara Mohalla of Ludhiana city, Punjab, India. His fathers name was Ram Lal. Since his childhood days, Sukhdev had witnessed the brutal atrocities that the Imperial British Raj had inflicted on India, which then led him to join the revolutionaries, vowing to set India free from the shackles of British dominion. Sukhdev Thapar was a member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association HSRA, and organized revolutionary cells in Punjab and other areas of North India. A devoted leader, he even went on to educate the youth at the National College in Lahore, greatly inspiring them about Indias glorious past. He along with other renowned revolutionaries started the Naujawan Bharat Sabha at Lahore that was an organization involved in various activities, mainly gearing the youth for the freedom struggle and putting an end to communalism. Sukhdev himself took active part in several revolutionary activities like the Prison hunger strike in 1929 however, he would always be remembered in the chronicles of the Indian Freedom Movement for his daring yet courageous attacks in the Lahore Conspiracy Case 18th December, 1928, that shook the very foundation of the British Government.

Shivaram Rajguru

Shivaram Rajguru 1908-1931 was a great Indian freedom fighter who played a major role in the Indias struggle for Independence. He is amongst those great Indian revolutionaries who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of country. His full name was Hari Shivaram Rajguru and was born into a Deshastha Brahmin family. Since his childhood days, he had witnessed the brutal atrocities that the Imperial British Raj inflicted on India and her people. This instilled within him a strong urge to join hands with the revolutionaries in a bid for Indias freedom struggle. In the days of the Indian Freedom Movement, the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army HSRA was an active force working against the British. Their main motive was to strike fear into the heart of the British regime. They simultaneously spread awareness amongst the people. They made them take notice of the growing domestic uprising when they dealt crucial blows with attacks like in the Lahore Conspiracy Case December 18, 1928 and the bombing of the Central Assembly Hall in New Delhi April 8, 1929. The protest against the Simon Commission in October 1928 saw the British police lathi-charge the protestors, severely injuring veteran leader Lala Lajpat Rai.

Importance of the Day

Shaheed Diwas is a day of great significance in India as it marks the martyrdom of three young revolutionaries who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of their country. Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru were not only brave and fearless but also deeply committed to the cause of Indian independence. Their supreme sacrifice inspired a generation of Indians to take up the cause of freedom and fight against British colonial rule. Their deaths were not in vain, as they galvanized the nation and paved the way for the final push towards independence. Shaheed Diwas is celebrated every year to honor the memory of these three great freedom fighters. The day is marked by various events and programs across the country, including speeches, rallies, and cultural programs. It is an occasion for the nation to pay tribute to the courage and sacrifice of these three young revolutionaries and all those who gave their lives for the cause of Indian independence.

Shaheed Diwas is observed across India on 23rd March every year to honor the supreme sacrifice made by Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru.

• The day is marked by various events and programs across the country, aimed at paying homage to these great freedom fighters.

• One of the most common ways of celebrating Shaheed Diwas is by organizing rallies and processions in different parts of the country. 

• Schools and colleges also play an important role in celebrating Shaheed Diwas. Many educational institutions organize debates, essay competitions, and cultural programs on this day, to promote the ideals of patriotism and nationalism among students.