Udham Singh (freedom Fighter)

Udham Singh (freedom Fighter) Biography

Udham Singh, also referred to as Shaheed-i-Azam Sardar Udham Singh was a revolutionary and freedom fighter who lived during the period, 26 December 1899 – 31 July 1940. He was one among the members of Ghadar Party who assassinated Michael O' Dwyer, the former lieutenant governor of the Punjab in London, in revenge to the heinous Jallianwala Bagh. He was tried and convicted of murder and hanged in July 1940. He was 40 years old then. He used to call himself Ram Mohammad Singh Azad, which represents three different religions of Punjab region.

Udham Singh was born on 26 December 1899 at Sunam in the Sangrur district of Punjab. His father worked as a watchman in a railway crossing. After his father’s death, he along with his brother was taken to an orphanage in Amritsar. His real name was Sher Singh, and he changed it to Udham Singh while at orphanage. After completing his matriculation in 1918, he left the orphanage the following year. Same year deeply influenced with Jallianwala Bagh massacre, he turned a revolutionary. He joined Ghadar Party in 1924 which was involved with organising Indians outside the country against British rule.

When he returned in 1927 as instructed by Bhagat Singh, he got arrested and jailed for five years for carrying arms and ammunition. In 1934 he reached London, where he got involved with plans to murder Michael O' Dwyer. As per writings in his personal diary, there was a possibility he may have confused O'Dwyer with General Dyer. On 13 March 1940, during a public meeting, Udham Singh shot Michael O' Dwyer using his pistol and he died at the spot. Udham Singh got arrested, tried and given death sentence.

Published: June 05, 2019

Updated: June 05, 2019