Shaheed Udham Singh

Shaheed Udham Singh

Udham Singh was an Indian socialist revolutionary and is one of the better known revolutionaries in India’s struggle for independence from the British rule.

He was born, Sher Singh, in a Sikh family on 26 December 1899 in village Shahpur Kalan in the present day Sunam tehsil in Sangrur district of Punjab which was then part of the Patiala kingdom. He lost his father in 1901 and mother in 1907. He and his brother were taken to the Central Sikh orphanage in Amritsar where he was given the name Udham Singh. He left the orphanage in 1919 after completing his Matriculation (Class 10) in 1918.

On the fateful day of 13 April 1919, Udham Singh and his friends were serving water to the protestors in the Jallianwala Bagh at Amritsar. These people were protesting peacefully against the arrest and deportation of their senior leaders under the infamous Rowlatt Act. At about 5.15 PM about 90 soldiers led by Brigadier General Reginald Dyer blocked the only exit and opened indiscriminate fire on the unarmed peaceful protestors. More than 2000 people were massacred and hundreds of others, including Udham Singh, were wounded. It was later proved from historical facts that the Governor of Punjab, Michael O’Dwyer, had approved the barbaric action. The incident greatly affected Udham Singh and he vowed in front of the Golden Temple in Amritsar to take revenge for the massacre.

Udham Singh then became a dedicated revolutionary and aimed to reach London by any means. He went to Africa in 1920 and then to Nairobi in 1921. He reached the United States in 1924. Udham returned to India in 1927 with a consignment of revolvers and ammunition.

He was arrested on 30 August 1927 and was sentenced to five years imprisonment for possession of unlicensed arms. He was released from jail on 23 October 1931 and took on various aliases and names including Ram Mohammed Singh Azad (Ram – Hindu, Mohammed – Muslim, Singh – Sikh, Azad – Free).

Although he was kept under constant surveillance by the police, he managed to dupe them and escaped to Kashmir from where he went to Germany. He ultimately reached London in 1934 where he bought his own car, revolver and ammunition.

On 13 March 1940 a meeting of the East India Association and Central Asian Society was scheduled at Caxton Hall. Michael O’Dwyer was one of the speakers at the meeting. Udham concealed his weapon in a specially cut book and managed to enter the hall. At the end of the meeting O’Dwyer moved to speak to Zetland (Secretary of State for India). Udham Singh moved swiftly and opened fire. Two bullets hit O’Dwyer and he died instantly. Zetland, Lord Lamington and one other person were also injured. Udham Singh made no attempt to escape and was arrested.

On 01 April 1940, Udham Singh was formally charged with the murder of Michael O’Dwyer. He was convicted and was sentenced to death. He was hanged on 31 July 1940 in Pentonville prison and was buried in the prison grounds.

During his trial Udham Singh told the judge, “I am not afraid to die. I am proud to die, to have to free my native land and I hope that when I am gone, I hope that in my place will come thousands of my countrymen to drive you dirty dogs out, to free my country.”

His remains were exhumed in July 1974 at the request of the Indian government and were brought to India where they were given a martyr’s reception. He was later cremated in Sunam and his ashes were immersed in the Sutlej River. His secular sentiments were honoured when a Hindu Pandit, Muslim Maulvi and a Sikh Granthi together conducted his final rites on 02 August 1974.

He is popularly known as Shaheed (martyr) Udham Singh. A number of memorials/statues have been established to honour his memory.

Reactions to his actions are as follows:-

Mahatma Gandhi – “The outrage has caused me deep pain. I regard this as an act of insanity.....”

Jawaharlal Nehru – “Assassination is regretted but it is earnestly hoped that it will not have far reaching repercussions on the political future of India.”

Times of London – “Fighter for Freedom” and “An expression of the pent up fury of the downtrodden Indian people.”

Berliner Borsen Zeitung – “The torch of Indian Freedom.”

German radio – “The cry of tormented people spoke with shots” and “Like the elephants, the Indians never forget their enemies. They strike them down even after 20 years.”