Shaheed Udham Singh Martyrdom Day 2026: History, Story of Revenge and Lasting Legacy

On July 31, India commemorates Shaheed Udham Singh Martyrdom Day each year to pay tribute to one of the greatest freedom fighters of the country. Udham Singh is remembered for taking revenge for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919 by killing Michael O’Dwyer, the then Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, in London in the year 1940. The sacrifice of Udham Singh stands for bravery, justice and perpetual love for the country. Even after so many years of India’s freedom, the life of Udham Singh is still an inspiration for people across generations, thus making his martyrdom day an important day for remembering the life and sacrifices of great people like him.

Who Is Shaheed Udham Singh?

Shaheed Udham Singh was born on 26 December 1899 in Sunam, Punjab, into a Sikh family. After losing his parents when he was young, he was raised by his elder brother at the Central Khalsa Orphanage in the city of Amritsar.

A well-known Freedom fighter, Udham Singh took the name Ram Mohammad Singh Azad in the later years of his life. This name shows unity of all religions in India and the aspiration of the people for freedom.

The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre that Changed His Life

The massacre of Jallianwala Bagh on April 13, 1919 is regarded as a watershed moment in the life of Udham Singh.

On that day, many unarmed Indians had come to Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar when British soldiers, acting under Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer’s orders, opened gunfire without any warning. Many Indians died and many more got injured.

Although Dyer was responsible for the firing, it was Michael O’Dwyer, who was then the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, who supported this action and justified the massacre.

This horrifying event had a deep influence on Udham Singh. He decided to make sure that guilty people were punished although it can take him decades.

His Revolutionary Expedition

After the bloodbath, Udham Singh entered into the revolutionary movement.

He got connected with the Ghadar Party, which was working for the Indian independence from British Raj. While he was travelling throughout Africa, Europe and America, he met with revolutionaries and continued to support the independence struggle for India.

In 1927, he was arrested in India for possession of illegal weapons and revolutionary writings. During his time in jail, he met other freedom fighters and got encouraged further in his mission.

After being released, he resumed his work abroad while waiting patiently for the right moment to act.

Michael O’Dwyer’s Assassination

On 13 March 1940, Udham Singh was present at a gathering that took place in Caxton Hall in London wherein Michael O’Dwyer was present.

He entered the hall with a revolver concealed in a hollowed-out book and waited for the assembly to be over before shooting at O’Dwyer who died on the spot.

He did not try to get away and surrendered to the police without any attempt of flight. While on trial, Singh stated that he had committed the act to take revenge for the innocent victims of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

His act remains today as one of the most important symbolic acts in India’s revolutionary movement.

Execution and Martyrdom

Udham Singh was convicted of murder after a brief trial.

Despite attempts to ask for his clemency, he was executed on July 31, 1940, in Pentonville Prison located in London.

He became a martyr at the age of 40. In 1974, his body was brought back to India and commemorated.

Udham Singh’s sacrifice is being remembered throughout India.

Udham Singh’s Legacy

• The Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand that was named after him.
• Shaheed Udham Singh Museum located near Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar.
• The statue of Udham Singh erected at the Jallianwala Bagh in the year 2018.
• The public holiday observed in the states of Punjab and Haryana on Shaheed Udham Singh’s martyrdom day.
• The number of movies, books, documentaries, and songs that recount the life of the son of India many of which include Shaheed Udham Singh and Sardar Udham.

The bravery of Udham Singh inspires that it is possible to resist colonial oppression and remind us of the sacrifices of many people for the independence of India.