CM Dhami pays tribute to Sardar Udham Singh on martyrdom anniversary
Synopsis
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami paid tribute at Sardar Udham Singh's statue in Udham Singh Nagar on 31 July 2026, marking the 85th anniversary of the revolutionary's execution by the British for avenging the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Key Takeaways
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami garlanded the statue of Sardar Udham Singh in Udham Singh Nagar on 31 July 2026 .
Sardar Udham Singh was executed by British authorities on 31 July 1940 after assassinating Michael O'Dwyer in London to avenge the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre .
CM Dhami also participated in an Akhand Path organised on the occasion.
Udham Singh Nagar district was carved out of Nainital district and renamed in 1995 to honour the martyr.
Dhami called Udham Singh's patriotism 'a source of inspiration for all of us' and said his legacy would inspire future generations.
On the 85th martyrdom anniversary of Sardar Udham Singh, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami travelled to Udham Singh Nagar on 31 July 2026 to garland the revolutionary's statue and offer a heartfelt tribute to the man who gave his life avenging one of colonial India's darkest hours.
Sharing the moment on social media, CM Dhami wrote: 'Shaheed Sardar Udham Singh ji ke balidaan diwas par Udham Singh Nagar mein unki pratima par malyarpan kar bhaavbheeni shraddhanjali arpit ki.' — 'On the martyrdom day of Shaheed Sardar Udham Singh ji, I paid a heartfelt tribute by garlanding his statue in Udham Singh Nagar.' He also participated in an Akhand Path held on the occasion, and called Udham Singh's love for the nation and dedication to the motherland 'a source of inspiration for all of us.'
The man behind the district's name
Sardar Udham Singh was executed by British authorities on 31 July 1940 after he shot dead Michael O'Dwyer in London — the former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab who had sanctioned the troops under General Dyer at Jallianwala Bagh on 13 April 1919. Udham Singh, who was present at Jallianwala Bagh as a young man, waited over two decades to deliver what he saw as justice. His act made him one of the most dramatic figures of India's independence movement.
The district where today's ceremony was held carries his legacy in its very name. Udham Singh Nagar district was carved out of the old Nainital district and formally renamed in 1995 to honour the martyr — a rare case of a district bearing the name of a revolutionary rather than a royal or administrative figure.
A pattern of public remembrance
Dhami's visit is part of a wider calendar of martyrdom-day observances that state governments across India hold for independence-era figures. For Uttarakhand, a state with a strong military tradition and a significant Sikh community in the Terai belt, the 31 July commemoration at Udham Singh's statue carries particular resonance. The Chief Minister's presence — rather than a deputed official — signals the political and cultural weight the occasion commands in the region.
Dhami closed his tribute with a forward-looking note: Udham Singh's immortal story, he said, 'will continue to inspire coming generations towards patriotism and national service.' For a district that literally bears the martyr's name, that promise is written into the landscape itself.
Point of View
Waited decades, and struck at the heart of empire. For Uttarakhand, with its large Terai Sikh population and deep military heritage, investing in this commemoration is both culturally resonant and politically astute. The annual 31 July observance also fits a broader BJP pattern of reclaiming independence-era heroes outside the Congress nationalist canon.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 31 July significant for Sardar Udham Singh?
31 July 1940 is the date on which Sardar Udham Singh was executed by British authorities in London after being convicted of assassinating Michael O'Dwyer , the former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab who had authorised the troops at Jallianwala Bagh. It is observed as his martyrdom day across India.
What did CM Dhami do on Udham Singh's martyrdom anniversary 2026?
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami visited Udham Singh Nagar on 31 July 2026 , garlanded the statue of Sardar Udham Singh, and participated in an Akhand Path held to mark the occasion.
Who was Sardar Udham Singh and why did he kill Michael O'Dwyer?
Sardar Udham Singh was an Indian revolutionary who was present at the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on 13 April 1919 . He shot dead Michael O'Dwyer in London in 1940 to avenge that atrocity, in which hundreds of unarmed civilians were killed on O'Dwyer's watch as Lieutenant Governor of Punjab.
Why is the district called Udham Singh Nagar?
Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttarakhand was carved out of the old Nainital district and renamed in 1995 to honour the freedom fighter Sardar Udham Singh .
What is an Akhand Path?
An Akhand Path is an uninterrupted, continuous recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib , the holy scripture of Sikhism, typically held over approximately 48 hours on occasions of religious or commemorative significance.
