CM Dhami Garlands Udham Singh Statue in Gadarpur
Synopsis
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid floral tribute at the statue of Shaheed Udham Singh in Gadarpur, Udham Singh Nagar on 31 July 2026 — the 86th anniversary of the revolutionary's execution in London for avenging the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Key Takeaways
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami garlanded the statue of Shaheed Udham Singh in Gadarpur, Udham Singh Nagar on 31 July 2026 .
The date marks the 86th anniversary of Udham Singh's execution in London on 31 July 1940 .
Udham Singh assassinated Michael O'Dwyer in 1940 to avenge the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919 .
Udham Singh Nagar district was created in September 1995 and named after the revolutionary.
The tribute comes days ahead of Independence Day on 15 August , during which state governments across India intensify engagement with freedom-movement history.
A revolutionary who crossed continents to answer a massacre was honoured on Friday in the district that bears his name. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid floral tribute at the statue of Shaheed Udham Singh in Gadarpur, Udham Singh Nagar, on 31 July 2026, in a ceremony that linked present-day Uttarakhand to one of independence-era India's most defiant acts.
The Chief Minister's Office posted on X: 'मुख्यमंत्री श्री पुष्कर सिंह धामी ने गदरपुर, ऊधमसिंह नगर में शहीद ऊधम सिंह जी की प्रतिमा पर किया माल्यार्पण' — 'Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami garlanded the statue of Shaheed Udham Singh in Gadarpur, Udham Singh Nagar.'
The man behind the district's name
Udham Singh was an Indian revolutionary who, on 13 March 1940, shot and killed Michael O'Dwyer — the former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab — in London. His act was a direct response to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919, in which hundreds of unarmed civilians were killed under O'Dwyer's watch. Udham Singh was tried, convicted, and hanged on 31 July 1940 — making the date of CM Dhami's tribute the 86th anniversary of the martyr's execution. The district of Udham Singh Nagar was carved out of Nainital district in September 1995 and named in his honour. Gadarpur, one of its key towns, hosts a public statue where official tributes are regularly observed.A date that carries its own weight
That CM Dhami's visit fell on 31 July — the exact anniversary of Udham Singh's hanging — gives the ceremony a significance beyond routine protocol. Uttarakhand governments have maintained the practice of marking martyrs' memorials since the state's formation in 2000, but the calendar alignment here makes this one count. The tribute also arrives days before Independence Day on 15 August, a period when state administrations across India intensify engagement with freedom-movement history. For a district that carries a revolutionary's name on every signboard and government document, a sitting Chief Minister arriving with flowers is the state saying, plainly: we remember why this place is called what it is.Point of View
A tool BJP-led state governments have used consistently to reinforce nationalist cultural memory. Uttarakhand, as a relatively young state formed in 2000, leans heavily on such ceremonies to build a distinct political and historical identity. With Independence Day approaching, this tribute also serves as an early marker in the state's August commemorative calendar. The broader pattern points to a sustained effort to keep colonial-era resistance figures visible in public life, particularly in districts that carry their names.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did CM Dhami visit Gadarpur on 31 July 2026?
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami visited Gadarpur to garland the statue of Shaheed Udham Singh on the 86th anniversary of the revolutionary's execution on 31 July 1940.
Who was Udham Singh and why is he important?
Udham Singh was an Indian revolutionary who assassinated Michael O'Dwyer in London in 1940 to avenge the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919. He was executed on 31 July 1940 and is regarded as a martyr of India's independence movement.
Why is the district called Udham Singh Nagar?
Udham Singh Nagar district was carved out of Nainital district in September 1995 and named after the freedom fighter Udham Singh to honour his sacrifice.
Where is Gadarpur located?
Gadarpur is a town in Udham Singh Nagar district, Uttarakhand, and is home to a public statue of Shaheed Udham Singh where official tributes are held.
What was the Jallianwala Bagh massacre?
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on 13 April 1919 in Amritsar, when British-commanded troops fired on unarmed civilians, killing hundreds. Michael O'Dwyer, as Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, was seen as bearing responsibility, and Udham Singh later killed him in retaliation.
