Martyrs' Day (India)

In India, there are seven days declared as Martyrs' Day (at national level also known as Sarvodaya day). They are named in honour of those who are recognised as martyrs for the nation. Recently Bihar government has announced to celebrate 15 February as Martyrs Day in the memory of 34 freedom fighters killed by the police in munger in 1932.

National observance

30 January

 

30th January is a national-level Martyr’s Day due to being the date Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was assassinated (funeral procession pictured)

30 January is the date observed in the national level. The date was chosen as it marks the assassination of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in 1948, by Nathuram Godse.^[1]

On Martyr's 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 significant dates

23 March

The anniversary of the deaths of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru on 23 March 1931, in Lahore, is declared to be Martyr's Day.^[3]

19 May

The Bengali Language Movement of 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 population were Bengali people. In the Barak Valley, the Sylheti-speaking Bengali population constitute the majority of the population. The main incident, in which 11(Eleven) people were killed by state police, took place on 19 May 1961 at Silchar railway station. 19 May is now designated Bhasha Shahid Divas ("Language Martyrs Day").^[4](Raktim Diganta,Natun Diganta Prakashani,Silchar,Assam).

21 October

Further information: Kongka Pass § Kongka Pass incident

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.^[5]

17 November

 

Odisha observes 17 November as Martyr’s Day in honor of independence leader Lala Lajpat Rai

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.^[6]

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.^[7]

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.^[8]

References

1. 603746[1] 30 January 2019^{(Date mismatch)} at the Wayback Machine from the Indian government Press Information Bureau
2. Faisal, Mohammad (29 January 2017). "Why India celebrates Martyr's Day, or Shaheed Diwas, on January 30". India Today. from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
3. . The Statesman. 29 March 2009. Archived from the original on 6 April 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
4. Jha, Jitesh (20 May 2013). "Language Martyrs Day observed on 19 May in Barak Valley, Assam". Jagran Josh. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
5. . Telangana News Paper. Bangalore. 21 October 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2015.
6. (PDF). Government of Orissa. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
7. . South Asian Research Centre for Advertisement, Journalism, and Cartoons. 19 November 2010. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
8. "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 (in Hindi). 24 November 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.