By : Neha Dhyani
Updated : Mar 7, 2023, 11:46
In India, Shaheed Diwas or Martyrs' Day, is celebrated on many different dates. The dates are 23rd March, 30th January, 19th May, 21st October, 17th November, 19th November, and 24th November. Shaheed Diwas is celebrated on these dates to honour notably gallant and brave Indian men and women who lost their lives while saving our country from external enemies.
The Bihar government recently announced the celebration of 15th February as another Shaheed Diwas to honor the martyrdom of 34 freedom fighters who were killed in Munger in 1932. Know more about this day and its importance here.
Shaheed Diwas is an annual commemoration of the martyrs of the nation. In India, this day is celebrated on many different dates, but the idea of the day is the same - to honor those who lost their lives for the nation. While 30th January is observed as Shahid Diwas on a national level, other days are also observed to honor the martyrs of the nation on a state level. Here is the complete list of all the days on which this event is observed:
Date | Shahid Diwas Details | Observed In |
30th January | To honor all the martyrs of the nation. | Nationwide |
15th February | To commemorate the martyrdom of 34 fighters who were killed in Munger in 1932 | Bihar |
23rd March | To commemorate the death anniversary of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru. | Nationwide |
19th May | In remembrance of the Bengali Language Movement of the Barak Valley. | Assam |
21st October | Police Martyrs Day in remembrance of the CRPF personnel killed during the Sino-Indian border dispute. | Nationwide in Police departments |
17th November | Death anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai | Odisha |
19th November | Birth anniversary of Rani Lakshmi Bai | Jhansi |
24th November | Death anniversary of the ninth Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur | Nationwide |
Shaheed Diwas, or Martyrs' Day, is celebrated on seven different dates as follows:
30th January is observed as Shaheed Diwas for remembering the assassination of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the father of the nation. On this day in 1948, M.K.Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse. Mr Gandhi was assassinated when he was offering his evening prayers at Gandhi Smriti in Birla House.
Every year on 30th January, India's President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Defence Minister, and the Service Chiefs of the Army, Air Force, and Navy lay wreaths on Mr Gandhi's samadhi at Delhi's Raj Ghat. It is followed by a two-minute countrywide silence in memory of Indian martyrs. The 30th January Shaheed diwas date is as special for Indians as the 23rd March Shahid Diwas.
23rd March will remain forever etched in our memory since, on this day in 1931, three brave leaders, Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, and Sukhdev Thapar, were hanged by the Britishers. 23rd March is celebrated as Shaheed Diwas in Hindi to commemorate the contributions of Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, and Sukhdev Thapar to India's independence.
The three brave leaders were hanged till death in Lahore for assassinating John Saunders in 1928 when they mistook him for James Scott, a British Police Superintendent. They took this step as an act of revenge against James Scott for ordering a lathi charge that caused Lala Lajpat Rai's death. Indians will observe the 91st death anniversary of the three brave freedom fighters on 23rd March 2022.
Shaheed Diwas is also celebrated on 19th May since, on this date, eleven (11) ethnic Bengali people were shot and killed by paramilitary forces. The incident took place after the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee took up a proposal in April 1960 to make Assamese the State's only official language.
Eventually, the bill was passed in October 1960, making Assamese and the State's only official language. This incident gave birth to protests by the ethnic Bengali community at Barak Valley. On 19th May, as the ethnic Bengalis started enforcing a complete hartal, the paramilitary forces opened fire, killing 11 people. This is why 19th May is declared Bhasa Shahid Diwas.
The National Police Commemoration Day, or Shaheed Diwas is celebrated on 21st October to pay homage to the brave CRPF men who lost their lives in a Chinese ambush in 1959 in Ladakh. The incident took place when a CRPF team was patrolling the hot spring area in Ladakh and was ambushed by a Chinese army team.
The Chinese army launched grenades and followed a fire attack that led to ten deaths, and seven were captured as prisoners. This day is also commemorated to honour the 33,000 police personnel who have lost their lives on duty since 1961.
The Odisha government celebrates 17th November as Shahid Diwas every year to honour the death of the famous freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai. He is also referred to as the Lion of Punjab for his exemplary role in leading the freedom struggle against the British.
Shaheed Diwas is also celebrated on 19th November in Jhansi to commemorate the birth anniversary of Rani Lakshmi Bai. Rani Lakshmi Bai, a.k.a. Jhansi ki Rani, played an instrumental role in leading the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
24th November is celebrated as Shahid Diwas to remember and honour the ninth Sikh guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, a.k.a. Hind ki Chadar. He sacrificed his life to uphold the rights of the people. He was beheaded by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1675.
Shaheed Diwas is celebrated on 23rd March, 30th January, 19th May, 21st October, 17th November, 19th November, and 24th November in India. This day is celebrated on a national level on 30th January, and on state-levels on the other mentioned dates.
30th January is observed as Shaheed Diwas for remembering the assassination of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the father of the nation. It is also celebrated to honor Gandhi as a freedom fighter of India. Shahid Diwas is celebrated on a national level.
23rd March is celebrated Shaheed Diwas to commemorate the contributions of Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, and Sukhdev Thapar for India's independence. These freedom fighters were martyred on this day while fighting for the independence of the nation.
The Theme of Shaheed Diwas 2022 is "Tribute to Revolutionaries." This day is celebrated in honor of all the freedom fighters who fought for the independence of the nation. Shahid Diwas is celebrated with much enthusiasm in the country to pay tribute to the revolutionaries.
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