Martyrs' Day (India) Explained

Martyrs' Day (at the national level also known as Sarvodaya day or Shaheed Diwas) are days declared in India to honour recognised martyrs of the nation.

National observance

30 January

Martyrs' Day is recognised nationally on 30 January to mark the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948, by Nathuram Godse.[1]

On Martyrs' Day the President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister, the Chief of Defence Staff and the three Service Chiefs gather at the samadhi at Raj Ghat memorial and lay wreaths decorated with multi-colour flowers. The armed forces' personnel blow bugles, sounding the Last Post. The inter-services contingent reverse arms as a mark of respect. A two-minute silence in memory of Indian martyrs is observed throughout the country at 11 am. Participants hold all-religion prayers and sing tributes.[2]

Other recognised dates

15 February

In 2022, the government of Bihar recognised 15 February as a Martyrs' Day (Shahid Diwas) in memory of 34 freedom fighters killed by the Indian Imperial Police in Tarapur during hosting Indian Flag on 15 February 1932.[3] [4]

23 March

The anniversary of the deaths of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru on 23 March 1931, in Lahore, is recognised as a Martyrs' Day.[5] [6] [7]

19 May

19 May is recognised as Bhasha Shahid Divas ("Language Martyrs' Day") in the Barak Valley, recognising the deaths of 11 people killed during the Bengali Language Movement. The movement, which took place in the Barak Valley in the state of Assam, was a protest against the decision of the Government of Assam to make Assamese the only official language of the state even though a significant proportion of the population were Bengali people. In the Barak Valley, the Sylheti-speaking population constitute the majority of the population. The main incident, in which 11 people were killed by state police, took place on 19 May 1961 at Silchar railway station.[8] (Raktim Diganta, Natun Diganta Prakashani, Silchar, Assam).

21 October

21 October is Police Martyrs' Day (or Police Commemoration Day), observed by police departments nationwide. On this date in 1958 a Central Reserve Police Force patrol at the Indo-Tibetan border in Ladakh was ambushed by Chinese forces, as part of the ongoing Sino-Indian border dispute.[9]

17 November

Odisha observes 17 November, the death anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai (1864–1927), the "Lion of Punjab, a leader in the Indian fight for freedom from the British Raj.[10]

19 November

The birthday of Rani Lakshmibai, 19 November 1828, queen of the Maratha-ruled princely state of Jhansi, is observed as Martyrs' Day in the region, and honours those who gave their lives in the rebellion of 1857, of which she was a leading figure.[11]

24 November

The death anniversary of the ninth Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur on 24 November 1674, who was executed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, is observed as Martyrs' Day.[12]

See also

Notes and References

  1. 603746 https://badcode.co.in/reasons-for-killing-mahatma-gandhi-confession-of-nathuram-godse/ from the Indian government Press Information Bureau
  2. Web site: Faisal. Mohammad. Why India celebrates Martyr's Day, or Shaheed Diwas, on January 30. India Today. 29 January 2017. 29 January 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180130204243/https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/january-30-the-day-india-celebrates-shaheed-diwas-martyr-s-day-1156660-2018-01-29. 30 January 2018. live.
  3. Web site: Tarapur Massacre of Bihar. Drishti IAS.
  4. Web site: Explained: Sacrifice of 34 freedom fighters of Tarapur in Bihar, now recognised as Shahid Diwas. 16 February 2022.
  5. News: The muffled voice of rebellion. 29 March 2009. The Statesman. 18 December 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120406100834/http://web1.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=364051&catid=89. 6 April 2012.
  6. Web site: Martyrs' Day or Shaheed Diwas: History behind the 7 Martyrs' Days celebrated in India. India Today.
  7. Web site: Martyr's Day (Shaheed Diwas) 2023: Date, History, Significance and Why is it Celebrated in India. 30 January 2022. Jagranjosh.com.
  8. News: Jha . Jitesh . Language Martyrs Day observed on 19 May in Barak Valley, Assam . 20 May 2013 . Jagran Josh . 10 February 2019 .
  9. News: Police Martyrs Day 21 October . Bangalore . Telangana Newspaper . 21 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304125943/http://www.telangananewspaper.com/police-martyrs-day-21-october-history-pdf/ . 4 March 2016.
  10. Web site: Death anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai . 13 October 2010 . Government of Orissa . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111123080709/http://orissa.gov.in/Portal/LIWPL/event_archive/Events_Archives/116Lala_Lajpat_Rai.pdf . 23 November 2011 .
  11. Web site: Rani of Jhansi birthday. 19 November 2010. South Asian Research Centre for Advertisement, Journalism, and Cartoons. 18 December 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120423035636/https://www.sarcajc.com/Rani_of_Jhansi_birthday.html. 23 April 2012. dead.
  12. Web site: Guru Teg Bahadur Shaheedi Diwas: जिंदगी में बदलाव ला सकते हैं गुरु तेग बहादुर के ये अनमोल विचार . Guru Teg Bahadur Shaheedi Diwas: These priceless thoughts of Guru Tegh Bahadur can bring change in life . Aaj Tak . Hindi . 2020-11-24 . 2021-01-29.