Shaheed Udham Singh Martyrdom Day

Current Context : Indian states of Punjab and Haryana observe 31 July every year as Shaheed Udham Singh Martyrdom Day.

 ABOUT SHAHEED UDHAM SINGH KAMBOJ

• Early Life:
  • Born Sher Singh in Sunam, Punjab on 26 December 1899. Initially took the revolutionary name Ram Mohammad Singh Azad, symbolizing unity across faiths under Indian freedom.
• Role in Independence Struggle:
  • Kamboj was an Indian revolutionary best known for assassinating Michael O’Dwyer in March 1940 to avenge the Jallianwala Bagh massacre
• Martyrdom:
  • Tried and sentenced to death by hanging at Pentonville Prison in London on 31 July 1940
  • During his trial, he undertook a 42-day hunger strike and made a powerful statement about his fight against colonial rule.
• Legacy:
  • Revered as Shaheed‑i‑Azam Udham Singh, meaning “The Great Martyr”.
  • India’s Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru later honoured his sacrifice: “I salute Shaheed‑i‑Azam Udham Singh with reverence, who kissed the noose so we may be free.”
  • The Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttarakhand is named after him.