Martyr’s Day or Shaheed Diwas is observed in India on several dates. March 23 is remembered as the day when three brave freedom fighters, namely Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, and Sukhdev Thapar, were hanged by the British. Also, January 30th is observed as Martyr’s Day or Shaheed Diwas in memory of Mahatma Gandhi. 

23rd March is celebrated as Martyr’s Day to remember the sacrifice of three extraordinary freedom fighters of India. On March 23, three heroes of our nation were hanged to death, namely Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, and Sukhdev Thapar by the British. No doubt, they also sacrificed their lives for the welfare of our nation, whether or not they chose a different path from Mahatma Gandhi. They are the source of inspiration for the youth of India. At such a young age, they came forward, and for independence, they fought with bravery. So, to pay homage to these three revolutionaries, Martyr’s Day is also observed on the 23rd of March.

About Bhagat Singh and his Companions

Bhagat Singh was born on September 28, 1907, in Lyallpur, Punjab. Bhagat Singh, together with his companions Rajguru, Sukhdev, Azad, and Gopal, fought for the assassination of Lala Lajpat Rai. Bhagat Sing became an inspiration for youngsters due to his daring adventures. He and his companions, on April 8th, 1929, threw bombs over the Central Legislative Assembly by reading the slogan “Inquillab Zindabad”. And for this, a murder case was charged against them. On March 23rd, 1931, in the Lahore Jail, they were hanged. Their bodies were cremated on the banks of the Sutlej River. 

GK Quiz on Bhagat Singh

Ques 1: What is 23rd March in India?

A. Bhagat Singh’s birthday
B. Shivaram Rajguru’s birthday
C. Sukhdev Thapar’s birthday
D. Shaheed Diwas

Ans: D

Ques 2: Why do we celebrate Shaheed Diwas?

A. To pay tribute to revolutionaries
B. The day marks the death of Bhagat Singh
C. Birth anniversary of Shivaram Rajguru
D. None of the above

Ans: A

Ques 3: When was Bhagat Singh born?

A. 22 December 1909
B. 24 September 1906
C. 26 August 1908
D. 28 September 1907

Ans: D

Ques 4: Bhagat Singh was executed in which of the following case?

A. Lahore conspiracy case
B. Central Assembly bomb case 
C. Kakori case
D. Dalhousie square bomb case

Ans: A

Ques 5: When was Bhagat Singh executed?

A. 23 March 1971
B. 24 March 1971
C. 23 March 1931
D. 21 March 1971

Ans: C

Ques 6: In connection with the Lahore Conspiracy Case, consider the following: 

i) Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were executed in Lahore Conspiracy Case by the British government on 23 March 1931. 

ii) Bhagat Singh accompanied by Batukeshwar Dutt threw bombs into the Assembly chamber from its public gallery while it was in session, injuring several of its members. 

iii) Bhagat Singh killed British Police Officer John Saunders when he was leaving the District Police Headquarters in Lahore on 17 December 1928.

Consider the following options:

A. Only (i)
B. Only (ii)
C. Both (i) and (iii)
D. Both (ii) (iii)

Ans: B

Ques 7: Bhagat Singh was executed at the age of ____.

A. 23 years

B. 19 years
C. 24 years
D. 27 years

Ans: A

Ques 8: An 18-foot tall bronze statue of Bhagat Singh was installed in ______. 

A. Parliament of India
B. Jalandhar City
C. National Martyrs Memorial Hussainiwala
D. None of the above

Ans: A

Ques 9: On the 50th death anniversary of Bhagat Singh, a museum was inaugurated in his ancestral village. What is the name of the museum?

A. Shaheed-E-Azam Museum
B. Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh Museum
C. Sardar Bhagat Singh Museum
D. Shaheed Bhagat Singh Museum

Ans: B

Ques 10: Which among the following books is not written by Bhagat Singh?

A. Why I Am an Atheist
B. Jail Diary And Other Writings
C. To Young Political workers
D. Prison Diary

Ans: D

Ques 11: Which was the first film to be made on the life of Bhagat Singh?

A. Shaheed-e-Azad Bhagat Singh
B. Shaheed Bhagat Singh
C. Shaheed-E-Azam
D. The Legend of Bhagat Singh

Ans: A

Ques 12: 5 rupees coin was released by RBI on the occasion of_____.

A. Shahid Bhagat Singh’s 100th birth anniversary
B. Shahid Bhagat Singh’s 50th birth anniversary
C. Shahid Bhagat Singh’s 114th birth anniversary
D. None of the above 

Ans: A

Ques 13. By which name Bhagat Singh is often referred?

a) Veer Bhagat Singh

b) Azad Bhagat Singh

c) Saheed Bhagat Singh

d) Lokmanya Bhagat Singh

Ans. C

Ques 14. What is the birthplace of Bhagat Singh?

a) Jaranwala Tehsil, Punjab

b) Lahore, Punjab

c) Amritsar, Punjab

d) Jalandhar, Punjab

Ans. A

Ques 15. Bhagat Singh’s father Kishan Singh and uncles Ajit Singh and Swaran Singh were members of which party?

a) Naujawan Bharat Sabha

b) Hindustan Socialist Republican Association

c) Ghadar Party

d) Kirti Kisan Party

Ans. C

Lesser Known Facts about Bhagat Singh

1. Bhagat Singh was so much disturbed by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre that he bunked the school to visit the site of the bloodbath. He collected the mud mixed with Indian Blood in a bottle and worshipped it every day for life.

2. In college, he was a great actor and played several roles in plays like ‘Rana Pratap’ and ‘Bharat-Durdasha’.

3. Bhagat Singh in his childhood always spoke about guns. He wanted to grow guns in the fields using which he can fight with the British. When he was 8 years old, instead of talking about toys or games he always speaks about driving out British from India.

5. He was attracted to socialism and socialist revolutions led by Lenin at an early age and started reading about them. Bhagat Singh said ‘They may kill me, but not my ideas. They can crush my body, but will not be able to crush my spirit’.

6. Bhagat Singh had told the British that “instead of hanging they should shoot him” but the British did not consider it. He mentioned this in his last letter. Bhagat Singh wrote in this letter, “Since I was arrested during the war. Therefore, I cannot be punished for hanging. Let me be thrown into the mouth of a cannon. “This shows his braveness and his feeling for the nation.

7. Along with the associates, Bhagat Singh threw bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly. They don’t want to injure anyone. The bombs were made of low-grade explosives.

8. He went on a hunger strike during his stay in jail. It is surprising that during this time he used to do all his work regularly, such as singing, reading and writing books, visiting court every day, etc.

9. Bhagat Singh coined a powerful slogan ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ which became the slogan of India’s armed struggle.

10. He was hanged an hour ahead of the official time on March 23, 1931. It is said that Bhagat Singh was smiling when he was hanged. In fact, this was done with a fearlessness to “lowered British imperialism”. 

11. When his mother had come to visit him in jail, Bhagat Singh was laughing loudly. Seeing this, the jail officials were shocked to see how this person is who is laughing openly despite being so close to death.

12. Despite being a Sikh by birth, he cut his hair and shaved his beard to avoid being identified and arrested for the murder.

13. Bhagat Singh fasted for 116 days while he was imprisoned and kept himself occupied with activities like singing, reading, and book writing.

14. After witnessing the Hindu-Muslim riots that broke out after Gandhi disbanded the Non-Cooperation Movement, he started to question religious ideologies in society. And this is what made him an Atheist.

His legacy will continue to live in the hearts of many. These unknown facts will surely pave deep respect and also gives an idea about his life and its revolution.

Martyrs’ Day Quotes:

“Sarfaroshee ki tamana ab humare dil me hai,
Dekhna hai jor Kitna Baazu-e-kaatil me hai”

“Jashan Ajaadi ka Mubarak ho desh waalo ko,
Fande se mahobbaat thi hum Watan ke matwaalo ko”

“Saheedo ki chitaao par lagenge har baras mele,
Watan par mitne walo ka Yahi Nishan hoga,
Desh Ke saheedo ko Naman”

“Revolution did not necessarily involve sanguinary strife.
It was not a cult of bomb and pistol.”

“Martyrdom does not end something, it only a beginning”  – Indira Gandhi

“I do believe that ideas ripen quickly when nourished by the blood of martyrs” – Mahatma Gandhi

“Let us all be brave enough to die the death of a martyr, but let no one lust for martyrdom” – Mahatma Gandhi

“It is the cause, not the death, that makes the martyr” – Napoleon Bonaparte

“If your blood is not raging yet, then it is water flowing through your veins. Because what is the blush of youth, if it is not at the service of the country?” – Chandrashekhar Azad

“Oh Lord! Grant me a hundred births in India. But grant me this too, so that each time I give my life to the service of the Homeland.” – Ram Prasad Bismil

शहीद दिवस

भारत में हर साल शहीद दिवस (Martyr’s day) 23 मार्च को मनाया जाता है। इसी दिन 23 मार्च 1931 को देश के तीन स्वतंत्रता सेनानी सुखदेव, भगत सिंह और राजगुरू को अंग्रेजी हुकूमत द्वारा फांसी की सजा दी गयी थी। भारत में शहीद दिवस ऐसे योद्धाओं को याद करने के लिए मनाया जाता है जिन्होंने अपने प्राण की परवाह न करते हुए देश की स्वतंत्रता ,कल्याण और प्रगति के लिए हर संभव प्रयास किया और अंत में शहीद हो गए।

देश में 23 मार्च को शहीद दिवस तीन युवा क्रांतिकारियों भगत सिंह ,राजगुरु ,सुखदेव के बलिदान को याद करते हुए हर साल मनाया जाता है। इसके अतिरिक्त भी 30 जनवरी को महात्मा गाँधी जी की याद में Shaheed Diwas मनाया जाता है। 30 जनवरी 1948 के दिन ही नाथूराम गोडसे ने महात्मा गाँधी जी की गोली मरकर हत्या की गयी थी। इस दिन की याद में भी देश में 30 जनवरी को शहीद दिवस (Martyr’s day) के रूप में मनाया जाता है।

भारत की आजादी और अंग्रेजी हुकूमत को जड़ से उखाड़ फेंकने के लिए देश में हर वर्ग अपने अपने तरीकों से भारत की आजादी के लिए संघर्ष कर रहा था। कई क्रांतिकारियों को इसके लिए अपना बलिदान देना पड़ा। भारत को स्वतंत्रता दिलाने के मकसद से गाँधी जी द्वारा अहिंसा का मार्ग अपनाया गया। देश में महात्मा गाँधी जी के तरीके से अलग एक युवा वर्ग राजगुरु ,भगत सिंह ,सुखदेव ने भी भारत की आजादी के लिए अपना अलग मार्ग अपनाया था। भले ही इन तीनों युवा क्रांतिकारियों का मार्ग महात्मा गाँधी जी के तरीके से अलग था लेकिन लक्ष्य एक था -‘भारत की आजादी’।

8 अप्रैल 1929 के दिन ”इंकलाब जिंदाबाद’ का नारा लगते हुए केंद्रीय विधान सभा पर भगत सिंह (Bhagat Singh) ,राजगुरु (Shivram RajGuru) और सुखदेव (Sukhdev Thaper) ने बम फेंके जिसके लिए उनपर हत्या का मामला दर्ज किया गया था। साल 1931 में 23 मार्च के दिन लाहौर जेल में तीनों क्रांतिकारियों को फांसी के फंदे से लटका दिया गया।

”फांसी का फंदा भी फूलो से कम न था
वो भी डूब सकते थे इश्क में किसी के
पर, वतन उनके लिए माशूक के प्यार से कम न था”
शहीद दिवस पर शहीदों को नमन!

23 march 1931 की इस घटना को याद करते हुए हर साल भारत में 23 मार्च को तीनों क्रांतिकारियों को याद कर श्रद्धांजलि दी जाती है।

शहीद दिवस (Martyr’s Day) का इतिहास

भगत सिंह का जन्म पंजाब के लायलपुर में 28 सितम्बर 1907 को हुआ था। इन्होने अपने साथियों राजगुरु और सुखदेव आजाद और गोपाल के साथ मिलकर लाला लाजपत राय की हत्या का बदला लेने के लिए एक योजना बनाई थी। शेर ए पंजाब नाम से प्रसिद्ध लाला लाजपत राय को लाहौर में 30 अक्टूबर 1928 को घटित एक बड़ी घटना का शिकार होना पड़ा था।

दरअसल साइमन कमीशन के विरोध कर रहे युवाओं को अंग्रेजी सैनिकों द्वारा बहुत ही बेहरहमी से पिता गया था। इस विरोध का नेतृत्व लाला लाजपत राय कर रहे थे। पुलिस ने लाला लाजपत राय की छाती में बड़ी ही बेहरहमी से अपनी लाठियों से प्रहार किया था जिसके बाद लाला लाजपत राय बुरी तरीके से घायल हो गये थे। 17 नवम्बर 1928 को उनकी मृत्यु हो गयी। देश में इस घटना के बाद सभी देशवासी भड़क उठे और भगत सिंह, राजगुरु, सुखदेव, चंद्रशेखर आजाद और अन्य क्रांतिकारियों ने लालाजी की मौत का बदला लेने का निर्णय लिया।

17 दिसंबर 1928 को तीनो क्रन्तिकारी भगत सिंह, राजगुरु, सुखदेव ने मिलकर अंग्रेजी अधिकारी जेपी सांडर्स को गोली मारकर उसकी हत्या कर दी। इस घटना के बाद भगत सिंह ने अपने साथी बटुकेश्वर दत्त के साथ मिलकर 8 अप्रैल 1929 को सेंट्रल असेम्बली में बम फेंका था। इसके आड़ दोनों की गिरफ़्तारी की गयी और 2 साल के कारावास के बाद भगत सिंह (Bhagat Singh) ,राजगुरु (Shivram RajGuru) और सुखदेव (Sukhdev Thaper) को फांसी के फंदे पर लटकाया गया।

शहीद दिवस का महत्व

हर साल 23 मार्च को युवा क्रांतिकारियों की सहादत को याद करते हुए शहीद दिवस को मनाया जाता है। 23 march के ही दिन भगत ,सिंह ,राजगुरु ,सुखदेव को फांसी पर लटकाया गया था। shahid diwas केवल शहीदों का बलिदान दिवस नहीं है बल्कि यह आज की युवा पीढ़ी को अपने कर्तव्यों और देश की सेवा के लिए भी प्रेरणा प्रदान करती है। देश में मनाये जाने वाले शहीद दिवस भारत की युवा को राष्ट्रप्रेम की प्रेरणा देता है। हर साल मनाये जाने वाले Martyr’s day उन सभी क्रांतिकारियों के बलिदानों को जीवित रखता है और देश के लिए कुछ कर गुजरने के लिए देशवासियों को सदैव प्रेरित करता है।