Shaheed Diwas 2011

For many of us 23 March may be just another day in the calendar year when we get on with our daily routines. However, it is a day where we need to remember the greatest of sacrifices made by three young men in India’s quest for Independence and Freedom from British rule.

On March 23, 1931, Bhagat Singh was hanged in Lahore with his fellow comrades Rajguru and Sukhdev. Since then 23 march is known as Shaheed Diwas.

Bhagat Singh was a revolutionary and was a constant source of trouble for British in India. But the two major events that were the reasons for his execution were the Bombing of the Assembly and the Saunders murder.

Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev were charged with the murder and the assembly bombing case. Bhagat Singh decided to use the court as a tool to publicize his cause for the independence of India. He admitted to the murder and made statements against the British rule during the trial. While in jail, Bhagat Singh and other prisoners launched a hunger strike advocating for the rights of prisoners and those facing trial.

All three were finally hanged on 23 March 1931 amidst thunderous shouts of Inquilab Zindabad from other inmates inside the jail. “Long Live Revolution”