Shaheed Udham Singh, Biography, Early Life, Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

Shaheed Udham Singh was a revolutionary freedom fighter of India who avenged the Jallianwala Bagh massacre by assassinating Michael O’Dwyer, the then Lieutenant Governor of Punjab. 

Shaheed Udham Singh Early Life

• Sardar Udham Singh was born on 26 December 1899 in Sunam, in present-day Sangrur district of Punjab.
• At the time of his birth he was named Sher Singh.
• His father, Tehal Singh, belonged to the Kamboj community and worked as a low-skilled, low-paid manual laborer, while his mother was named Narain Kaur.
• He was orphaned at an early age and was brought up at the Central Khalsa Orphanage in Amritsar where he was named Udham Singh. 
• At a very young age he started working for his survival. He worked as a labourer in Mesopotamia during World War I. He also went to Africa to work in the railways of Uganda. During his time in Uganda he became familiar with a lot of workers of the Ghadar Party.
• He also went to America where he helped Punjabi Migrants from Mexico to reach America. He formed the Azad Party in Chicago as a part of Ghadar Party. 

Shaheed Udham Singh and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre 

• Shaheed Udham Singh was about 20 years old when he witnessed the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, where General Dyer ordered firing on innocent, unarmed people. The incident became a turning point in his life and he decided to take revenge.
• In 1924, he joined the Ghadar Party to overthrow colonial rule. He was also associated with Hindustan Socialist Republic Association (HSRA).
• He was deeply influenced by Bhagat Singh. 
• In 1927, he was arrested for illegal possession of firearms and sentenced to five years in prison.
• On 14 March 1940 he shot Michael O’ Dwyer, the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab during the Jallianwala Bagh, in Caxton Hall, London.
• During his trial, he used the name “Ram Muhammad Singh Azad” to symbolize religious unity in India.
• He was hanged in Pentonville Prison, on 31st July 1940, in London.
• His remains (ashes) were brought back to India in 1974 and are kept at the Jallianwala Bagh memorial.

He is revered as ‘Shaheed-i-Azam’ (Great Martyr) for his sacrifice and bravery in fighting against British imperialism.

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