CM Nayab Saini Pays Tribute to Revolutionary Madan Lal Dhingra
Synopsis
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini paid tribute to revolutionary Madan Lal Dhingra on his martyrdom anniversary, 17 August 2026. Dhingra, hanged by the British in 1909 at age 24 after assassinating official Curzon Wyllie in London, remains a symbol of armed anti-colonial resistance rooted in Punjab.
Key Takeaways
Haryana CM Nayab Saini offered a tribute to Madan Lal Dhingra on his martyrdom anniversary, 17 August 2026 .
Dhingra was hanged by the British on 17 August 1909 at the age of 24 .
He assassinated British official Sir Curzon Wyllie in London on 1 July 1909 .
Dhingra was born in Punjab , a region with strong historical ties to Haryana.
BJP-led state governments routinely commemorate armed resistance figures such as Bhagat Singh and Dhingra on death anniversaries.
On the 117th martyrdom anniversary of Madan Lal Dhingra, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini offered a heartfelt tribute to the revolutionary who gave his life for India's freedom — a young man who walked to the gallows at 24 and never looked back.
The Chief Minister's Office of Haryana posted on 17 August 2026, sharing CM Saini's homage to Dhingra on his balidan diwas (martyrdom day), honouring him as an amar krantikari — an immortal revolutionary — who sacrificed everything for the motherland.
Who Was Madan Lal Dhingra — and Why He Still Matters
Born in Punjab, Madan Lal Dhingra became one of the most audacious figures of India's anti-colonial resistance. On 1 July 1909, in London, he shot and killed British official Sir Curzon Wyllie at a public gathering — a calculated act of political defiance carried out on imperial soil. He was arrested, tried, and hanged on 17 August 1909, refusing to show remorse. His final statement, in which he declared his act a patriotic duty, became a touchstone for armed resistance movements across the subcontinent. Dhingra was 24 years old at the time of his execution.Haryana's Pattern of Honouring Armed Resistance
Saini's tribute is part of a consistent practice among BJP-led state governments of commemorating figures associated with armed revolutionary nationalism alongside non-violent leaders. Haryana administrations have issued similar messages for Bhagat Singh and other Punjab-rooted revolutionaries in previous years. The pattern reflects a deliberate effort to keep the memory of pre-independence armed resistance alive in public discourse, particularly on death anniversaries. For Haryana, which shares deep cultural and historical ties with Punjab — Dhingra's home region — these tributes carry particular resonance. Every 17 August, India's political class pauses to remember a 24-year-old who chose the rope over silence. CM Saini's tribute ensures that in 2026, Haryana is not among those who forgot.Point of View
Invoking a Punjab-rooted martyr also reinforces cultural solidarity across a historically connected region. These annual commemorations are low-stakes politically but serve a consistent ideological signalling function. Over time, they shape which figures receive state-sanctioned memory and which fade from public consciousness.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Madan Lal Dhingra?
Madan Lal Dhingra was an Indian revolutionary from Punjab who assassinated British official Sir Curzon Wyllie in London on 1 July 1909. He was hanged by the British on 17 August 1909 at the age of 24 and is remembered as a martyr of India's anti-colonial freedom struggle.
Why is 17 August significant for Madan Lal Dhingra?
17 August marks the day Madan Lal Dhingra was executed by the British in 1909. The date is observed as his martyrdom anniversary, or balidan diwas, and is commemorated each year by political leaders and institutions across India.
What did Nayab Saini say about Madan Lal Dhingra?
The Chief Minister's Office of Haryana posted that CM Nayab Saini paid an emotional tribute to Dhingra on his martyrdom day, honouring him as an immortal revolutionary who sacrificed everything for the freedom of the motherland.
What is Nayab Saini's role in Haryana?
Nayab Saini is the Chief Minister of Haryana, representing the BJP. He has held the position since 2024.
Why do BJP-led governments commemorate Madan Lal Dhingra?
BJP-led state governments have consistently highlighted armed resistance figures like Dhingra and Bhagat Singh alongside non-violent leaders as part of a broader effort to recognise the full spectrum of India's freedom struggle, including revolutionary nationalism.
