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

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.

About Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi:

• 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 -

• Hind Swaraj, Experiments with Truth (Autobiography)

Weekly magazines: 

• Young India, Harijan, Navjeevan, Indian Opinion

Other Martyrs' Days in India:

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.