Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tribute to freedom fighter Udham Singh on his “Shaheedi Diwas,” calling his bravery a lasting inspiration for the people of India.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, “My humble tribute to the immortal son of Mother India, martyr Udham Singh, on his martyrdom day. His saga of patriotism and bravery will always remain a source of inspiration for the people of the nation.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also honoured the revolutionary, saying Udham Singh’s supreme sacrifice continues to inspire generations.
“My heartfelt tribute to the great freedom fighter and revolutionary Sardar Udham Singh on his ‘Shaheedi Diwas’ today. His unparalleled courage and supreme sacrifice remain a source of inspiration for generations. India will always remember his unwavering spirit and deep love for the nation,” he posted on X.
Home Minister Amit Shah shared a detailed tribute, highlighting Udham Singh’s fierce resistance to colonial atrocities and his role in the freedom struggle.
“Udham Singh dedicated his life to self-respect and freedom. He launched an armed rebellion against British atrocities. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre deeply disturbed him, prompting him to travel to England to avenge the killings. Through the Ghadar Party, he inspired patriotism among Indians living abroad. His courage, bravery, and sacrifice gave greater strength to India’s freedom movement. He will forever inspire the youth to put the nation above all.
My respectful tribute to the embodiment of bravery and sacrifice, martyr Sardar Udham Singh, on his martyrdom day,” he said on X.
Born in 1899 in Sangrur, Punjab, Udham Singh lost his parents at an early age. He was hanged on July 31, 1940, for assassinating Michael O’Dwyer, the former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, in London — an act of revenge for the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on April 13, 1919, when British Indian Army troops under Colonel Reginald Dyer opened fire on a peaceful gathering of unarmed protesters and pilgrims in Amritsar, Punjab, on the occasion of Baisakhi.
The crowd had assembled to protest the arrest of nationalist leaders Satya Pal and Saifuddin Kitchlew. The indiscriminate firing led to massive casualties.
According to official British records, 379 people were killed and around 1,200 injured. However, other estimates put the death toll at over 1,000.
— ANI