CM Dhami pays tribute to Shaheed Udham Singh on martyrdom day
Synopsis
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami marked the martyrdom anniversary of Sardar Udham Singh on 31 July 2026, honouring the revolutionary who assassinated Michael O'Dwyer in 1940 to avenge the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919.
Key Takeaways
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami posted a tribute to Shaheed Sardar Udham Singh on his martyrdom day, 31 July 2026 .
Udham Singh assassinated former Punjab Lieutenant Governor Michael O'Dwyer in London on 13 March 1940 to avenge the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 13 April 1919 .
He was hanged on 31 July 1940 at Pentonville Prison, London — a date now observed as Balidan Diwas across India.
Dhami called Udham Singh's sacrifice an eternal inspiration for fighting injustice and serving the nation.
Tributes to Udham Singh on 31 July are observed by political leaders across party lines at every level of Indian government.
On the anniversary of one of India's most audacious acts of revolutionary defiance, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on 31 July 2026 paid homage to Shaheed Sardar Udham Singh, calling him an immortal revolutionary and a symbol of indomitable courage and unparalleled patriotism.
Posting in Hindi, CM Dhami wrote: 'शत्-शत् नमन' — a hundred salutes — to the martyr who gave everything for the honour, dignity, and self-respect of Mother India. He added that Udham Singh's 'incomparable sacrifice, unwavering resolve, and devotion to the motherland will forever inspire the people of this country to fight injustice and walk the path of national service.'
The act that echoed across a century
Sardar Udham Singh was present at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, on 13 April 1919, when British troops under the orders of Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer opened fire on an unarmed gathering, killing hundreds of civilians. The massacre became one of the defining atrocities of colonial rule in India. For over two decades, Udham Singh carried that wound across continents. On 13 March 1940, in London, he shot and killed Michael O'Dwyer — the former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab who had sanctioned Dyer's action — at Caxton Hall. Udham Singh was arrested, tried, and hanged on 31 July 1940, the date now observed as his Balidan Diwas (martyrdom day).A name that cuts across party lines
Tributes to Udham Singh on 31 July have become a fixture of India's political calendar, observed by leaders across the ideological spectrum at every level of government. The consistency of this commemoration reflects a broader national consensus: that the freedom movement's more radical strand — men and women who chose direct action over petition — deserves equal space in public memory alongside the non-violent mainstream. For CM Dhami, whose state of Uttarakhand carries deep military and patriotic associations, invoking Udham Singh's legacy connects to a recurring theme in his public communication: the idea that sacrifice and national service are living obligations, not archived history. Eighty-six years after the gallows at Pentonville Prison, the revolutionary's story still commands the political moment — proof that some acts of defiance outlast the empires that tried to silence them.Point of View
Pride-centred idea of nationhood. Invoking Udham Singh's 'self-respect of Mother India' language on the martyrdom anniversary serves both commemorative and political purposes: it signals continuity with the freedom movement while reinforcing themes of resistance to injustice that resonate with the party's core messaging. Across the political spectrum, 31 July has become a day when no leader can afford silence — which itself speaks to how thoroughly Udham Singh has moved from the margins of official memory to its centre.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Shaheed Udham Singh?
Sardar Udham Singh was an Indian revolutionary who, on 13 March 1940, assassinated Michael O'Dwyer — the former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab — in London to avenge the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919. He was hanged on 31 July 1940 and is commemorated as a martyr of India's freedom struggle.
Why is 31 July observed as Udham Singh's martyrdom day?
31 July marks the date in 1940 when Udham Singh was executed by hanging at Pentonville Prison in London after being convicted of murdering Michael O'Dwyer. The day is observed across India as his Balidan Diwas.
What was the Jallianwala Bagh massacre?
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on 13 April 1919 in Amritsar, Punjab, when British troops opened fire on a large unarmed gathering, killing hundreds of civilians. Udham Singh, who was present that day, dedicated his life to avenging the atrocity.
What did CM Pushkar Singh Dhami say about Udham Singh?
CM Dhami described Udham Singh as an immortal revolutionary and a symbol of indomitable courage and unparalleled patriotism, saying his sacrifice and devotion to the motherland would forever inspire Indians to fight injustice and serve the nation.
Who was Michael O'Dwyer and why did Udham Singh target him?
Michael O'Dwyer was the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab at the time of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and had sanctioned Brigadier-General Dyer's action. Udham Singh held him responsible for the killings and shot him dead in London in 1940.
