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
edit30 January
edit
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
edit15 February
editIn 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
editThe 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
edit19 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
edit21 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
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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
editThe 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
editThe 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
editReferences
edit- ^ 603746 [1] Archived 30 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine from the Indian government Press Information Bureau
- ^ Faisal, Mohammad (29 January 2017). "Why India celebrates Martyr's Day, or Shaheed Diwas, on January 30". India Today. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ "Tarapur Massacre of Bihar". Drishti IAS.
- ^ "Explained: Sacrifice of 34 freedom fighters of Tarapur in Bihar, now recognised as Shahid Diwas". 16 February 2022.
- ^ "The muffled voice of rebellion". The Statesman. 29 March 2009. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
- ^ "Martyrs' Day or Shaheed Diwas: History behind the 7 Martyrs' Days celebrated in India". India Today.
- ^ "Martyr's Day (Shaheed Diwas) 2023: Date, History, Significance and Why is it Celebrated in India". Jagranjosh.com. 30 January 2022.
- ^ Jha, Jitesh (20 May 2013). "Language Martyrs Day observed on 19 May in Barak Valley, Assam". Jagran Josh. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
- ^ "Police Martyrs Day 21 October". Telangana Newspaper. Bangalore. 21 October 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
- ^ "Death anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai" (PDF). Government of Orissa. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 November 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
- ^ "Rani of Jhansi birthday". South Asian Research Centre for Advertisement, Journalism, and Cartoons. 19 November 2010. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
- ^ "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.