23 March 2024
Haryana Regional holiday | Saturday |
Shaheedi Diwas of Bhagat Singh along with Rajguru and Sukhdev is a regional public holiday in the northern Indian state of Haryana on March 23rd each year. Also known as Haryana Martyrs Day, it commemorates the execution of three martyrs on this day in 1931.
Before the independence of India in 1947, the modern-day state was part of Punjab Province under British control. As the movement for independence gained pace in the country, it inspired a new wave of young social revolutionaries. Prominent amongst these were Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar. All three were members of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HRSA).
Bhagat Singh and Rajguru had fatally shot a British police officer. In April 1929, they had exploded bombs inside the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi before allowing themselves to be arrested. In the same month, the Lahore bomb factory was discovered by the police, leading to the arrest of other members of HSRA, including Sukhdev.
Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were sentenced to death in the Lahore conspiracy case and ordered to be hanged on March 24th 1931. The schedule was moved forward by 11 hours and the three were hanged on March 23rd at 7:30 pm in the Lahore jail.
Each year on March 23rd, homage is paid to the great revolutionary fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev who sacrificed their lives for the country.