Mumbai, Mar 22: Martyr's Day, also known as Shaheed Diwas or Sarvodaya Day is observed on March 23. India celebrates several Martyrs' Day throughout the year in the honour of those who laid down their lives for the nation. The observance on Friday is in the memory of India's freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru who were hanged by the Britishers during the Indian Independence struggle.

Their sacrifice fueled many young Indians to follow their path of revolution which became an important force in driving the British out of the country. The young men were killed for allegedly being involved in the killing of British officer John Saunders. Here are some important facts about the lives of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru:

  • They began their battle ardently after the death of Lala Lajpat Rai due to injuries in a protest against Simon Commission.

  • Rajguru, Sukhdev and Chandrashekhar Azad decided to avenge the death of Rai and conspired against James A Scott. Three British officer was responsible ordering lathi charge on Rai. However, in a case of mistaken identity, they shot John Saunders.

  • Protesting against the Public Safety Bill, and the Trade Dispute Act, Bhagat Singh, along with Batukeshwar Dutt, threw two crude bombs into the Central Lesgislatively Assembly in Delhi.

  • While low grade explosives did not kill anyone, few people were injured. Instead of escaping, Singh along with his comrade shouted slogans and showed against them letting them to be arrested.

  • One of the leaflets, the men threw at them read, "It is easy to kill individuals but you cannot kill the ideas. Great empires crumbled while the ideas survived."

  • Sukhdev Thapar a member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) was arrested when the police located the bomb factory they had set up in Lahore and Saharanpur.

  • While Bhagat Singh was initially arrested for bombing, eventually Sukhdev and Rajguru were held in what came to be known as the Lahore conspiracy case.

  • They were hanged to death on March 23, 1931, at 7.30 pm in the Lahore jail. Their bodies were cremated on the banks of the Sutlej River.

On Shaheed Diwas, events paying tributes to the martrys are held every year at Shadman Chowk in Lahore, Pakistan as the three men were hanged there on March 23, 1931. The three brave men - Sukhdev, Bhagat Singh and Rajguru were in their early twenties during the hanging. One of Bhagat Singh popular sayings were, "Merciless criticism and independent thinking are the two necessary traits of revolutionary thinking."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 22, 2018 11:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).