March 23 is observed as Martyrs’ Day, also known as Shaheed Diwas, in India, as a tribute to freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives and to honour soldiers who fought against the Britishers
March 23, 1931, was the day when freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged to death by the British government to end their relentless fight for India’s independence. They were just in their twenties when they were hanged to death
Bhagat Singh and his comrades were charged with the murder of British police officer John Saunders whom they targeted to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai. Soon after their assassination, many Indians joined hands to fight for the country's independence. While some chose the non-violent path of Mahatma Gandhi, others chose the battlefield
Bhagat Singh had written a letter to the British authorities seeking permission to allow his father to meet him in jail before he gets executed
Martyrs Day also called Sarvodaya Day is celebrated twice a year. Once on January 30 to pay tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi who was assassinated by Nathuram Godse and then on March 23 to pay homage to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru
“India will always remember the sacrifice of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru. These are greats who made an unparalleled contribution to our freedom struggle”, PM Narendra Modi tweeted as he paid tribute to the freedom fighters
Home Minister Amit Shah also paid tribute to the freedom fighters, saying, “Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru, by irrigating the freedom movement with their thoughts and lives, communicated the spirit of revolution, which was rarely seen in history
His bravery and patriotism will remain an inspiration for ages. Today, on Martyr's Day, I bow to him along with crores of countrymen”
Here are some memorable quotes by freedom fighter Bhagat Singh -
“They may kill me, but they cannot kill my ideas. They can crush my body, but they will not be able to crush my spirit."
"Revolution is an inalienable right of mankind. Freedom is an imperishable birthright of all."
Hussainiwala National Martyrs Memorial, a tribute to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, is in the Firozpur district of Punjab. A daily flag-lowering ceremony, similar to the Wagah-Attari border ceremony is held here jointly by the Indian and Pakistani armed forces