Shaheed. An adjective derived from Arabic, meaning martyr. Shaheed Udham Singh. Martyr Udham Singh. Some beg to differ that he doesn’t deserve this title and that he was a murderer. Others argue against this and claim that he was a hero in disguise, a patient assassin, a protestor. However, let’s push opinions to the side for a second as in this article I will be laying out the facts about Udham Singh’s so called ‘crime’ and his motivation.
Who was Udham Singh?
Sardar Udham Singh was an Indian revolutionary, born in 1899. He fought alongside other revolutionary’s such as Bhagat Singh for one cause and one cause only, a free India. An India that wasn’t held captive by the reign of British empire. An India that allowed everyone freedom, of speech, expression, and congregation. Udham Singh was a part of the Ghadar party and the HSRA, both with morals deeply rooted against the British empire. He is best known for the assassinating Sir Michael O’Dwyer who, between the years of 1913-19190 was the lieutenant governor of Punjab. Sir O’Dwyer was also one of the men responsible for massacre at Jallianwala Bagh, more popularly known as the Amritsar massacre, alongside Reginald Dyer. Michael Dwyer’s responsibility for this ruthless act of violence, was his hamartia – leading to his assassination.
What was Udham Singh’s ‘crime’?
Udham Singh was found guilty on the charges of the murder of Sir Michael O’Dwyer. O’Dwyer, aged 75, was shot by Udham Singh in Caxton Hall during a joint meeting for the East India association and the Central Asian society. Udham Singh entered the hall, then sat through the meeting and speeches with his revolver hidden inside a book. Once the speeches had finished, he shot O’Dwyer twice, killing him. Udham never tried to run away and was arrested inside the hall.
Udham Singh was formally charged with murder on the 1st of April 1940. Yet his protests didn’t stop with the assassination. In custody, he named himself ‘Ram Mohammad Singh Azad’ the first three names denoting the three major religions within Punjab at the time. Ram for Hinduism. Mohammad for Islam. Singh for Sikhism. The last word in his name means freedom in Hindi. Thereby portraying his anti-colonialist viewpoint even though he was in prison.
However, this wasn't his only protest within confinement. As he treated his trial, as a platform to reach people across the nation. Within his trial he claimed:"I am not afraid to die. I am proud to die. I want to help my native land."
On the 31st of July 1940, Udham Singh was hung at Pentonville Prison, and his remains are preserved at Jallianwala Bagh.
What was Udham Singh’s motivation?
The scene of Jallianwala Bagh was the driving force that created the revolutionary Udham Singh. He was a witness to the bloodbath that had occurred in the gardens. He stood on that soil, soaked in blood, attempting to help those who had been injured. He sat amongst those hundreds, maybe thousands of corpses, attempting to take the injured to seek medical care with martial law in place. Amidst the destruction of independence and fundamental human rights, a freedom fighter was born in the eyes of Indians.
Was Udham Singh a protestor? Was he a murdererr? Or was he just a human, who fought for equality and his rights? Freedom of speech shouldn’t be a crime. Freedom of expression shouldn’t be a crime. Freedom shouldn’t be a crime.
What do you think?
