Martyr's Day (30 January): Date, History & Significance

Utkarsh Classes Last Updated 30-01-2024

Important Day 4 min read

India celebrates January 30 as Martyrs' Day to pay tribute to all those freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the country.

The day is also marked as the death anniversary of the country's 'Bapu', Mahatma Gandhi.
On this day in 1948, Nathuram Godse assassinated Mahatma Gandhi at Birla House in New Delhi.
Martyrs' Day is celebrated by paying tribute to the mausoleum of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in Delhi.
The President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Defence Minister and all three service chiefs (Army, Air Force and Navy) pay homage to the 'Father of the Nation'.

Importance:

The significance of Martyrs' Day lies in the fact that Mahatma Gandhi led major movements against British rule through a non-violent approach.
His philosophy was based on the principles of non-violence, fighting for truth (Satyagraha), political and personal freedom (Swaraj) and his principles inspired millions of people.

Birth: October 2, 1869, Porbandar (Gujarat)
- This day is celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence.
Ideology: He believed in the ideas of truth, non-violence, honesty, caring for nature, the welfare of Dalits etc.
Political Guru: Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Death: 30 January 1948

Gandhi in South Africa:

Mahatma Gandhi left India for South Africa in April 189, at the age of 23.
Gandhiji arrived in India on 9 January 1915. 9 January is celebrated every year as 'Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas'.

Contribution to India's Freedom Struggle -

Champaran Satyagraha (1917), First Civil Disobedience, Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918), Kheda Satyagraha (1918)
Nationwide mass movements – Rowlatt Act (1919), Non-cooperation Movement (1920 – 22), Civil Disobedience Movement (1930), Quit India Movement (1942)
Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931) - Before the Second Round Table Conference in London on 5 March 1931, a political agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and the Viceroy Lord Irwin was called Gandhi-Irwin Pact. It is also called "Delhi Pact".

Books -

Weekly magazines:

23 March

On this day, Bhagat Singh, Shivram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar were hanged by the British in Lahore jail.

19th May

It is celebrated in Assam in memory of those killed by the state police on May 19, 1961.
This day was named Language Martyrs' Day.

17 November

Odisha celebrates this day to remember the famous freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai on his death anniversary.

24 November

It is celebrated as Martyr's Day by the Sikh community as it is the death anniversary of the ninth Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadur.
He opposed the forced conversion of non-Muslims and was assassinated by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in the year 1675.