Martyrs' Day 2022: Every year March 23 is observed as Martyrs' Day when Indians commemorate the sacrifices given by freedom fighters and other people to gain independence from British rule.
Martyrs Day is also observed on January 30, the day when the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in 1947 by Nathuram Godse.
Martyrs Day 2022: History
The British Government in 1928 had set up the Simon Commission, headed by John Simon, which was boycotted as no Indians were included in the commission. When the commission visited Lahore on October 30, 1928, it was met with chants of “Simon Go Back!”, black flags, and a nonviolent march led by Lala Lajpat Rai.
Police Superintendent James A Scott ordered the lathi charge on the protestors and police beat Lala Lajpat Rai to death. Bhagat Singh witnessed the incident and he along with Rajguru and Sukhdev vowed to take revenge.
The three young men threw explosives over the Central Legislative Assembly on April 8, 1929, with the slogan of “Inquilab Zindabad” and also killed assistant police superintendent John Saunders, mistaking him for Scott.
All three men were convicted and hanged to death on March 23, 1931, in Lahore Jail.
Martyrs' Day 2022: Significance
At the time when the three young men were sentenced to death, Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev Thapar were 23 years old while Shivram Rajguru was just 22 years old.
Their sacrifice had inspired many other young people to come forward and fight for their motherland.
Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev continue to inspire many young Indians today to serve their motherland in the best possible way.
It was the bravery of these three people that they sacrificed their lives for the country to reclaim independence and that is why to honour their sacrifice, the country observes Martyrs Day on March 23 every year.