Shaheed Diwas 2024: Date, Background, And Significance

Context

Shaheed Diwas or Martyr’s Day is observed every year on January 30 to honour recognised martyrs of the nation.

Shaheed Diwas or Martyrs Day: Background

Occasion: India observes Martyrs Day or Shaheed Diwas to pay tribute to all the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the country.
- January 30 is also the death anniversary of Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.
- It was on this day that Gandhiji was assassinated in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse.
Marking the Day: On this day, the President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister, the defence minister, the Chief of Defence Staff and the three Service Chiefs gather at the Raj Ghat memorial and lay wreaths at Gandhiji’s samadhi.
- The armed forces’ personnel blow bugles, sounding the Last Post and the inter-services contingent reverse arms as a mark of respect.
- A two-minute silence is observed across the nation to remember Gandhiji and all other martyrs of the nation.
Significance of Shaheed Diwas or Martyrs Day

- Remember Martyrs of the Nation: Martyrs Day honours the martyrs who gave up their lives for the nation.
- Remember Mahatma Gandhi: The occasion of Martyrs Day provides us an opportunity to reflect upon teachings of Gandhi Ji.
- Spread Idea of Peace: On the occasion of Martyrs Day, events are organised to spread the message of non-violence and peace.

About Shaheed Diwas or Martyrs Day

Shaheed Diwas

About: Shaheed Diwas is marked on January 30 to remember Mahatma Gandhi’s contribution to India and his sacrifices during the freedom struggle.
History and Background:
- India became an independent nation on 15th August 1947. It not just ended the British rule in India, but also bifurcated the nation into two dominions: India and Pakistan.
- The move of bifurcation of India was opposed by many sections, including certain organisations such as Hindu Mahasabha.
- Nathuram Godse, one of the members of the Hindu Mahasabha, believed that Gandhiji was too accommodative of demands of Pakistan, especially when India-Pakistan were involved in a war.
- On 30 January 1948, Gandhiji was staying in Birla House in Delhi.
  - He used to conduct daily prayer meetings in the evening, which were open to all.
- On the day of the assassination, Gandhiji was moving towards the venue of the prayer meeting when Godse, the assassin, came out of the crowd into Gandhiji’s path.
- He fired three shots at Gandhiji. The bullets struck Gandhiji’s chest, stomach, and groin and he collapsed on the ground.
- The assassin was apprehended by the military personnel who were at the spot, his pistol snatched away and beaten by the crowd before police took him into custody.
- Gandhiji was pronounced dead the same day. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India announced the death of Gandhiji through a radio broadcast.

After-Math of Gandhiji’s Assassination:

Anti-Brahmin Riots:

- Despite calls for peace, there was violence reported in the country, especially against Brahmins in Bombay province.
- Chitpavan Brahmins, the sub-group to which Godse belonged, were the main targets of violence.

Gandhiji’s Funeral:

- More than two million people took part in the five-mile-long funeral procession that took over five hours to reach Raj Ghat from Birla House.
- Gandhiji’s mortal remains were cremated traditionally.
  - The ashes were collected and later immersed in rivers and seas across the country.

Trial and Punishment of Godse:

- Godse’s trial began in May 1948 at a special court set up in Delhi’s Red Fort. The judge was Atma Charan and the prosecution was led by CK Daphtary.
- Those arrested include Godse, Narayan Apte and five others. Vinayak Savarkar was also one among those arrested.
- After the trial, Godse, Apte, and five others were convicted of the crime. Godse and Apte were sentenced to death while Savarkar was acquitted.
- Based on an appeal filed in Punjab High Court, Dattatraya Parchure and Shankar Kistayya were acquitted of all charges. The charges against Godse were upheld.
- The Governor-General of India, C Rajagopalachari rejected their mercy petitions. Both Godse and Apte were hanged on November 15, 1949, in Ambala jail.

Political Churnings:

- After Gandhiji’s assassination, the Government of India, led by Jawaharlal Nehru, imposed a ban on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), accusing it of being involved in the conspiracy to assassinate Gandhiji.
- Proponents of right-wing ideology, such as Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and M S Golwalkar, were also arrested and put on trial. However, many of them were acquitted.
- The death and funeral of Gandhiji helped consolidate the authority of the new Indian state under Nehru. The occasion was used to send a message, giving legitimacy to the Congress party as the flag-bearer of Gandhiji’s ideology.

Other Shaheed Diwas Or Martyrs Days in India

15 February	The government of Bihar recognises 15 February as a Martyrs Day (Shahid Diwas) to honour the 34 freedom fighters killed by British in Tarapur during hosting Indian Flag on 15 February 1932.
23 March	The death anniversary of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru on 23rd March 1931 is also marked as Martyrs Day 23.
19 May	This day is recognised as Bhasha Shahid Divas (“Language Martyrs Day”) in the Barak Valley (Assam), to honour the sacrifice of 11 people killed during the Bengali Language Movement. The movement was a protest by Bengali-speaking population against the decision of the Government of Assam to make Assamese the only official language of the state.
21 October	The Police Martyrs Day (or Police Commemoration Day) is observed on 21st October by police departments nationwide. On this date in 1958, Chinese forces ambushed a Central Reserve Police Force patrol at the Indo-Tibetan border in Ladakh.
17 November	Odisha observes 17 November as Martyrs Day in honour of independence leader Lala Lajpat Rai on his death anniversary.
19 November	The birthday of Rani Lakshmibai, the ruler of the princely state of Jhansi, is observed as Martyrs Day in the region, and honours those who fought in the rebellion of 1857.
24 November	The death anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, on 24 November 1674, who was executed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, is observed as Martyrs Day.

Conclusion

Martyrs Day not only pays tribute to all the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the nation, but also remembers Gandhiji’s contributions and teachings.

Also Read Other Biography
Lal Bahdur Shastri	Shaheed Bhagat Singh
Jayaprakash Narayan	Nanaji Deshmukh
Indira Gandhi	Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Lala Lajpat Rai	Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
Mahatma Gandhi	Sam Manekshaw

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Shaheed Diwas 2024 FAQs

Martyr’s Day is Observed every year on January 30 to honour recognised martyrs of the nation.

January 30 is the death anniversary of Father of the Nation, Gandhiji. It was on this day in 1948 that Gandhiji was assassinated in New Delhi at the age of 78.

Gandhiji was assassinated by Nathuram Godse, a believer in right-wing ideology.

Gandhiji was staying in New Delhi’s Birla House when he was shot by Nathuram Godse.

Nathuram Godse believed that Gandhiji was too accommodative of demands of Pakistan, especially when India-Pakistan were involved in a war. He believed that Gandhiji could negatively hamper independent India’s decisions, and was needed to be neutralised.

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Shaheed Diwas 2024: Date, Background, and Significance

Context

Shaheed Diwas or Martyrs Day: Background

Significance of Shaheed Diwas or Martyrs Day

About Shaheed Diwas or Martyrs Day

After-Math of Gandhiji’s Assassination:

Anti-Brahmin Riots:

Gandhiji’s Funeral:

Trial and Punishment of Godse:

Political Churnings:

Other Shaheed Diwas Or Martyrs Days in India

Conclusion

Shaheed Diwas 2024 FAQs

When is Martyrs Day Observed?

Why is Martyrs Day Observed on January 30?

Who Killed Mahatma Gandhi?

Where was Mahatma Gandhi Assassinated?

Why was Mahatma Gandhi Assassinated?

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