Martyrs' Day (India)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying homage to the martyrs' at Gandhi Smriti, in New Delhi on 30 January 2015.

In India, there are several days declared as Martyrs' Day (at national level also known as Sarvodaya day and saheed din) it is named in the honour those who recognised as martyrs for the nation.

30 January

30 January is the date observed at the national level. The date was chosen as it marks the assassination of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in 1948.^[1] On Martyr’s Day the president, the vice president, the prime minister, the defence minister, and the three Service Chiefs gather at the samadhi at Raj Ghat memorial and lay wreaths decorated with multi-colour flowers. The armed forces personnel blow bugles sounding the Last Post. The inter-services contingent reverse arms as a mark of respect. A two-minute silence in memory of Indian martyrs is observed throughout the country at 11 AM. Participants hold all-religion prayers and sing tributary

23 March

The anniversary of the deaths of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru on 23 March, 1931, is declared to be Martyr's Day.^[2]

23 June

This date marks the death of Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee in Kashmir in 1953. also observed as “National Integration Day”. He opposed the Indian National Congress's decision to grant Kashmir a special status with its own flag and Prime Minister. According to that decision no one, including the President of India could enter Kashmir without the permission of Kashmir's Prime Minister. In opposition to this decision, he once said "Ek desh mein do Vidhan, do Pradhan aur Do Nishan nahi challenge" (A single country can't have two constitutions, two prime ministers, and two National Emblems). As part of a protest mission Dr. Mukherjee went to visit Kashmir in 1953 and was arrested on 11 May while crossing Kashmir Border at Lakhanpur. Thereafter, he was jailed in a dilapidated house, where he suffered from serious health problems due to wilful neglect and living conditions. He died as detainee under mysterious circumstances which raised wide suspicion, controversies and turmoil across the country that remains suspected and alleged as a vengeful conspiracy by Sheikh Abdullah and Nehru.

21 October

India observes 21 October, the Police Commemoration Day,^[3]

17 November

Orissa observes 17 November, the death anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai (1865-1928), the "Lion of Punjab", a leader in the Indian fight for freedom from the British Raj.^[4]

19 November

The birthday of Rani Lakshmibai, 19 November, 1828, queen of the Maratha-ruled princely state of Jhansi, is observed as Martyrs' Day in the region, and honours those who gave their lives in the rebellion of 1857, of which she was a leading figure.^[5]

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